Preview/Lines #19: Gambrell Returns to San Jose

The San Jose Sharks face the Ottawa Senators for the final time this season, and with that, forward Dylan Gambrell returns to SAP Center to face his former club for the first time.

“It’s good to be back and see some familiar faces,” Gambrell said. “I enjoyed my time here. Everybody was great to me.”

Gambrell started the season with the San Jose Barracuda, registering one assist in three games before being traded to Ottawa for a 2022 seventh-round pick. The Sharks’ 2016 second-round pick was happy to get a fresh start.

“It’s a clean slate,” Gambrell said. “Nothing changes too much at the end of the day. You continue to work and continue to get better every day.”

He joins former Sharks Josh Norris and Chris Tierney up north.

“They’ve been great to me,” Gambrell said. “It makes it easier to get acclimated with a new group, knowing those guys. Everyone has been great jumping into this new situation.”

Since his arrival to the capital city of Canada, the 25-year-old center has suited up primarily on the fourth line. Although he has no points in five games, Gambrell holds a 62.8% face-off win percentage.

“He’s good on the draws,” Senators forward Nick Paul said. “He’s real hard to play against. He has a lot of talent. He’s positive and hard-working. A great pickup for us.”

Gambrell won 44.9 percent of his faceoffs in San Jose.

San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture is happy to see Gambrell finding his footing in the NHL once again.

“Gambrell is a great person,” Couture said, smiling. “It’s good to see Gambrell playing. It didn’t work out here. Hopefully it does there. He’s a good, talented player and hope for the best whenever he’s playing. Just not against us.”

When asked about his favorite memory with the San Jose Sharks, Gambrell said he missed being around the guys and also hinted at missing being a part of defenseman Mario Ferraro’s YouTube videos.

“Maybe,” Gambrell said with a chuckle.

San Jose Sharks (9-8-1)

No projected changes for the #SJSharks as they take on the #GoSensGo.

Get caught up on today's Mega Preview:
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— The Content Boyz (@LockedOnSharks) November 24, 2021

Ottawa Senators (4-11-1)

Per Daily Faceoff, this is how the Senators are expected to line up:

Tkachuk – Norris – Sanford
Paul – Stützle – C. Brown
Formenton – Tierney – Ennis
Kelly – Gambrell – Watson/Shaw

Chabot – Zaitsev
Mete – Zub
Holden – Thomson

Murray

Where to Watch

Puck drop against Ottawa is 7:30 PM PT at SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California and ESPN+. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.