Injured Sharks’ Simek may not be ready for opener
Defenseman is still recovering from ACL, MCL injuries
SAN JOSE >> Defensemen Radim Simek may not be ready to play in the Sharks’ season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 2, coach Pete DeBoer said Friday.
Simek suffered torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee in a game against the Winnipeg Jets in March and missed the rest of the regular season and playoffs. He has been skating on a regular basis on his own this month and is nearing a return to practice, DeBoer said, but it is still unknown whether he will be able to play in less than two weeks time.
The Sharks, who began training camp on Sept. 13, have four preseason games remaining, starting with tonight’s game at SAP Center against the Vegas Golden Knights.
“There was a conversation this morning about he’s not far away from getting back into participation with our group,” DeBoer said. “I would say it’s more day-to-day and week-to-week.”
Simek’s possible absence could open the door for another left-shot defenseman to make the roster out of camp. Mario Ferraro, Jacob Middleton and Tony Sund figure to be among the most likely candidates to join Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brenden Dillon on the left side.
Last season, Simek made the Sharks’ roster out of camp but was a healthy scratch for the first 27 games. With the Sharks struggling in late November and early December, Simek was inserted into the lineup for the first time Dec. 2 of last year and immediately found some chemistry with Brent Burns, as the Sharks won seven of their next eight games.
Simek had one goal and eight assists in 41 games for the Sharks, averaging 15 minutes and 13 seconds of ice time. The Sharks were 299-3 with Simek in the lineup last season as they finished second in the Pacific Division with a 46-27-9 record. JONES TO START VS. GOLDEN KNIGHTS >> Goalie Martin Jones will play all three periods of tonight’s game, his first action of the preseason. He is also slated to play at least one more exhibition before he starts in net Oct. 2.
“The first couple of games, you’re just getting your timing back a little bit,” Jones said. “You can practice all you want, but it’s a little different when you get in a game. Just the speed and all of the bodies out there and the traffic. Try to get a feel for it again.”
Jones was 36-19-5 with three shutouts last season for the Sharks, but also had career-lows in save percentage (.896) and goals against average (2.94).
He found his stride in the postseason, though, especially after the first four games of the Sharks’ first-round playoff series against Vegas. From Game 5 of the first round until the end of Game 6 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues, Jones had a .908 save percentage and a 2.68 goals against average.
Jones said in the playoffs he worked on patience, just playing his position and making sure he’s not chasing the game too much, things he wants to carry over into this year.
“There’s technical stuff with me and (goalie coach Johan Hedberg), but it’s not like we’re overhauling anything too serious,” Jones said. “It’s just, especially in these early games, just making sure we’re focusing on
all the details. Making sure our game’s in a good place to start the season.”
POWER PLAY PRACTICE >> The Sharks spent a fair amount of time on the power play Friday. The first unit featured Burns and Erik Karlsson on the blue line and forwards Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane, who, for now is taking Joe Pavelski’s spot.
Twenty-one of Pavelski’s 64 points last season, including 12 of his 38 goals, came on the man-advantage for the Sharks, who finished the season with NHL’s sixthranked power play at 23.6 percent.
The Sharks’ second unit featured Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Tim Heed on the points and Joe Thornton, Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc up front.
Karlsson did not play in the Sharks’ first two preseason games and is not playing tonight. DeBoer said the plan is to dress Karlsson for a couple of games toward the end of the exhibition season. The Sharks play in Anaheim on Tuesday, are at home against Calgary on Thursday and are in Las Vegas on Sept. 29.