SAN JOSE – Leon Gawanke’s time in the San Jose Sharks organization is coming to an end.
The Sharks on Thursday placed Gawanke on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination. Per the team, Gawanke wants to return to his home country of Germany and a source indicated that the defenseman will play for Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
“Leon Gawanke formally approached us with his desire to return home and play in Germany,” Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will said in a statement. “The Sharks agreed to his wishes and initiated the process of terminating his NHL contract today.
“We wish Leon all the best and thank him for his contributions on and off the ice with the Sharks and Barracuda organizations.”
Gawanke, 24, was acquired by the Sharks from the Winnipeg Jets on July 2, 2023, for defenseman Artemi Kniazev, and signed to a one-year, two-way contract three days later.
After four seasons in the Jets’ organization, the offensive-minded Gawanke wanted a fresh start with another franchise. However, he did not make the Sharks’ roster in training camp and was placed on waivers before the start of the regular season.
Once in the AHL with the Barracuda, Gawanke, listed at 6-foot-1, and 198 pounds, continued to put up solid offensive numbers and led all San Jose defensemen with 27 points in 38 games.
Gawanke, a fifth-round draft pick by the Jets in 2017, is in his fifth year of professional hockey. He had 141 points in 245 career AHL games, 207 of which came with the Manitoba Moose.
Kniazev, a second-round draft pick by the Sharks in 2019, is now with Kazan Ak-Bars of the LHK after starting the season with the Moose.
Once Gawanke clears waivers, the Sharks will have 48 of a possible 50 contracts.
The Barracuda right now has seven other defensemen: Radim Simek, Nikolai Knyzhov, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Valtteri Pulli, Gannon Laroque, Ethan Frisch, and Artem Guryev.
The Barracuda’s next game is Friday in Bakersfield.
