Vitek Vanecek, goaltender for the San Jose Sharks, has been held out of the lineup against the Buffalo Sabres due to trade-related reasons. This strategic move allows Alexandar Georgiev to start after his impressive performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he secured a shootout victory. As Vanecek serves as Georgiev's backup, the Sharks are facing roster limitations, having only two goalkeepers available.

With Vanecek's $3.4 million average annual value complicating potential trades, the Sharks can either engage a third team for salary retention or find a suitor willing to absorb his full cap hit. Yaroslav Askarov, the Sharks' top goaltending prospect, remains injured but is expected to be recalled to the NHL once fit, highlighting the delicate balance San Jose must maintain as the trade deadline approaches.