San Jose is exploring ‘opportunities’
Enters draft on 2nd day with questions about backup goalies
The Sharks didn’t trade up to acquire a pick in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft on Friday and will enter the second day with some lingering questions as to who their backup goalie will be next season.
The list of pending unrestricted free agents the Sharks have — which includes goalies James Reimer and Aaron Dell — were all able to begin interviewing with other teams as of 9 p.m. (Pacific) on Friday. Players officially become UFAs on July 1 and can then sign with any team.
With Martin Jones entrenched as the Sharks’ No. 1 goalie, there may not be enough starts left over for a goalie as experienced and talented as Reimer, who went 6-2 with a 1.62 goals against average in eight games with San Jose.
“No team has been crossed off. This has been a great organization and it’s been a lot of fun to be a part of,” Reimer said at the end of the Sharks’ season. “We’ll see what transpires.
“Any player, any goalie, you want to play. So, you see where the best opportunity is and what’s the best fit for your family and your career.”
While it appears the Sharks haven’t completely closed the door on bringing back Dell to back up Jones, general manager Doug Wilson said earlier this week that the team might also look outside the organization for goalie help.
Right now, the Sharks have two goalies under contract for next season, Troy Grosenick, 26, and recent free agent signee Mantas Armalis, 23, of Lithuania.
Dell emerged as the Barracuda’s No. 1 goalie, going 17-16-1 in the regular season with a 2.42 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.
Grosenick had an upand-down season in the AHL in 2015-16, going 11-102 with a 3.16 goals against average. Armalis, who has played 54 career games in the Swedish Elite League, has no professional experience in North America.
“We’ll explore what any of the priority needs might be to fill any of our opportunities,” Wilson said Monday. “We want to make sure our young players are given the chance. … In all positions, we feel we have guys that can compete. Whether it be Armalis and Dell at the goaltending position. But we also will have the ability to explore what else is out there.”
The Sharks’ other pending UFAs are forwards Nick Spaling, Dainius Zubrus, Micheal Haley, Frazer McLaren and John McCarthy, and defensemen Roman Polak, Matt Tennyson and Karl Stollery.
Wilson did not hold a conference call with reporters Friday, but said the Sharks would explore their options of bringing back UFAs once they knew what the upper limit of the salary cap would be for the 2016-17 season. Tuesday, the NHL announced the upper limit would be $73 million, leaving the Sharks right now with about $12.1 million in cap space for the upcoming season.
The Sharks’ first pick as of Friday evening remained at No. 60 overall. They also hold picks at nos 111, 150, 180 and 210.