Sheng Peng
The San Jose Sharks have added a defenseman.
The Sharks claimed Vincent Iorio off waivers from the Washington Capitals. Iorio, 22, was a Caps’ 2021 second-round pick.
In a corresponding move, San Jose placed defenseman Timothy Liljegren on IR.
The 6-foot-4 right-hander has appeared in nine NHL games over parts of two seasons with Washington. Mostly with the Hershey Bears throughout his time in the Caps organization, Iorio won back-to-back Calder Cups in 2023 and 2024. In his AHL career, Iorio has accumulated 11 goals and 56 points and 67 penalty minutes in 190 regular season tilts. He’s also scored a goal and seven points in 31 playoff appearances.
So what have the San Jose Sharks added in Iorio? San Jose Hockey Now spoke with two NHL scouts to get an idea.
Iorio will join the Sharks in Salt Lake City, where they’re scheduled to take on the Utah Mammoth on Friday. We’ll know if Iorio will debut in teal during morning skate.
Two NHL scouts seemed to agree, in general, of their assessment of Iorio.
“Gets in trouble when he tries to do too much with the puck,” Scout #1 said.
“Tries to do too much,” Scout #2 said.
That’s a common problem for young defensemen, and these scouts think that there’s a useful player there if Iorio can mature.
“Interesting tools and 6-foot-4 right shot, hard to come by,” Scout #2 said. “Just needs to settle in and be a defender-first, first-pass guy.”
Scout #1 added, about Iorio defensively, “Not overly physical, but gets in the way well.”
If Iorio figures it out?
“Size [and penalty-killing]. Steady third-pairing defenseman,” Scout #1 said.
That’s a useful player, but it adds to the logjam of arguably bottom-pairing rearguards on the San Jose Sharks’ blueline. While Liljegren and John Klingberg are hurt now, it’s still a crowded house with Dmitry Orlov, Nick Leddy, Mario Ferraro, Vincent Desharnais, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and raw super-prospect Sam Dickinson.
Is a trade coming or will the Sharks try to sneak Iorio back through waivers or will they send Dickinson back to the CHL?