SJHN Daily: Sommer Named to AHL Hall of Fame, Pavelski Tribute Video

Roy Sommer is getting inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in San Jose.

That just feels right.

On Feb. 5, as part of the AHL All-Star Game’s festivities in San Jose, the long-time San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate head coach will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with Dennis Bonvie, Gordie Clark, and Gerry Ehman.

Sommer, 66, is the AHL’s all-time winningest coach with 828 wins. From 1998 to 2022, the Oakland native was the head coach of San Jose Sharks AHL affiliates Kentucky Thoroughblades (1998-2001), Cleveland Barons (2001-06), Worcester Sharks (2006-15), and San Jose Barracuda (2015-22). He also coached the Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate San Diego Gulls last season and is currently behind the bench for the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild.

AT SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW…

Mario Ferraro says this has been the toughest start of a season yet as the Sharks continue their rebuild.

The San Jose Sharks are more open to neck, wrist protection after the Adam Johnson tragedy

Ferraro is taking on a leadership role and helping William Eklund develop.

Is this worst #SJSharks team ever? We talk about that on the pod and…

🦈Why Sharks made right move sending Bordeleau down
🦈Debating Kunin
🦈Bright spots on 0-8-1 team
🦈@halfwall_hockey's thoughts about Will Smith's season

Watch & subscribe here –> https://t.co/UmjNY9sIzj

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 30, 2023

Marc Edouard-Vlasic puts being a healthy scratch this early in the season in perspective.

Behind the scenes of the good work being done by San Jose Sharks video coaches Nick Gialdini and Cody Ward.

What’s next for the officially-retired Joe Thornton?

OTHER SHARKS NEWS…

Anthony Duclair made his return to South Florida, which was the first NHL stop that felt like home to him.

They gave him a nice video tribute on Tuesday:

Anthony Duclair gets a nice welcome back video from the Florida Panthers.

Fans at Amerant Bank Arena gave him a “DUUUUUKE” chant before cheering at the end. pic.twitter.com/NpcstNKQfR

— Colby Guy (@ColbyDGuy) October 25, 2023

Luca Cagnoni is making a big impact in the WHL.

AROUND THE NHL…

Joe Pavelski just scored his 1,000th point, and the Dallas Stars honored that achievement last week with an outstanding tribute video:

The legend of Joe Pavelski. 1⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣@jpav8 | @NHL | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/FYcDHRK5fw

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 26, 2023

Ottawa Senators restricted free-agent Shane Pinto was suspended for 41 games for violating league gambling rules.

Also, GM Pierre Dorion got canned in the heels of the Pinto news and the Senators losing a future first-round pick for their role in the aborted Evgenii Dadonov trade in 2022. Steve Staios is the interim GM.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are confident they played at their full potential when they handed the Colorado Avalanche their first loss of the season. But recent struggles show that Erik Karlsson and company still haven’t got quite untracked.

Bobby Brink scored his first two NHL goals as the Philadelphia Flyers continued their hot streak against the Minnesota Wild.

The Boston Bruins blew a lead and suffered their first loss of the season to the Anaheim Ducks.

ESPN has the latest buzz on NHL rumors, including the free-agency sweepstakes of Patrick Kane.

Nicklas Backstrom is stepping away from hockey.