SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks are holding goalie Vitek Vanecek out of Tuesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres for trade-related reasons.

The news, first reported by San Jose Hockey Now, came less than three hours before the Sharks face the Sabres at Keybank Arena.

Vanecek, one of several pending unrestricted free agents on the Sharks’ roster, is in the final year of a three-year, $10.2 million contract with a $3.4 million cap hit.

Since the Sharks do not have any of their three salary retention spots available this season, any team that acquires Vanecek would have to take on a prorated percentage of Vanecek’s cap hit, or a little more than 20% of what is owed. Or, the Sharks and the acquiring team would have to involve a third NHL team to lessen Vanecek’s cap hit.

In 18 games this season, Vanecek has a 3-10-3 record and a .882 save percentage.

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