Agent on UFA Gridlock, Gambrell & Kellman on Jumbo’s Departure

The free agency gridlock is real — and according to an agent, there’s no end in the sight.

It’s not just the money being handed out, or lack thereof, it’s also the rush, or lack thereof, to sign guys.

To illustrate, 19 days into free agency, six of TSN’s final top-20 free agents are still on the board: Mike Hoffman, Erik Haula, Corey Perry, Mikael Granlund, Anthony Duclair, and Sami Vatanen.

Last summer, just two of TSN’s top-20 were available after 12 days of free agency: Ben Hutton and Jake Gardiner.

“The length of time until the season starts is probably affecting [this off-season’s free agents],” an agent told San Jose Hockey Now. “There’s not much rush right now since who knows when NHL camps even open?”

This is on top of revenue concerns that every organization is facing.

So the teams are in no rush to commit — and in some cases, the players aren’t either.

This particular agent agreed that players might see better offers once there’s more certainty with when the 2020-21 season will begin.

So while we know there are multiple teams in on the likes of Hoffman, Haula, and Conor Sheary, it might be a while yet before all these dominos fall.

No Conor Sheary Update

Speaking of Sheary, San Jose Hockey Now broke last week that the San Jose Sharks were talking to his camp.

BREAKING: Sharks Are Talking to Conor Sheary

At the moment, however, SJHN doesn’t have an additional Sheary update.

That’s no surprise. It is, after all, an unusually stagnant market.

Gambrell, Kellman on Thornton

A week and a half ago, when Joe Thornton left the San Jose Sharks for Toronto, San Jose Hockey Now reached out to a few Sharks to ask them about Jumbo’s departure.

Kevin Labanc was quick to reply; over the last week, a couple more Sharks have responded.

Dylan Gambrell texted: “Huge loss, big presence, and has been such a key piece for the Sharks for a very long time. Someone I looked up to very much and learned a ton from.

“I wish him nothing but the best and you can ask just about anyone how much he’ll be missed. With that said, it’s up to us as a team to step up and make up for that presence going forward and I know we have the guys in the locker room to do that.”

Gambrell, who the San Jose Sharks hope can step up to help fill Thornton’s void on the ice, has spent most of the last half-year in Denver. The 24-year-old forward plans to be in San Jose in about a week, to join the likes of Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl, and Labanc, who have been skating together.

Meanwhile, over 5,000 miles away, Joel Kellman won’t be back soon — he’s playing for Allsvenskan’s Kristianstads IK right now.

Kellman messaged SJHN about the San Jose Sharks legend: “I was so happy I got to play with him for a couple months! He was just a true professional, always working hard on and off the ice. That’s why he’s been good for so many years.”