Jets lose Sbisa, Comrie to waiver wire; Senators lose Balcers

The Winnipeg Jets lost defenceman Luca Sbisa and goaltender Eric Comrie to the waiver wire on Tuesday, while the San Jose Sharks reclaimed winger Rudolfs Balcers from the Ottawa Senators.

Sbisa, a journeyman 30-year-old defenceman, will join his fifth NHL team in five seasons after being picked up by the Nashville Predators.

The Swiss defenceman had two goals and eight assists in 44 games with the Jets last season after Winnipeg picked him up off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks. The Jets re-signed Sbisa to a one-year, US$800,000 contract extension in October.

Comrie was picked up by the New Jersey Devils, who lost goaltender Corey Crawford to retirement last weekend.

Selected 59th overall by Winnipeg in the 2013 NHL draft, Comrie signed a two-year, $1.4 million contract extension with the Jets before the 2019-20 season. He was placed on waivers shortly thereafter and picked up by Arizona, subsequently traded to Detroit before returning to the Jets when he was claimed off waivers.

He had an 0-2 record in three appearances with Detroit last season.

Balcers, meanwhile, returns to San Jose, which selected the Latvian forward in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. He was part of the 2018 trade that sent Ottawa captain Erik Karlsson to San Jose.

Balcers had a goal and two assists in 15 appearances with the Senators last season.

Meanwhile, veteran Montreal Canadiens forward Corey Perry and Vancouver Canucks winger Loui Eriksson both cleared waivers. Perry was placed on the Canadiens’ taxi squad, meaning he’ll train with the NHL club and can be activated as late as 5 p.m. ET on game days.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2021.

The Canadian Press