Preview/Lines #46: Gregor Says Air Clear With Quinn, Eyssimont on His “Iceman” Nickname

The San Jose Sharks locker room was full of stories yesterday.

Kevin Labanc and David Quinn not being on the same page.

Labanc, Quinn Not Seeing Game the Same Way

Nico Sturm breaking down how you defend without a stick.

How Do You Defend Without a Stick? Sturm Puts On Textbook Display (+)

Radim Simek’s return to the ice after his second concussion this season.

Simek just joined practice late. first time I’ve seen him in a while on the ice

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 17, 2023

Erik Karlsson’s honest answer to…well I’ll get to that one later.

Here’s a couple more small stories from yesterday.

Hockey nicknames are usually uncreative, so it caught my attention when Nick Bonino let slip that Mikey Eyssimont’s nickname is “Iceman”.

Sharks Locker Room: Karlsson Talks Punchless OT, Eyssimont Tried to Goad Tatar Into Penalty

I would’ve guessed “Essy” or something like that.

Eyssimont said the nickname, a take-off from his last name, comes from his St. Cloud State days, though he couldn’t credit anybody in particular for it. He noted that it’s not from “Top Gun”, which wasn’t as popular a few years ago as it is now.

Noah Gregor caused a mini-kerfuffle when he told the Mercury News a few days ago that he wanted a little more communication from San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn about being scratched since Dec. 27.

Quinn was of the opinion that he and the coaching staff had communicated regularly with Gregor and that the air was clear between both sides now.

Quinn on ‘Equation’ for Gregor To Stay In Sharks’ Line-Up

I went back to Gregor to double-check, and he agreed that the air was cleared.

“We’re all good,” Gregor said. “I never really thought there was any tension between me and Quinny. I think [we had] a good conversation that we’ll keep to ourselves.”

Gregor says he knows what the coaching staff wants from him: “They’ve made it clear to me. So I’m looking to move forward.”

San Jose Sharks (13-23-9)

Quinn, on sitting Labanc again: "Noah played well…The plan was to put Kevin back in, but just the way things went the other night, I just liked what I saw from all 12 forwards.

He had a "good talk" with Labanc today: "There's clarity of where he's at. He's gonna get back in."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 18, 2023

So they’ll look like this except Harrington in for Cicek.

#SJSharks this afternoon, Reimer starts, Gregor in for Labanc:

Meier-Hertl-Eyssimont
Nieto-Couture-Barabanov
Bonino-Sturm-Gregor
Gadjovich-Lorentz-Lindblom

Megna-Karlsson
Vlasic-Benning
Ferraro-Cicek

Reimer

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 16, 2023

Dallas Stars (26-12-7)

Jake Oettinger expected to start tonight vs. Sharks.

Pete DeBoer will update us at 5:45 pm pacific.

— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) January 18, 2023

Pavelski on Hanging With Jumbo Last Night, Karlsson’s Spectacular Season

Where to Watch

The San Jose Sharks will take on the Dallas Stars at 7 PM PST at SAP Center. Watch it live on TNT. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.