Sharks vs Ducks 151010

TV: CSN CA
Satellite radio (click for specific station)
Sharks Radio Network

Sharks twitter list
Twitter list of opponent news

Best summary of the Sharks game #1 against the Kings: One game does not a season make, but it did give a good first impression.  Donskoi made his NHL debut, scored his first goal and was +3 (last Sharks player to be +3 in their debut was Sandis Ozolinsh).  Jones was impressive after that first flubbed save and didn’t let in anything else. (Here‘s a nice description of how the team wants to play.)

Now, a chance to see how the Sharks and Ducks play each other in a game that means something. While the Sharks lost both preseason games, in neither did they have their full lineup.  Last season, the Sharks dominated the Ducks.

Interestingly for the Ducks, Saturday’s game will be their season opener, and their 18th season opener on the road. Silfverberg has been skating with the team (after Torres’ hit) and is expected to be in the lineup.

DeBoer indicated that there are no lineup changes planned for the Sharks home opener (meaning that DeMelo will not make his NHL debut until maybe next week’s road trip).

As usual, the Sharks will have a street party before their home opener, so plan your arrival accordingly.

Milestone: Marc-Edouard Vlasic will become the Sharks leader for games played by a defenseman tonight. He passes Mike Rathje.  Congrats, Pickles.

Sharks game day 151007 @ LA Kings (pregame)

TV: NBCSN
Satellite radio (click for specific station)
Sharks Radio Network

It’s the Season Opener for both teams. Both the Sharks and Kings are coming off disappointing seasons where neither team made the post season.

That resulted in many changes.  For the Sharks, a new head coach, #1 goalie, and a few other players were replaced. For the Kings, due to depth chart, cap and legal issues (1, 2), they lost a few players, traded and signed for others.

Sharks have a desire to contradict the many pundits predicting they won’t make a return to the playoffs. (But the analytics say differently?)

Sharks’ Martin Jones is scheduled to start against his former team.  As a key addition to the Sharks roster, he’ll be a focus of many opponents.  Not the least will be his former team, the Kings. This could be a distraction, so getting through that first meeting is a good thing it’s the first game of the season, but more important is getting the win.

The team has other new faces, including a couple of rookies (DeMelo, Donskoi), and some bubble players, they’ve integrated into the season opening roster as well. (And those across the hall in the AHL Barracuda dressing room will be playing their hardest to try and be “the guy” called up when there’s an injury or someone falters in their NHL play.) Arguably, pressure has never been higher to stay on the NHL roster.

Another outside distraction is the public’s/MSM’s voyeurism into the team as they deal with Torres’ suspension (and loss of his playing abilities).

Plus, the Sharks have their six-year season-opening winning streak on the line.

The puck drops tonight.  Let’s see what the new season brings.

News

Sharks twitter list

Kings twitter list

NHL game stats

Sharks/Barracuda Training Camp, leading up to the Sharks season opener

It’s the last hours (days) of camp.

On Monday, the Sharks announced they had reassigned the nine players they had called up from the AHL Barracuda for the weekend, and assigned three players (Goldobin, Karlsson, Mueller) to the AHL Barracuda.  This leaves the team with 23 players on the roster (about $1.99M under the cap) which could be the season opening roster.

The Sharks also announced Joe Pavelski as the 12th captain in team history (9th “full time” captain), with Logan Couture and Joe Thornton as the assistant captains.

On the Barracuda side, 10 were released/assigned from camp (7 to ECHL Allen, including G Joel Rumpel and newly signed to two-way AHL deal Dan Federico; 3 to other ECHL teams).  That leaves Doremus, Helewka, and Timmins without contracts (announced).

Raffi Torres had his hearing Monday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for his Match Penalty from Saturday’s game in Anaheim over the hit of Silfverberg. (He waived an in-person hearing.) He was given a 41-game suspension (half a season). No word on if Torres or the Sharks will appeal the suspension or let it stand.

(How it impacts the Sharks roster/cap situation during a suspension…. Torres’ contract would count against the Sharks cap, with the funds going to the Player emergency fund.  Torres would take up one of the 23 NHL roster spots.  Now, if there was a situation where less than 18 skaters were healthy/able to play, the Sharks could do an emergency recall, exceeding the roster count for the duration of the emergency, if they remained under the salary cap.  So being able to only have 22 “active” players on the roster may not be as big a hardship as it might appear at first glance.)

(It is left to the reader of this blog to find reaction articles on Torres’ suspension.  While I do not condone his actions, neither will I further vilify him by sharing those articles.)

News of the half week

SJ Sharks

SJ Mercury News

Gackle Report

SF Chronicle

CSN Sharks

Puck Daddy

Barracuda game day – preseason @ Condors 151002

The team heads on the road for their first road preseason game.  (And last preseason game.)

Nine players were called up to the NHL, so Rumpel will be starting, backed up by Dell.  Lots of try out players will have their last opportunity to get a contract.

