Sheng’s Daily: Greetings from Arizona!

The San Jose Sharks took a day off yesterday, but San Jose Hockey Now didn’t!

First, thank you to everybody who contributed to my Tip Jar — because of your contributions, I’m in Arizona, self-quarantining, and gearing up for live coverage of the Sharks’ final scrimmage on Jan. 10 and opening games against Arizona on Jan. 14 and Jan. 16.

Good bye for now, Bay Area! Thanks to those of you who contributed to my Tip Jar, I'm on the way to San Jose errr Arizona to cover #SJSharks training camp pic.twitter.com/KHBrG35Ccu

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 5, 2021

I spoke with first-round pick Ozzy Wiesblatt yesterday — Ozzy is also in Arizona, training with San Jose Barracuda prospects in Chandler:

For Ozzy Wiesblatt, It’s Always Family First, Team First

In case you missed it, here are training camp updates from Monday and Tuesday:

Of Course Couture Says Sharks Will Make Playoffs; Boughner Talks Up Leonard

Vlasic Looking for Offense, Labanc Stronger & Faster, Sorensen’s Confidence

Simek on Injury “Roller Coaster”? Boughner Doesn’t Think So

Locked on Sharks has been just as busy too, as they’ve returned to daily podcasts:

World Juniors Reaction, Get to Know the Blues

Is Erik Karlsson Still Sharks’ Best Awards Candidate?

Talking Sharks’ Training Camp: The Kids Are Coming!

From now until the beginning of the regular season, we’re dropping the subscription price for San Jose Hockey Now from $29.99 to $22.99 — get two free months of the best San Jose Sharks coverage around!

Also, I’ve set up a Tip Jar to help fund my travel to and from Sharks road games this year.

In other San Jose Sharks news…

Kurtis Gabriel has made his feelings known about yesterday’s attempted coup at the Capitol:

Arizona Coyotes announce they will have 25% capacity at home games in January. That is a maximum of 3,450 fans inside Gila River Arena.

— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) January 6, 2021

The Pacific Division will remain intact in '20-21 with the Ontario Reign playing in El Segundo (CA) and the San Diego Gulls playing in Irvine (CA).

The Charlotte Checkers, Milwaukee Admirals and Springfield Thunderbirds have elected to opt out of play for the 2020-21 season. https://t.co/1KtZxXnCHn

— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) January 4, 2021

We know the US took the gold, but how did San Jose Sharks prospects fare in the medal round?

In a 5-0 loss to Canada on Monday, Russia’s Artemi Kniazev played 18:09, while Yegor Spiridonov registered just 5:38. In a 4-3 loss to the US, Finland’s Santeri Hatakka skated 19:28.

Kniazev played more the following day; he was Russia’s second most-used player in a 4-1 bronze medal loss to Finland with 20:24. Spiridonov clocked 10:28.

On the winning side, Hatakka skated 18:13. (IIHF)

Kniazev and Hatakka also took coincidental minors in their match-up:

Hatakka and Knyazev are tussling again and this time they’re both gonna go to the penalty box.

— Lauren Kelly (@laurkelly24) January 5, 2021

Hatakka was voted by scouts as a big WJC surprise. (The Athletic)

Around the NHL…

There’s a familiar name for San Jose Sharks fans on this list:

In the last 20 years, here are the best 56-game goal-scoring stretches in the NHL. Can someone top this in 2020-21? My ESPN+ story on the 56-game records at stake in this weird season: https://t.co/AuRtIZxBJe pic.twitter.com/FVHtNyknkN

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 5, 2021

Hockey players aren’t the only hockey people who are glad to be back:

The #NHL brings out the best in all of our #PHWA members… https://t.co/2nGxpHy2lP

— PHWA (@ThePHWA) January 4, 2021

Friedman says that part of the pitch to get Joe Thornton to come to Toronto was the promise that he’d start with Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. (Sportsnet)

Patrik Laine and Pierre-Luc Dubois situations will put their GMs to the test. (The Athletic)

Rask On Bruins’ Future: ‘I Have No Intentions Of Playing Elsewhere’

With Season Quickly Approaching, Time Missed Will Be Tough to Make Up for Mathew Barzal

Penguins Comments Highlight Risk and Reward of Matheson Trade

Welcome Back: Florida Panthers to allow fans to attend home games in 2021

Avs training camp Day 2 wrap-up: Still unfit

Tom’s Daily: Camp Day Two, Tuch Rests; USA Wins Gold