Preview/Lines #41: Sabourin Will Make Sharks Debut Tonight

TORONTO – Scott Sabourin will make his San Jose Sharks debut tonight.

Sabourin has been on a tear with the San Jose Barracuda, seven goals and three assists in his last 10 games, ushering in his recall yesterday.

The Sharks, of course, aren’t expecting that kind of production from the 31-year-old winger here. In 43 NHL games in parts of three seasons with the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs, Sabourin has two goals and six assists.

So what are the San Jose Sharks looking for from the 6-foot-3 winger?

“Just a personality, some energy, a physical element to our game,” head coach David Quinn said. Quinn did bemoan the Sharks’ inconsistent compete against the Leafs on Saturday, and Sabourin should at least help there.

Sabourin will line up next to center Ryan Carpenter and Filip Zadina tonight.

“He had a good training camp, he’s done a really good job down with the Cuda,” Quinn said. “He’s earned that opportunity. It has to be a meritocracy when you’re running an organization, and he certainly deserves this opportunity.”

San Jose Sharks (9-28-3)

Kaapo Kahkonen will start, and Kyle Burroughs will come in for Nikita Okhotiuk. Sabourin is in for Kevin Labanc.

Here are my projected lines:

Eklund-Hertl-Hoffman
Duclair-Granlund-Zetterlund
Barabanov-Kunin-Bailey
Zadina-Carpenter-Sabourin

Ferraro-Emberson
Thrun-Rutta
Addison-Burroughs

The defensive pairings are just a pure guess, I was focused more on the forwards during the morning skate. There are four right-handers, so one of them will be playing their off-side.

Toronto Maple Leafs (20-10-7)

Martin Jones will get the start once again.

Martin Jones and the #Leafs look to sweep their season series against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in Toronto.

More on the matchup, lineup and where to watch. ⤵️https://t.co/RYGrCoJn6P https://t.co/RYGrCoJn6P

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) January 9, 2024

Where to Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs is 4 PM PT at Scotiabank Arena. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.