Sharks might be shopping for a veteran backup goaltender.
Club well-stocked in net; might be shopping for veteran backup
SAN JOSE — In the span of a year, goaltending has gone from being the Sharks potential Achilles’ heel to an area of strength.
Martin Jones has proved he can lead his team to the Stanley Cup Final, Aaron Dell has emerged as a legitimate backup goalie and Barracuda netminder Troy Grosenick is tearing up the AHL, leading the league in goals-against average (2.01), save percentage (.933) and shutouts (6).
Nevertheless, as the Sharks approach the NHL’s March 1 trade deadline, rumors are swirling that the team is shopping for a veteran backup to serve as an insurance policy against a potential injury to Jones down the stretch.
Regardless, coach Pete DeBoer said he reaffirmed his confidence in Dell to general manager Doug Wilson, who said doesn’t discuss trade matters.
“Doug will make those decisions. I have my input. I’ve told him that the goaltending for me isn’t high on my priority list. I feel confident with our guys,” DeBoer said. “But if someone throws a starter at him that’s making the league minimum and has won a Stanley Cup, then we’ll probably take him.”
Nearly a full calendar year has passed since the Sharks made a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire James Reimer at the deadline last season, but the circumstances surrounding the backup goalie dilemma are completely different this winter.
Last year, Alex Stalock struggled as the backup goalie, posting an .884 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average in 13 appearances. In addition, Jones had yet to start a Stanley Cup playoff game and he appeared to be hitting a wall in the middle of his first full season as an NHL starter.
As a result, the Sharks acquired Reimer, who started eight of the team’s last 19 games to give Jones a lighter workload and provide the squad with a veteran safety net in the playoffs.
At this point, no one is complaining about Dell’s performance. In 11 appearances, he’s 6-3-1 with a shutout while registering a .930 save percentage and a 2.05 goals-against average.
The question with Dell is whether it would be fair to ask a netminder who’s started just nine NHL games to carry a team in the playoffs in the event of an injury to Jones.
“There’s probably only one or two teams in the league with the luxury that if their starter goes down they feel very confident,” DeBoer said. “At the same time, our group has a real confidence in Deller, I think he’s earned that.”
Defenseman Justin Braun suggested that the 27-year-old netminder’s experience having taken the North Dakota to the Frozen Four in 2010-11, the Central Hockey League’s Allen Americans to a championship in 2012-13, and the Barracuda to the Calder Cup playoffs last season will benefit him if his number is called during the playoffs.
“He’s an older guy. He’s been around the leagues and he’s probably learned a lot over the years doing that: how to win, how to handle different situations,” Braun said. “We have all the confidence in him.”
Confidence aside, the Sharks should have some options if they want to explore alternatives to Dell before March 1.
With roughly $1.6 million available in cap space, according to capfriendly.com, and a June 21 expansion draft looming where teams will only be able to protect one goalie, there could be a few veteran goalies available before the deadline.
Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop, Pittsburgh’s MarcAndre Fleury, Vancouver’s Ryan Miller, Winnipeg’s Ondrej Pavelec, and Calvary’s Brian Elliott are a few of the names getting tossed around in trade rumors,
Both of the Philadelphia Flyers goalies, Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth, are pending-unrestricted free agents and could be perfect fits for Team Teal, but their squad is just two points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race, making a potential deal somewhat unlikely.
DeBoer said Grosenick’s emergence as a dominant goaltender in the minors with the Barracuda gives the Sharks an extra layer of security that they lacked at this point last season.
“He’s been unbelievable,” DeBoer said. “That depth, having a guy like that underneath our two guys up here, is something that’s critical, and a source of strength for us.”
Whatever happens, Dell insists he’s ready for the job if his number gets called. Although he’s exceeded expectations in his rookie season, he isn’t discouraged by rumors suggesting the Sharks could be looking to replace him by March 1.
“I don’t really pay attention to it too much. I see it once in a while, but the rumors always come out around this time,” Dell said. “I just try to not worry about, it’s something I don’t really have control over. All I can do is keep playing my game and, hopefully, they make the decision that’s good for me.”
The Sharks reasn signed forward Timo Meier and defenseman Tim Heed to the Barracuda on Thursday. Meier has suited up for 26 of the Sharks last 28 games, but he struggled in Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Florida Panthers.