With the trade deadline quickly approaching for the National Hockey League, teams in search of a powerplay defenceman could have another option to consider.
Sheldon Souray is back in play after the Edmonton Oilers put the veteran defenceman on re-entry waivers on Saturday. On the weekend, teams have a 48-hour window to put in a claim.
Should a team decide to pick up Souray, the Oilers and his new team would split the remainder of his contract — $5.4 million cap hit, $4.5 million salary — which runs through next season.
The exiled defenceman has been playing with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, but has failed to generate much interest from NHL clubs. Earlier this month, New York Rangers scouts were dispatched to get a closer look at Souray, but were put off by his foot speed at the AHL level.
Should no NHL team make a play for Souray, the most likely scenario would have Edmonton buying him out this summer, leaving the club to pay two-thirds of the final year of his contract, spread over the next two seasons.
Souray last played in the NHL in the 2009-10 season, when injuries limited him to only 37 games with the Oilers.
In 26 games with the AHL’s Bears this season, Souray has three goals and 10 assists with a plus-7 rating.
