Kings place Scherbak on waivers; Wideman, Schmaltz also waived

Los Angeles Kings right wing Nikita Scherbak (21) celebrates scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights with teammates on the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. (Alex Gallardo/AP)

The Los Angeles Kings have placed winger Nikita Scherbak on waivers.

Florida Panthers defenceman Chris Wideman and St. Louis Blues defenceman Jordan Schmaltz have also been waived, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Scherbak, who was placed on waivers by the Montreal Canadiens in early December, has just one point in eight NHL games this season. The 23-year-old was a first-round pick in 2014.

Wideman, who’s played just one game with the Panthers, was part of a trade that sent Alex Petrovic to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for the defenceman and a 2019 third-round pick on Dec. 30. Wideman started the year with the Ottawa Senators, and has two goals and seven points in 25 games this season.

A first-round pick with St. Louis in 2012, Schmaltz was a healthy scratch for nine straight games – and 19 of 39 games this season – before hitting the waiver wire. The 25-year-old has only two assists in 20 games with the Blues this season and five points in 42 NHL games overall.

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