Sharks Summer Update 2018

As the offseason rolls on, here are a few random notes from in and around the San Jose Sharks organization.

• With restriced free agency looming, it sounds as though the Sharks will make an effort to retain almost all of their 12 pending RFAs. Word is that deliberations amongst the pro scouting staff got quite contentious when deciding on the term to offer certain players, but it seems there is now a final list of qualifying offers ready to be rolled out. It will be interesting to see which players the organization deems worthy of long-term commitments, and which ones apparently have more to prove.

• The San Jose Barracuda opted against a parade to celebrate their Calder Cup win, but did hold a fan rally at the SAP Center in July. There was no official attendance tally, but estimates put the number of visitors in the tens of thousands. Those figures came as a surprise to team officials who were less than thrilled with the turnout at Barracuda games throughout 2017-18. It seems that there is solid grassroots support for the AHL in San Jose, and the hope is that more of those casual fans will actually come through the turnstiles in 2018-19.

• Also of note around the Barracuda is the status of Head Coach Roy Sommer, whose contract has expired after four seasons with the Barracuda/Worcester Sharks. At the draft, General Manager Kyle Phillips went on the record as saying that Sommer "will be our AHL coach for as long as he wants to be," and that the 60-year-old bench boss "has a lifetime contract with us as far as I'm concerned." 

• After holding firm throughout his first year at the helm, rumor has it that Phillips has finally put star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky on the trade block. Though nothing can be confirmed, insiders are reporting that there were quiet negotiations between the Sharks and two teams over the summer, with Bobrovsky's contract status (franchise tagged but currently with zero years) ultimately spoiling any potential deal. Expectations now are that Phillips will keep the franchise tag in place and use that element of financial control as a bargaining chip in trade talks.

• Well wishes go out to Chicago General Manager Thomas Gidlow. Glad to hear everything's still relatively OK with you and yours. Continue to stay safe, Thomas.