Preview/Lines #72: Agozzino Trying To Put ‘Best Foot Forward’, Eklund Injury Day-To-Day?

I don’t think this is what Andrew Agozzino meant.

After William Eklund got called up by the San Jose Sharks, the San Jose Barracuda captain said on Mar. 3, “I hope I don’t play with him for the remainder of the year, and he’s up there, because he really does deserve it.”

Eklund got sent back down on Mar. 19, but Agozzino still isn’t playing with him. That’s because the 32-year-old got called up in the 20-year-old’s stead.

It’s a funny twist of fate, but Agozzino, who picked up a crafty assist in his Sharks debut on Monday, is also, like Eklund was, trying to make his NHL case for next year.

Agozzino is signed for next season. While it’s safe to presume that a 30-something with 656 AHL versus 48 NHL contests under his belt over his career wouldn’t be a strong contender to start next fall with the San Jose Sharks, Agozzino isn’t giving up on the dream.

He said yesterday: “I want to put my best foot forward and show that I can be a part of what they’re trying to do here and be part of the solution.”

So maybe he and Eklund will be teammates yet, but this time in the NHL.

“He’s a pro. He approaches the game the right way, approaches practice the right way. He’s in the gym,” Agozzino said of Eklund three weeks ago. “You think of the identity of our team, and he certainly is the guy who kind of drives the bus for us most nights.”

You could say the same thing about Agozzino, who’s one-two on the Cuda in scoring, just ahead of, you guessed it, Eklund.

San Jose Sharks (19-37-15)

Per David Quinn, James Reimer starts, while Radim Simek and Jacob Peterson will draw into the line-up.

Simek will replace Derrick Pouliot and Peterson will replace injured Andreas Johnsson.

Speaking of Eklund, he got injured in the Barracuda’s 3-2 loss to the Colorado Eagles yesterday.

William Eklund hurt here pic.twitter.com/kp80aagTVZ

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) March 23, 2023

Quinn said that Eklund is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, pending further tests. I think we’ll get a better idea by the weekend the true extent of the top prospect’s injury.

Vancouver Canucks (31-34-5)

According to Canucks play-by-play voice Brendan Batchelor, Filip Hronek will make his Vancouver debut and Thatcher Demko will start.

Where To Watch

The San Jose Sharks will take on the Vancouver Canucks at 7 PM PST at Rogers Arena. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.