Is that all there is? (TWTW)

A relatively quiet week, news wise, for the Sharks unless you count the continuing “controversy” over the announced new “Ice Girls”/team.

The Sharks announced the signings of Taylor Doherty (one year) and Jason Demers (two years). This marks all RFAs signed for next season (defected Sateri, notwithstanding), one of the earliest in my memory.

Prospect Julius Bergman tweeted he’d been signed by the Sharks, but as of the writing of this  blog entry, it has not been officially announced.  (My guess — there are a few kids from the last week’s prospect camp getting deals, and the Sharks won’t announce until all are signed.)

This gives the Sharks 44 active NHL contracts against the maximum allowed of 50 (with the potential of two — Bergman, Mueller — sliding).

The week ahead — nothing on the league calendar (for the Sharks, especially with resolving Demers’ contract situation before the scheduled arbitration hearing).

The next real “deadline” is August 15 to sign graduating college seniors (Macleod and Ferriero for the Sharks). Have to wonder if either will be part of the organization, or perhaps only offered AHL deals as neither was invited to last weeks’ development camp. And guessing that the Sharks be looking in that list of graduating seniors and/or leaving-college-early players to bolster the prospect pool for AHL depth?

Sharks organization still needs another 6-10 players to fill out their AHL roster (and call up depth from the ECHL).

Nothing (yet) announced regarding possible ECHL affiliation for 2014-15.

Summer Camp 2014 (TWTW)

News of the week (links)

It’s the time of year for summer camp!

The Sharks held their annual (prospect) development camp with more than 40 campers, mainly draftees and many not-yet-made-it-to-NHL players; plus a handful of invitees.  (Two NHL experienced players headlined camp:  Matt Nieto and Tomas Hertl.)

The highlight of camp (for fans) was Wednesday’s scrimmage, which featured two 25-minute running clock periods.  ~8,000 fans attended.  Team White coached by Mike Ricci beat Team Teal coached by Bryan Marchment 2-1.

But that wasn’t the only news.  The NHL Sharks re-signed two players (RFA Matt Tennyson – 2 year deal; UFA Scott Hannan – 1 year deal) and signed two players (Bryan Lerg and Micheal Haley – 1 year deals) both seemingly destined for play in Worcester.

After his election for arbitration, Jason Demer’s hearing has been set for July 22 (in Toronto). Both sides can continue to negotiate to try and get a deal before the hearing, but he will be in training camp with a new deal.

That means that RFA Taylor Doherty is the only other guy still looking for a new deal for the fall.  (Not including the two college graduates Cody Ferriero and Isaac Macleod who need to be signed by August 15, or they’ll become UFAs.)

The Sharks have 41 players signed to NHL deals (max 50, less 18-19 yo CHLers)

This next week could be pretty quiet with nothing on the schedule.

Draft prep, upcoming awards, HHOF inductees and TWTW

A week later, and things aren’t too much different.

Transactions summary and the week that was

Sharks have re-signed Al Stalock and Mike Brown, pending UFAs.  It’s also been expressed that pending RFA James Sheppard will be back.

For Worcester, there’s an underlying chill with news coming out the the AHL is looking to allow the western NHL teams to relocate their AHL affiliations nearer to them on the west coast, perhaps as soon as next fall (for 2015-16 season), which would mean the upcoming season could be the last for the Worcester Sharks. It was announced that Jimmy Boneau has signed a new AHL deal, head coach Roy Sommer will return for another season, but assistant coach David Cunniff will be heading elsewhere for his future.

(See Transactions for further details.)

Sharks TV Analyst Drew Remenda won’t be returning next season.

Sharks released their seven game preseason schedule, including a (home) game in Stockton and three at SAP Center.

On the horizon:

On Sunday (6/22 1pm PT), the NHL will release the full season schedule. (Already released: the home openers of each team.  Sharks will travel to LA to watch the Kings hoist their second Stanley Cup banner on 10/8. Sharks open their home schedule 10/11 hosting the Winnipeg Jets.)

Monday and Tuesday, the Hockey Hall of Fame committee meets to vote on up to four players to enter the Hall, plus builders, etc.  Owen Nolan and Mike Ricci are two possible former Sharks that might get that honor.

On Tuesday 6/24, the NHL will host their annual awards in Las Vegas.  There are a couple of Sharks among the finalists for awards, but no real stand out “sure fire” winners. (I thought PHWA SJ chapter Masterton nominee Al Stalock had a chance, but he’s not even a finalist.)

Then on Friday, starts the NHL draft, in Philadelphia.  Round one will be held Friday evening; rounds 2-7 on Saturday. Sharks have seven picks (first, two seconds, third, fifth and two sixths).  (But with the “rebuild-on” mode mood-setting from Doug Wilson, there may be a few veteran players departing the team, who don’t want to stick around for the rebuild, that might add to the number of picks the Sharks have.)  Sharks are hosting their first ever draft party at Stanley’s Bar at Sharks Ice in San Jose for the first round.

And on July 9, the Sharks will trot out their prospects in a 7pm scrimmage at SAP Center.  The two coaches will be Mike Ricci and Bryan Marchment. (Tickets go on sale 6/24 via Ticketmaster; proceeds to benefit Sharks Foundation.)