Sharks Reduce Roster: Boughner Gives Power Play Hints, Knyzhov Injury Update

The San Jose Sharks have reduced their training camp roster to 46 players today.

Ethan Cardwell, Brandon Coe, Benjamin Gaudreau, Liam Gilmartin, Danil Gushchin, Gannon Laroque, and Max McCue were sent back to juniors.

Nick Cicek, Zachary Emond, Zach Gallant, Dillon Hamaliuk, Krystof Hrabik, Timur Ibragimov, Jacob McGrew, Cole Moberg, Kyle Topping, and Evan Weinger were sent to San Jose Barracuda camp.

Jeremie Biakabutuka and Macauley Carson were released from their tryouts.

This is what the San Jose Sharks training camp roster looks like right now.

Boughner reminded us not to read too much into the two practice groups today (one younger, one more veteran) — a number of players from the younger morning group are very much in the competition for NHL jobs

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 27, 2021

Some intriguing youngsters remain — William Eklund, Santeri Hatakka, to name a few.

San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner touched on Eklund and Hatakka in his post-practice availability today. He also talked about Sasha Chmelevski, what he’s looking for from a fourth-line center, Lane Pederson, and some telling thoughts on the power play.

He also gave an injury update on Nikolai Knyzhov.

Bob Boughner, on Chmelevski:

He’s coming in better shape. He looks better this training camp than I can remember him.

Boughner, on Eklund’s work on the power play last night:

I like what Eklund did on the power play. I thought that he did some thing there that were pretty high-end. He was key on a couple of those set-ups.

Boughner, on Hatakka:

I like what I see. He definitely has the feet to play at this level right now. It’s a matter of feeling comfortable, keeping up the pace, adjusting to the timing.

Boughner, on Knyzhov — hasn't said if it's UBI or LBI: "He's feeling better. But he's not any closer to skating right now. Originally, it was day to day, now we're looking at closer to week to week now. Let's hope he'll be ready for the opener."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 27, 2021

Boughner says Knyzhov may be week-to-week — they're optimistic that they'll be ready for the opener. Barabanov suffered LBI yesterday, considered day-to-day — Meloche, who left game after fight yday, also day-to-day

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 27, 2021

Boughner, on what he’s looking for from a fourth-line center:

It’s a guy that’s going to be able to penalty kill. Faceoffs are really important. Someone who’s going to be able to play between [Nieto and Cogliano], guys like that, who are going to have high pace to their game, energy.

That’s one thing I really want this year: I want our fourth line to have an identity.

Boughner, on Pederson:

He’s a guy that plays a pretty heads-up game, a smart game. He battled hard. He made a great play on the power play goal with some patience. I liked the way he controlled the middle of the ice. I really did. You could tell, he’s played pro hockey. He’s not a young kid coming out of juniors or college. He doesn’t get rattled.

Boughner, on using Logan Couture and Kevin Labanc in the high slot “bumper” position on the San Jose Sharks power play today:

A guy that plays that position, has to have some hockey IQ, he has to be in and out of spots at the right time. He’s got to be that relief all the time under pressure. I think Logan is one of those guys that can read the play very well. He’s one of our smartest hockey players.

He’s still gonna get some offense from that area, converging down towards the net for rebounds. I like him so far there. That’s something that we’ve studied in the summer and looked at other teams. You can look and see the offense you can create from that position. Brayden Point, for example. He’s one of the best bumpers in the league. T.J. Oshie, Bergeron.

Eklund, Weatherby will play tomorrow night, per Boughner. Reimer will start, Melnichuk may split with him

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 27, 2021