SJHN Daily: Simek Clears Waivers, Gadjovich Signs With Panthers

Jonah Gadjovich has found an NHL home.

The ex-San Jose Sharks enforcer signed an AHL deal with the Charlotte Checkers over the summer. The Checkers are the Florida Panthers’ affiliate. The agreement became an NHL deal with the Panthers on Monday.

Gadjovich has yet to play for Charlotte or Florida this season.

“Jonah is a physical, highly competitive forward who brings versatility and size to our roster,” Panthers GM Bill Zito said in a team press release.

For the last two seasons, Gadjovich, along with Jeffrey Viel, were considered San Jose’s top fighters. In the off-season, however, the Sharks declined to qualify both Gadjovich and Viel, making both unrestricted free agents. In their stead, San Jose inked ex-Panther Givani Smith to a two-year, $1.6 million one-way contract.

Viel signed a one-year, one-way veteran’s minimum contract with the Winnipeg Jets, and is currently skating with their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.

AT SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW…

The San Jose Sharks played their best game of the season but still fell short, losing 3-1 to the Boston Bruins.

Good news from the loss? Mikael Granlund is close to returning from his lower-body injury.

It was reported that Kevin Labanc was going to be placed on waivers yesterday morning. He was not. Inside the drama!

Labanc instead made his season debut. Before the game, David Quinn pumped Labanc’s tires.

Who was waived? Radim Simek was actually waived.

OTHER SHARKS NEWS…

However, no one claimed Simek, who’s headed to the San Jose Barracuda.

Here is how the San Jose Sharks’ 3-1 loss to the Bruins looked from the Boston Bruins‘ perspective.

ESPN named its Top 100 players in the NHL. One San Jose player made the list… at No. 100.

Anthony Duclair scored his first goal as a Shark in last night’s loss.

Duke gets his first in Teal! pic.twitter.com/yrUvNtedDX

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 20, 2023

AROUND THE NHL…

Kevin Stenlund scored a goal and blocked a shot with his face in the dying seconds of last night’s Florida Panthers win.

Could the NHL see a decentralized draft, much like the NFL and NBA?

The Colorado Avalanche shut down Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks in a 4-0 win.

Are the Philadelphia Flyers better than they were expected to be? A 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers certainly helps make the case.

There is reportedly interest from multiple NHL teams in free-agent forward Phil Kessel.