Sheng’s Daily: Happy July 1st!

Happy July 1st (October 9th)!

There’s nobody who’s set up San Jose Sharks fans better for free agency than San Jose Hockey Now. Over the last two months, we’ve pulled scouting reports for 25-plus Sharks-relevant UFAs from NHL scouts.

Curious what the scouts think about forwards Anthony Duclair, Andreas Athanasiou, Vinnie Hinostroza, Nick Cousins, Dominik Kahun, Mikael Granlund, Craig Smith, Erik Haula, Evgenii Dadonov, Carl Soderberg, Jesper Fast, Vladislav Namestinikov, Josh Leivo, Tyler Toffoli, Bobby Ryan, Michael Grabner, Kyle Turris, Alex Galchenyuk, Cody Eakin, Colin Wilson, Conor Sheary, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jimmy Vesey, Mattias Janmark, Michael Frolik, Pat Maroon, Tyler Ennis, Vladimir Sobotka, or Wayne Simmonds?

Defensemen Anton Stralman and Troy Stecher?

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Check out all the scouting reports, including the latest from yesterday, covering Duclair, Athanasiou, Hinostroza, Cousins, Kahun, Granlund, Smith, Haula, Dadonov, Soderberg, Fast, Namestinikov, Leivo, Stecher, and Toffoli.

A Scout’s Take on Duclair, Athanasiou & Other Non-Qualified Free Agents

Scouts Talk Dadonov, Granlund, Smith & Other Top UFA Forwards

Scouts Talk Sharks & Bargain UFA Forwards

Scouts on How Potential Buyout UFAs Would Fit Sharks

A Scout’s Argument for Bobby Ryan

A Scout’s Argument Against Signing Michael Grabner

Also, what grade did we give the San Jose Sharks’ 2020 Draft?

How We Grade San Jose Sharks’ 2020 NHL Draft

Around the NHL…

Justin Bourne had some interesting notes about 17 UFAs, including Joe Thornton at Sportsnet.

Travis Yost on Duclair and other non-qualified RFAs. (TSN)

Looks like Vegas has cleared some significant salary cap space:

Two sources confirm the #NHLJets are close to striking a deal for C Paul Stastny from the Vegas Golden Knights. Sounds like picks are involved going the other way.

Stastny has one-year left on a deal making him $6.5 million per year.

— Scott Billeck (@ScottBilleck) October 9, 2020

Columbus accomplished this too by trading Markus Nutivaara and Ryan Murray for not a whole lot. (Sportsnet)

Also, the Blue Jackets waived Alexander Wennberg for the purposes of a buyout. (The Columbus Dispatch)

Josh Anderson agrees to a seven-year contract with the Canadiens. (The Score)

San Jose Sharks nemesis Justin Williams retires. (NHL)

Avalanche UFAs Matt Nieto, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Wilson are hitting the market.

Avs UFAs will go to open market

Defensemen Stetcher, Matt Benning, and Madison Bowey are among the surprise non-qualified RFAs available today.

Surprise Non-Tendered RHD Free Agents Could Fit Penguins

Tuukka Rask wants to stay in Boston, defends decision to leave bubble.

Tuukka Rask Breaks Silence, Defends Decision To Leave Bubble

What will Mike Hoffman command in free agency?

Free Agent Focus: Mike Hoffman

Lou Lamoriello will have creative decisions to make during free agency.

Islanders, Lamoriello have creative decisions to make during free agency