I don’t think that the “NHL roster” players as signed today and in the organization is the list that will start the season for the Sharks.
Possible opening roster based on players in the organization as of today looks like, with cap space of about $6m available:
Goalies: Niemi, Stalock
Defense: Braun, Burns, Demers, Hannan, Irwin, Tennyson, Vlasic
Forwards: Brown, Burish, Couture, Desjardins, Hertl, Kennedy, Marleau, Nieto, Pavelski, Scott, Sheppard, Thornton, Torres, Wingels
Some pundits have Mueller making the NHL at 19 (over Tennyson) in the defensive corps. And there are rumors that the Sharks have Niemi on the block.
But I think the majority of changes may be in the forwards.
Little has been heard or said about Burish, Kennedy, and Torres this off season regarding their future with the team. Two missed a majority of the season with injury, proving the Sharks might not need them for the future, and they are among the “veterans” of the team who might want “out” during a “rebuild”. And Kennedy seemed to be the odd man out in the playoffs. (Torres has a modified NTC.) (Hertl and Nieto are still waiver exempt; but I do expect them to start the season on the NHL Roster.)
And there are some teams (including Chicago and Philadelphia) which may be seeking cap relief and the Sharks could be a trading partner. And some rumored “get me outtahere” players, like Winnipeg’s Kane or Toronto’s Reimer, that might also be targeted by the Sharks.
Sharks may also risk some older players on waivers if they don’t fit the desired NHL roster requirements and either lose them for nothing, or get limited cap relief as they play in the AHL.
But unlike some teams, the Sharks do not “leak” trade interests, so it may be an unlikely move or three that helps form the opening night roster. So anything and everything here is total speculation. YMMV
(And Geraldine with her boyfriend Killer may still be looking for something entertaining to watch at the start of the season.)