Sharks News & Notes
2021-01-18The Sharks have struggled this season to string wins together, and GM Mitchell has been frustrated with the teams play. In a bit of a surprise move, we learned that the GM had placed the veteran group on the trading block. "Our lack of depth within our top 6 forward group has been evident early this year." quipped the GM when we caught up with him today. We know the team has been scouring the EHE for a top 6 upgrade, but the market appears bare at the moment. The trade, incase you missed it, was with the Dallas Stars, Dallas recieves center Kevin Hayes and off to the Sharks are center Par Lindholm, Defensive prospect Alex Vlasic, and Dallas 1st round pick in 2022. "The thought was in the back of my mind, this move might just entirely take you out of playoff contention" Said Mitchell. "There is always lots of risk involved in moving the best player in a deal for a base of future assets, we did that in the off-season as well moving Buchnevich for Oleksiak, Kaut & a pick. But we were headed for the bottom of the division anyway if I chose to sit back and do nothing, so I don't see this trade as that big of a gamble. Plus we have Alex Wennberg playing above where we thought he'd be, so he's enjoying a promotion to our #2 center position."
The rest of the veterans on the team aren't safe, as it appears the GM is still listening on any and all roster players. Whether something materializes or not will remain to be seen. Since the latest deal, the Sharks have won two games in a row against eastern playoff teams. Adam Henrique and Michael Kempny's names have been out there linked to various teams.
The San Jose scouting staff have presented us with their top 10 prospects in their system as well. There will be a write up in the spring on these guys, so we won't go into great detail here and just give you the skinny on it:
1. Alex Vlasic D 6'6" 198 lbs - Boston University Terriers (NCAA)
3GP - 0G - 2A - 2P - 2PIM - +4
2. Martin Kaut RW 6'2" 190 lbs - Colorado Avalance (NHL)
N/A - Taxi Squad
3. Cross Hanas C/LW 6'1" 165 lbs - Lincoln Stars (USHL)
2GP - 1G - 0A - 1P - 0PIM - -5
4. Felix Sandstrom G 6'2" 192 lbs - Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)
5GP - 2.74GAA - 0.920SV% - 1W - 4L - 0SO (Hockey Allsvenskan Stats)
5. Drew O'Connor LW 6'3" 190 lbs - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
N/A - Taxi Squad
6. Aaron Huglen C/W 6'0" 168 lbs - Fargo Force (USHL)
7GP - 3G - 4A - 7P - 6PIM - -2
7. Petr Kvaca G 6'1" 170 lbs - Bili Tygri Liberec (Czech)
27GP - 2.01GAA - 0.928SV% - 16W - 11L - 2SO
8. Akira Schmid G 6'5" 205 lbs - Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
9GP - 2.34GAA - 0.897SV% - 5W - 3L - 1OTL - 0SO
9. Travis Barron LW 6'1" 205 lbs - Colorado Eagles (AHL)
N/A - AHL not yet playing
10. Blake Speers C/RW 5'11" 185 lbs - Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)
N/A - AHL not yet playing
Next up for the Sharks is a home game against the Minnesota Wild on day 36.