First period: Condors score two.

Second period: Parker gets the Barracuda get on the board, but the Condors score two more.  4-1.

Third period: DiPaolo notched the only score of the period.  Barracuda 2-4 Condors final score.

Rumpel made 26 saves on 30 shots.  Barracuda made 32 shots.

Barracuda recap
Crane, Emanuelsson and Jevpalovs out due to injury.

Sharks Training Camp day 16 (151003) @ Ducks

TV: none
Satellite radio (click for specific station)
Sharks Radio Network

Stalock scheduled to start.  The 8 skater call ups may get some time in the lineup today, for one last chance to be seen by the NHL brass (for future in-season call ups).

Recap:

First period featured a (reputation?) call of Match Penalty to Torres for head contact (5 min major PK) overlapped by major boarding call to Haley (another 5 min major PK).  Sharks killed both off.  Period ended 0-0.

In the second, Demelo scored first on the PP, but the Ducks answered with two. The second was an excellent screen of Stalock.  2-1 Ducks after 2.

In the third, the Ducks showed they pretty much had their season starting roster vs a lot of AHL players, scoring 3.  Final score 5-1.

Update: Raffi Torres suspended pending hearing with NHL Player Safety department. In person hearing waived (so, they’ll teleconference); being held on Monday.

News

Sharks twitter list

Ducks twitter list

NHL game stats

Sharks Training Camp day 15 (151002) @ Coyotes

TV: none
Satellite radio (click for specific station)
Sharks Radio Network

Penultimate preseason game.  DeBoer has announced that Jones will start this game and Stalock against the Ducks.  Sharks have recalled 9 players from AHL (for the weekend?). Melker Karlsson is skating, but won’t be traveling with the team to this weekend’s preseason games (perhaps he’ll start the season on the IR?).

Looks like Smith will make his preseason debut for the Coyotes.

Jones was perfect in regulation.  Pavelski scored two, and Hertl notched the other.

But in the mandatory OT, Jones gave one up.  Still pretty good preseason for Jones.

News

Sharks twitter list

Twitter list of Coyotes news

NHL preview, stats and stuff

 

Barracuda game day – preseason vs Heat 151001

Tonight is the first preseason game for the Barracuda.  A chance for the ‘Cuda brass to make a determination on the young prospects, PTOs, and older vets — who’ll be suiting up for the team, who’ll get contracts, and who’ll be heading down to ECHL or released.

A lot riding on the game that doesn’t mean anything in the standings.

On the Heat side, expect PTO Taylor Doherty (late of Worcester Sharks) to potentially be in the line up.

Potential line up for Barracuda and preview

Preview from the Heat side.

Post game thoughts

Nikita Jevpalovs didn’t even play the game as he was hit in the head with a puck during warmups.  Petter Emanuelsson didn’t play the whole game after a big check; he did score the first goal in the game.

Very chippy game. Especially with lots of folks playing for an AHL contract, on both sides.

Barracuda recap

Sharks Training Camp day 12 (150929)

Sharks hosted the Vancouver Canucks for their final home preseason contest.

Jones faced 31 shots, but only gave up one goal on a breakaway.

Wingels and Burns notched two for the Sharks to put the win for the fans.

Sparse building, felt like 1/3rd filled, more clumps in some areas, and large numbers of empty rows in others.

Tierney took a puck to the face, retreated to the locker room for repairs and returned to play.

(Technical issues prevented me from listening to the in arena radio feed.)

Game stats and recap

Sharks Training Camp day 11, Barracuda camp day 1 (150928)

The six players on waivers Sunday cleared and were assigned to the Barracuda, along with 3 other players (not requiring waivers).  McLaren put on waivers (so expect him to be assigned to AHL tomorrow). Timo Meier was assigned to his QMJHL team which then named him captain.

Current Shark camp roster. Current Barracuda camp roster. (McLaren is listed in neither.)

Prospect Jeremy Roy was named first star of the week for the QMJHL.

Barracuda camp was split into two groups., with G Grosenick doing double duty so both groups could have two goalies.

News of the day

SJ Mercury News

Gackle Report

CSN Sharks

Training Camp day 10 (150927)

A day off.

But not without news.  Per Renaud Lavoie, the following players have been put on waivers: Mark Cundari, Aaron Dell, Micheal Haley, Bryan Lerg, John McCarthy, Karl Stollery.  (All should be heading to AHL.)  (Teams have until 9am PT Monday to claim a player. Otherwise they’ll clear.)

News of the Day

ESPN: 6 things about the new season that have us jacked
Including the potential rise of new goalie stars, like Martin Jones

Sportsnet: NHL alumni lean on Break Away program post-career
Nice feature on the program that helps players transition from playing to post-career

Puck Daddy: The underappreciated greatness of Joe Thornton

SJ Sharks: Camp Quotes – Tomas Hertl

SJ Mercury News: Sharks youngster Meier shows off physical play

SJ Barracuda: Training camp schedule and roster