Komarov and Sheahan placed on waivers Saturday.

We have some experienced veterans heading to the waiver wire on Saturday.

Two long time veterans of the National Hockey League were placed on waivers today and we know for certain that at least one of them won't be back with their teams. The players are forward Leo Komarov of the New York Islanders and forward Riley Sheahan of the Seattle Kraken, but realistically Sheahan is the only player that is up for grabs in this situation.

Sheahan has 14 appearances for the Kraken this season and has 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points over that stretch of play and he could be claimed by a team looking to add some depth up front, but Komarov will be out of reach.

Earlier this week New York Islanders insider Arthur Staple reported that Komarov had been working on a deal with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League, a deal that now appears to be official. Staple reported at the time that his sources had informed him this was a done deal, but it wasn't until today that the Islanders officially placed Komarov on unconditional waivers, signalling that Komarov is indeed headed overseas.

Komarov appeared in just a single game for the Islanders this season and when it became clear that he would be sent down to the American Hockey League to play with the Bridgeport Islanders, it would appear as though Komarov looked for a better option elsewhere.

In spite of the fact that he was a relatively popular player during his tenure in the NHL, often being fondly referred to as 'Uncle Leo', I suspect that there won't be too many fans sad to see him go at this stage of his career. Komarov was playing out the final year of a 4 year contract he signed with the Islanders in 2018, one that carried a cap hit of $3 million per season, and he simply was not performing like a player earning that kind of scratch.

Komarov was coming off arguably the worst season of his career in the National Hockey League during the 2020 - 2021 regular season. He played 33 games for the Islanders in that season but managed just 8 points, a goal and 7 assists, and it was obvious come this season that the Islanders simply didn't view him as a part of the future moving forward.

Wish him nothing but the best moving forward in the KHL.