Sheng’s Daily: Guns & Sharks

A young Chris Pronger or Paul Kariya in a San Jose Sharks uniform?

It’s not complete fantasy, as the Sharks entered the 1993 NHL Draft with the second-overall pick. Alexandre Daigle went first, so San Jose had their pick from the litter: Sharks Eastern scouting supervisor Ray Payne wanted Pronger and director of professional scouting Tim Burke wanted Kariya.

Find out how San Jose ended up with Viktor Kozlov:

Ray Payne Wanted Chris Pronger, Tim Burke Wanted Paul Kariya in 1993 NHL Draft

Also, check out how I voted on the 2020 NHL Awards:

My 2019-20 NHL Awards Ballot

In other San Jose Sharks news…

Sheriff of Santa Clara County Laurie Smith is under investigation for her part in allegedly taking bribes in exchange for Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) permits. Essentially, donors to her campaign were reportedly about 14 times more likely to receive CCW licenses between 2014-2018 than non-donors.

According to NBC Bay Area, only 62 of 749 Santa Clara County applicants received a permit between 2014-18. Of these 62, two are current San Jose Sharks players, though neither player officially contributed to Smith’s campaign.

Even if the Sharks players, as non-donors to Smith’s campaign, aren’t involved in bribing Laurie Smith, how did they get their hands on these hard-to-obtain permits? Is this is an example of, at minimum, preferential celebrity treatment? Or is something else amiss?

San Jose Hockey Now reached out to both the San Jose Sharks and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office for comment. The Mercury News had the latest on this developing story.

Is Jimmy Howard an option for San Jose? (Locked On Sharks)

RFA Tony Sund signs elsewhere:

Per @hcDINAMORIGA, #SJSharks RFA defenseman Tony Sund has signed with the Latvia-based KHL team: pic.twitter.com/SEpgYMSrdA

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 21, 2020

Around the NHL…

Adrian Dater thinks Nathan MacKinnon got the shaft once again from Hart Trophy voters. That includes me, I guess, as I had MacKinnon fourth. (Colorado Hockey Now)

What would the Buffalo Sabres trade for Matt Murray? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Boston and Vancouver Canucks have had recent trade talks. (Boston Hockey Now)

Tom Callahan’s thoughts on the NHL Awards. (Vegas Hockey Now)

For San Jose Sharks fans, the end of Tampa Bay’s Game Two victory over Dallas must have been surreal:

Last 3 faceoffs of the game were Pavelski vs. Goodrow, Joe took 2 of 3, but Tampa escapes with 3-2 win

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 22, 2020

Speaking of Joe Pavelski, he’s in some hallowed company:

Joe Pavelski scores to move into a tie with @DallasStars franchise icon Mike Modano (58) for the second-most goals among U.S.-born players in NHL history and trails only Joe Mullen (60). #StanleyCup

More #NHLStats: https://t.co/wY0gfGXnt3 pic.twitter.com/cUBDbrI4il

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) September 22, 2020

In really hallowed company:

By the way, Pavelski accomplished the feat in 23 games, Maurice Richard in 10, Brett Hull in 23, and Wayne Gretzky in 15.

Anton Khudobin considers Sharks goaltending coach Evgeni Nabokov a mentor. (The Athletic)

Stamkos on deck? The star forward participated in morning skate but didn’t play in Game Two. (NHL)

Luke Fox on the league’s top buyout candidates — perhaps surprisingly, no San Jose Sharks appear on his list. (Sportsnet)