Injuries giving Goodrow, others chance in San Jose
Just how sideways has this season gone for the Sharks? Barclay Goo
drow will likely be San Jose’s firstline center on Saturday night.
No, it can’t get any weirder.
This is the consequence of injuries to the team’s top two centers —
Tomas Hertl out for the season after suffering another serious knee injury Wednesday, and
Logan Couture still weeks away as he waits for a fractured ankle to repair. With the team out of the playoff hunt, there’s no rush for the captain to return.
It wasn’t long ago Goodrow was fighting to keep a spot on the fourth line. Credit to the 26yearold sixthyear player. He’s improved his skating, his 200foot game and his abilities in the faceoff circle. He’s now as versatile as any Sharks’ forward.
As recently as 201617 Goodrow spent 61 games in the minors after logging 74 games with the Sharks from 201416. And he is the most productive healthy center on the roster with career highs in goals (eight), assists (13) and points (21).
Not that Goodrow projects as a topliner, or even a everyday regular among the top six, but this season has become one of looking for silver linings and it probably starts with him.
San Jose can get a head start now at looking at the prospects, who weren’t ready to grab spots when the Sharks appeared to have time to make a run at the playoffs. Antti Suomela and
Dylan Gambrell figure to get more minutes and longer looks. Joachim
Blichfeld will probably get recalled from the American Hockey League’s San Jose Barracuda, and he could be joined by others from that team.
Starting with Tampa Bay’s visit on Saturday,
23 of the Sharks’ remaining 30 games are against teams in possession of or in hot pursuit of a playoff spot. And with more games on the road than at home, San Jose may have only a handful of wins in it. But it’s an opportunity to show who is ready to meet the challenge.
Aaron Dell — the expected starter Saturday — has competed more successfully during these times of adversity more than Martin
Jones, who has been unseated as the team’s top netminder. This will be a very important stretch for Jones in particular. He has four years left on a contract that’s going to be tough to trade if his game doesn’t improve quickly.
Only 10 games remain before the Feb. 24 trade deadline, and only two of those will be at home after Saturday. The possibility exists Sharks’ fans are looking at the last couple games for 40yearold franchise icons Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.
Both with expiring contracts, Thornton and Marleau are owed the opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup elsewhere. General manager Doug
Wilson has probably already asked each if he wants either to pursue trade possibilities. Both are owed that option.
Marleau could be attractive because of his versatility, the fact he can play a number of roles and minimum salary. He, too, appears to want to play at least another season, which would allow him to break Gor
die Howe’s alltime record for games played. San Jose may or may not be an option because the
Sharks are looking at a roster overhaul up front.
Thornton is a trickier debate. He’s a playmaking center who probably doesn’t fit a serious Cup contender’s top nine. Even if he wants a kick at the can elsewhere — and there’s a lot to suggest he’d pass — he is not your typical rental player. Jumbo simply has too big a personality to just slip into a room and be quiet, as is typically expected of newcomers. Honoring Kobe: Ducks goalie John Gibson wore a custom mask Friday with the silhouette of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, surrounded by the names of seven other victims from Sunday’s tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas.
Mirror images: Talk about a near identical 12 punch. Edmonton’s Con
nor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each ntered Friday having played 50 games with 27 goals and 50 assists apiece. They were within 14 shots of each other (McDavid 163149) and were within 21 seconds for average time on ice (Draisaitl 22:3322:12).
Briefly: Word comes from expansion Seattle that the team is not close to releasing its nickname regardless of Twitter running wild with the rumor of “Kraken” at midweek. … With 13 goals and a teamleading 60 points entering Friday, Capitals defenseman
John Carlson was slightly off the pace for a 100point campaign. He projected to 96 at his pace. … Jack Eichel is having a great season. He reached the 30goal plateau in his 50th game Thursday. Unfortunately he plays for the Sabres, and continues to fly under the radar.