BREAKING: Eklund & Bordeleau Going to Europe with Sharks, Gushchin & Merkley Aren’t

The San Jose Sharks have announced the 27 players that they’re taking to Europe.

FORWARDS (16)

Nick Bonino
Thomas Bordeleau
Logan Couture
William Eklund
Jonah Gadjovich
Noah Gregor
Tomas Hertl
Luke Kunin
Kevin Labanc
Oskar Lindblom
Steven Lorentz
Timo Meier
Matt Nieto
Nico Sturm
Evgeny Svechnikov
Jeff Viel

DEFENSEMEN (8)

Matt Benning
Nick Cicek
Mario Ferraro
Scott Harrington
Erik Karlsson
Jaycob Megna
Radim Simek
Marc-Edouard Vlasic

GOALTENDERS (3)

Aaron Dell
Kaapo Kahkonen
James Reimer

The following players are reassigned to San Jose Barracuda training camp:

Andrew Agozzino, Zach Emond, Danil Gushchin, Santeri Hatakka, Luke Johnson, Artemi Kniazev, Mark Liwiski, Eetu Makiniemi, Strauss Mann, Ryan Merkley, Montana Onyebuchi, Derrick Pouliot, Adam Raska, Scott Reedy, Tristen Robins, CJ Suess, Max Veronneau, Jasper Weatherby

2021 fifth-round pick Artem Guryev was reassigned to the OHL’s Peterborough Petes.

They’re not taking winger Alexander Barabanov (upper-body) or defenseman Markus Nutivaara (lower-body) right now, but the injured players can join the San Jose Sharks later in trip. Both players’ injuries, at the moment, are considered day-to-day. They’d be welcome additions if they can make it back.

There was some thought that Danil Gushchin might make the trip after his hat trick last night in Vegas, but it appears that he’ll start the season with the San Jose Barracuda. Make no mistake, the Sharks like him, but organizational belief appears to be that he’d benefit from starting in the AHL.

2018 first-round pick Ryan Merkley may appear to be a surprise omission, but consider that it appears that he was healthy scratched from the last split-squad exhibition games, maybe not. Instead, fellow prospect Nick Cicek will get on the plane.

Merkley, in the final year of his ELC, is still waiver-exempt, so he’s not out of chances…yet.

First Guess at Who Sharks Are Bringing to Europe

Other top prospects William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau are on the trip, but they still need to show the coaching staff why they belong in the opening day line-up.

The San Jose Sharks open the regular season on Oct. 7 and 8 in Prague. So there’s still training camp and an exhibition game in Berlin on Oct. 4 before then.

I’ll have more roster reaction shortly.