SAN JOSE – Jacob MacDonald cleared waivers Wednesday and has been assigned to be the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate, the Barracuda.
MacDonald will be in the lineup Wednesday night when the Barracuda host the Pacific Division-leading Coachella Valley Firebirds.
MacDonald, who has six goals and one assist in 22 games for the Sharks this season, mostly as a forward, was placed on waivers by the team on Tuesday.
The move opens up a spot on the Sharks’ 23-man roster that could go to forward Givani Smith, who has been on injured reserve since late December. Smith has been out with a lower-body ailment but has been practicing regularly with the Sharks since the team returned from its bye week on Feb. 10.
MacDonald, who has battled injuries for most of the season, should help the Barracuda, which is attempting to rejoin the playoff picture in the AHL’s Pacific Division.
Entering its home game against Coachella Valley on Wednesday, the Barracuda, at 17-23-8 with 41 points, were nine points out of a playoff spot with 24 games remaining. San Jose is 4-2-1 this month.
Over five-plus AHL seasons, MacDonald has 189 points in 271 games.
MacDonald, who can play both forward and defense, turns 31 next Monday. He, along with forward Martin Kaut, was originally acquired by the Sharks from the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 25, 2023, for forward Matt Nieto and defenseman Ryan Merkley. He has 25 points in 123 career NHL games.
Smith, who turns 26 next Tuesday, has three points and 33 penalty minutes in 26 games this season.