Sheng’s Daily: Off-season Goaltending Market Is Shaping Up

The Draft is less than a month away!

Yesterday at San Jose Hockey Now, we kicked off our Draft coverage by looking back, instead of ahead.

Ray Payne was a San Jose Sharks amateur scout for the better part of 14 years, from 1990-2004, first as Eastern Scouting Supervisor, then as Chief Scout. Ray Whitney, Sandis Ozolinsh, Mike Rathje, Jeff Friesen, Patrick Marleau, Scott Hannan, Jonathan Cheechoo, and Joe Pavelski were among the Sharks stalwarts that Payne helped select.

Cheechoo, in particular, was a Payne favorite. The 78-year-old scout told us a fun Cheechoo story here:

Jonathan Cheechoo’s Math Lesson

Also, if you haven’t already subscribed, I’m having a September sale — annual subscriptions are just $22.99! That’s two months free! Just subscribe here and enter this code (SHARKSFTF).

In other San Jose Sharks news…

Timo Meier would rather ride shotgun than drive, yet his dream car is a Ferrari. (NHLPA)

What position in particular should the Sharks be looking to upgrade this off-season? (Locked On Sharks)

Around the NHL…

Lou Lamoriello was named a finalist for GM of the year, along with Julien BriseBois and Jim Nill. (NYI Hockey Now)

Was GM Joe Sakic snubbed? (Colorado Hockey Now)

What will the Florida Panthers do in free agency? (Florida Hockey Now)

Bruce Cassidy wins the Jack Adams Award. (Boston Hockey Now)

It’s believed Vegas wants to sign Robin Lehner to a long-term extension — this would all but guarantee a Marc-Andre Fleury trade. Also, Chicago appears to have offered Corey Crawford a one-year deal for $3.5 million. Finally, Henrik Lundqvist looks set for a buy-out. The off-season goaltending market is shaping up. (The Athletic)

Brayden Point left Game Two and didn’t come back. (Tampa Bay Times)

On Tom Renney’s journey to Hockey Canada CEO and the challenges of COVID-19. (The Coaches Site)