Plenty of questions remain for Sharks’ roster
Wilson once again wants to give the kids a chance
Since the NHL established Jan. 13 as its start date, some teams have acted fast to snap up available free agents and shore up their rosters for the upcoming 56-game season.
San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson has been noticeably silent by comparison.
The Sharks have about $2.3 million left under the NHL’s salary cap of $81.5 million to spend if they so choose. It’s not a ton of money to play with, but it’s enough to add a depth forward or defensemen, or both, considering experienced free agents are signing at bargainbin prices.
But Wilson wants to see how this team — with a healthy roster and some younger players that gained a bit of NHL experience last season — comes together and starts the year before he decides what to do next.
“Some teams have cap space, some teams don’t have cap space. We’ve left a little bit available,” Wilson said. “We’re open to listening. We’ve got a bunch of younger guys that really had opportunities last year, but I really think they’re ready now.”
Assuming the roster stays the same over the next few days, here’s what we see as the Sharks’ greatest competitions going into the start of training camp on Thursday in Scottsdale, Ariz. THIRD LINE CENTER >> Someone’s got to take over what was largely Joe Thornton’s role with the Sharks in recent years.
Joel Kellman figures to be a strong candidate considering how reliable he was on the defensive end in his time with the Sharks last season.
Kellman played 31 NHL games in 2019-20 and saw his responsibilities increase in the second half after Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl suffered injuries. Kellman didn’t look out of place, and although he does not have terrific offensive upside, he perhaps best fits in with how the Sharks want to play this season.
Otherwise, there’s a ton of questions about the other candidates.
Is this the year Dylan Gambrell establishes himself as a full-time NHL centerman? What about Antti Suomela? Is Swedish freeagent acquisition Fredrik Handemark ready for that role, or might he be better suited to start the season on the fourth line or in the AHL? Did Maxim Letunov and Alex True really benefit from their brief time with the Sharks last season? Can Sasha Chmelevski crack the roster and make his debut? THIRD LINE RIGHT WING >> We can safely assume Kevin Labanc will be the Sharks’ first- or second-line rightwinger, and we’re guessing Timo Meier or Donato will be the other RW in the top-six forward group. But what about the third line?
Noah Gregor got plenty of looks at right wing toward the end of last season and certainly has the speed to play in the NHL. Gambrell might be a candidate to play here, too, giving the Sharks a righthanded option to take faceoffs if Kellman is the centerman.
As more proven players, Matt Nieto and Stefan Noesen also figure to be options here. It’ll be interesting to see, too, if Joachim Blichfeld or John Leonard with their offensive capabilities can make a case to start the season in the topnine forward group.
NO. 1 GOALIE >> It’s reasonable to assume Martin Jones and Devan Dubnyk will each play at least 20 games this year, especially considering the Sharks play on back-toback nights 12 times and will average a game every other day over the course of three-and-a-half months.
Who winds up being the Sharks’ No. 1 goalie likely won’t become apparent until after the first three or four weeks of the season. Still, a 13-day training camp can help set the tone, even if there are only two scrimmages. Ultimately, the Sharks will be better served if a healthy and real competition emerges between Jones and Dubnyk. SIXTH DEFENSEMAN >> The Sharks’ top two defense pairs are likely set. Marc-Edouard Vlasic will probably skate with Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns will be with Radim Simek. The Sharks, though, need a defenseman to pair with Mario Ferraro, and they appear to have some intriguing, if unproven, options.
Jake Middleton figures to be the most sensible choice, even though he’s a left shot like Ferraro. He played 10 games for the Sharks last season, including nine under then-interim coach Bob Boughner. And at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, has the kind of size San Jose might be looking for in a third pair defenseman. The other defensemen at camp with NHL experience are Nikolai Knyzhov and Trevor Carrick.
But it will be interesting to see if Ryan Merkley makes a serious bid for a roster spot. The Sharks’ 2018 first-round pick has tantalizing offensive skill, as evidenced by his 76 points in 60 games for the OHL’s London Knights last season. He could make an ideal partner for Ferraro — the offensive whiz with the more stay-at-home type, and Boughner has said he wants his defensemen to be more active.
Free-agent signee and Arizona State alum Brinson Pasichnuk should feel at home at camp in Scottsdale and could also make a push.