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Sheng’s Daily: Why Andrei Sekera Signing Matters to Sharks
It’s the calm before the storm at San Jose Hockey Now.
This week promises to be one of the wildest in NHL history, with the 2020 NHL Draft and the beginning of free agency smashed together with the continued uncertainty of when the next regular season will actually start.
SJHN will have complete coverage of all San Jose Sharks events during this momentous week. Subscribe here for more exclusive Sharks content!
But before we get to all that, check out Cathy’s Power Skating. Since 1992, Cathy Andrade has taught power skating in San Jose to all age levels, and for the first time since March, Cathy’s Power Skating hit the ice with students at Solar4America Ice in San Jose:
Support Cathy!
In other San Jose Sharks news…
Erik Karlsson, on what American football position he’d play: “I definitely wouldn’t be one of those enforcer guys. I think I would be a pretty good wide receiver. I got good hands, good hand-eye coordination, and I could run pretty fast. I’m not a pretty big guy, so that would be the only position I would be able to go for.”
.@ErikKarlsson65 thinks he would be a wide receiver if he played football 👐 pic.twitter.com/zRxJcuaKbk
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) October 4, 2020
Around the NHL…
Taylor Hall to the Avs on a short-term deal? (Colorado Hockey Now)
Islanders close to a deal with impending UFA Derick Brassard. (NYI Hockey Now)
Should Penguins chase Michael Grabner? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)
What do the Panthers have to offer in a trade? (Florida Hockey Now)
This might not be relevant to the San Jose Sharks if the Devan Dubnyk deal closes, but who are the top-10 UFA goalies? (Sportsnet)
Speaking of, sure-fire Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist wants to play next season. (Henrik Lundqvist)
Chicago sent Olli Maatta to Los Angeles for ECHL forward Brad Morrison, retains money too. (LA Kings Insider)
This might be of interest to the San Jose Sharks, who are also looking for a No. 6 defenseman — Dallas re-signed Andrei Sekera to a two-year, $3 million dollar contract. This might set the market for a better bottom-pairing blueliner. (TSN)
Nikolai Khabibulin believes Yaroslav Askarov will be a franchise goalie: “He’s got all the tools.” (TSN)
At the moment, the San Jose Sharks have just three right-shooting forwards on their NHL roster.
Should they target more?
From Sunday, another push for Nathaniel Mata’s RGV Roller:
"We're right around 100 degrees almost half of the year. If we had more roller rinks, hockey would have a little bit more of a chance down here."
Check out @RGVRoller sponsorship packet! Thanks @ScribeMata — support hockey in the Rio Grande Valley: https://t.co/esiZTK81nF pic.twitter.com/ofNynXIcqR
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 26, 2020
The Locked on Sharks guys debate the Sharks’ next alternate captain, among other topics:
In other San Jose Sharks news…
Oct. 26, 1995 – In a trade with the Colorado Avalanche, the #SJSharks acquired forward @OwenNolan11 in exchange for defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh.
📸 Sharks Magazine vol.5/no.3 pic.twitter.com/n8wi4V7Ojm
— San Jose Sharks History (@sjsharkshistory) October 27, 2020
Jonathan Dahlén has been picked for the national team by former Shark Johan Garpenlöv, only player from Hockeyallsvenskan on team. They'll compete in the Karjala Tournament against Finland, Czech Republic & Russia in Helsinki from 11/5-11/8 (H/T @UffeBodin) pic.twitter.com/4kA6zm7rkU
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 26, 2020
Around the NHL…
Mitchell Miller “admitted to bullying [Isaiah Meyer-Crothers,] an African American classmate with developmental disabilities” but was still the Arizona Coyotes’ first pick of the 2020 NHL Draft. (Arizona Republic)
However, former NHL goalie Ben Scrivens doesn’t think Miller “had done the work to earn a second chance.” Highly recommend his thoughtful thread. (Ben Scrivens)
San Jose Sharks star Evander Kane echoed Akim Aliu’s thoughts on the matter:
Facts
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) October 27, 2020
James Mirtle breaks down how much all 31 teams have left to spend — the San Jose Sharks are actually sitting pretty compared to the rest of the league. (The Athletic)
Edmonton sports legend Joey Moss, most famous for being the Oilers locker room attendant during the Gretzky Era, has passed away. (Oilersnation)
Ex-San Jose Sharks center Chris Tierney has agreed to a two-year, $7 million dollar deal with Ottawa. (Ottawa Sun)
Eight RFAs who could be offer-sheeted this off-season. (Sportsnet)
Racism kept Herb Carnegie out of the NHL, but his grandson is fighting to get him into the Hockey Hall of Fame. (Sportsnet)
Fantastic work by Jack Han, on how Bryce Salvador thought his way to a 15-year NHL career. (The Hockey Tactics Newsletter)
McAllen is one of the hottest places in Texas.
But that’s not stopping San Jose Sharks fan Nathaniel Mata and his non-profit RGV Roller from bringing hockey to this Texas border town:
Also, the National Hockey Now writers got together to predict where the best remaining UFAs are going. Where will Mike Hoffman, Anthony Duclair, Travis Hamonic, Sami Vatanen, Andreas Athanasiou, and Zdeno Chara land?
How about Athanasiou to the San Jose Sharks?
In other San Jose Sharks news…
Ryan Wagman of McKeen’s Hockey gave San Jose’s draft a sterling review. He told SJHN: “I really liked their picks through Coe. Great upsides, reasonable floors. I would have targeted different players with their four seventh-rounders, but I get the picks. Nothing stupid.” Read more here!
Around the NHL…
Just before his arbitration hearing, the Sabres sign Sam Reinhart to one-year contract worth $5.2 million. (The Buffalo News)
What’s wrong with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? (The Hockey Tactics Newsletter)
Haggerty: Is a return to Sinden era good for the Boston Bruins?
Full Circle: Chase Priskie returns to Florida Panthers ‘Learn to Play’ — this time as a Panther
This Date in Vegas Golden Knights History: Dansk Records First Win
Agent on UFA Gridlock, Gambrell & Kellman on Jumbo’s Departure
Meeting Mr. Robins
Sheng’s Daily: Has Mitchell Miller “done the work to earn a second chance”?
Sharks Don’t Need Right-Handed Forwards
Who Will Be Sharks’ Next Alternate Captain?
What I’m Hearing About Dubnyk-Donato to San Jose…
BREAKING: Sharks Are Talking to Conor Sheary
What’s Doug Wilson Doing with Sharks Forwards?
Speculation: Does Patrik Laine to the Sharks Make Sense?
Joe Thornton Lost the Faith — Doug Wilson Hasn’t
Meeting Mr. Robins
Who Will Be Sharks’ Next Alternate Captain?
USNTDP coach Nick Fohr on Bordeleau’s Hockey IQ, Chmelevski’s Skating, Labanc’s Confidence
Who’s Best Option for Sharks’ Third-Line Center?
Get to Know Thomas Bordeleau
Good morning Sheng! Do you feel Leafs signing Spezza today to 700k contract 1) create a price point for Marleau and Thornton possible contracts, 2) take the leafs off of possible landing spots for Thornton?
Don’t know if it creates a price point, I think it’s clear to Marleau/Thornton that with SJS cap crunch, they have to take reduced deals to come back. I suspect Wilson has too much respect for those guys to say, “Hey look Spezza took a song.” DW will offer what he can, they’ll know it’s the best DW can do, take it or leave it.
As for the 2nd question, yes. Spezza does a lot of the things that Thornton still can, but better, at least based on this season