The San Jose Sharks have placed forward Alex Barré-Boulet on waivers, according to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman.
The 29-year-old was activated off injured reserve (undisclosed) and made available Wednesday, with the clear intent of assigning him to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda once he clears.
He had not appeared in any regular-season games for the Sharks after an injury limited his preseason and placed him on IR to start the 2026-27 campaign.
Barré-Boulet signed a two-year, two-way contract with San Jose in early July (roughly $875,000 AAV at the NHL level).
General Manager Mike Grier cited the undrafted Quebec native’s proven offensive track record as adding “responsible veteran depth.”
In practice, the deal positioned him as high-end AHL scoring insurance and a possible call-up option rather than a full-time NHL lock.
That projection matches his résumé. In 2025-26 with the Colorado Eagles, Barré-Boulet finished second in AHL scoring with 70 points (26 goals, 44 assists) in 70 games and earned First-Team All-Star honors.
He added productive playoff numbers and recorded a single assist in a two-game NHL cameo with the Avalanche.
Across his AHL career (Syracuse, Laval, Colorado), he has produced well over a point per game and multiple All-Star nods, including Rookie of the Year honors in 2018-19.
At the NHL level, the results have been more modest.
Barré-Boulet has appeared in 72 games since breaking in with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2020-21 season (debut February 22, 2021), totaling 19 points (12 goals, 7 assists).
He has also suited up for the Seattle Kraken, Montreal Canadiens, and Colorado Avalanche.
Stints have been intermittent—waiver claims, brief recalls, and consistent dominance at the AHL level rather than sustained NHL production.
For San Jose, clearing Barré-Boulet frees a roster spot and supplies the Barracuda with an elite offensive veteran.
He is expected to spend the bulk of the season in the minors while remaining available for call-ups if injuries hit the Sharks’ forward group.
Given his age, two-way contract structure, and career pattern, the move aligns with organizational depth-building rather than a surprise demotion of a projected NHL regular. If he clears waivers Thursday, he can report to the Barracuda immediately.
