The NHL’s waiver wire is buzzing once again, and today’s developments have sent ripples across both San Jose and Montreal. In a move that few saw coming, the San Jose Sharks made a headline-grabbing decision that could alter the defensive landscape—not only for their own team but potentially for others watching closely. With the official announcement lighting up social media, speculation is swirling about what this means for the Sharks’ blue line and, perhaps more intriguingly, for the Montreal Canadiens.

As the dust settles from yesterday’s waiver activity, the league’s front offices are clearly not resting. This latest transaction involves a young defenseman whose name has already been circulating among NHL insiders, and whose future may be far more significant than most fans realize. Questions are mounting: What prompted San Jose to make such a bold claim? How might this impact Montreal’s ongoing roster evaluations? And could this signal the beginning of a larger shift in defensive strategy for both clubs?

One thing is certain—the story is far from over. With key details still unfolding and the potential for immediate changes on the ice, hockey fans will want to keep their eyes glued to every update. The full impact of today’s move remains to be seen, and the answers may surprise you.

Vincent Iorio (left) San Jose Sharks logo (right)

Photo credit: All Habs / NHL

Once again today, there is a lot of movement on waivers in the NHL as the San Jose Sharks made a big claim.

The San Jose Sharks decided to claim defenseman Vincent Iorio off waivers, a move that did not go unnoticed in the NHL and in Montreal.

This announcement was officially posted on the Sharks’ X account:

“The San Jose Sharks have claimed defenseman Vincent Iorio off waivers”

– San Jose Sharks

The 22-year-old defenseman thus becomes the second player claimed off waivers in two days, after the Florida Panthers picked up Donovan Sebrango yesterday.

Vincent Iorio, a young defenseman drawing attention from other GMs in the league

In my opinion, this claim adds depth to an already solid defensive corps in San Jose, which now has nine active defensemen.

Iorio, drafted by the Capitals, had a good training camp. Indeed, he recorded one assist in four preseason games, but he has not played a regular-season game since the 2023-2024 playoffs.

At 6 feet 4 inches and 220 pounds, he brings a physical presence, and his game reading has really improved over the past few seasons, according to Sammi Silber of The Hockey News.

On the Montreal side, I’m sure Kent Hughes was closely monitoring the situation.

With several young defensemen already under evaluation in Montreal, San Jose’s claim of Iorio certainly simplifies the roster management puzzle a bit for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton.

I think Hughes must have smiled a little, as every player claimed elsewhere spares him a difficult short-term decision.

Iorio is currently completing the third and final year of his entry-level contract, with a salary of $814,167.

The Sharks might even offer him a chance to play quickly, since a few of their defensemen have not yet played a game this season.