|
|
Season Preview: Addition and
Subtraction
Plenty of new faces to begin 2009-10
campaign
The Sharks kick off the 2009-10 NHL campaign on
Thursday in Denver, and won't make their home debut for another week. When they
do take the ice at HP Pavilion on October 8th, fans will need to acclimate
themselves with a host of new faces donning teal. Of the 23 players on the
final roster only 11 were on the opening night roster last season.
General manager Doug Wilson's off-season overhaul of the Sharks roster resulted
in more departures than additions, which has created plenty of opportunities
for prospects. Seven players that spent time with San Jose development
affiliates will have an opportunity show their stuff at the NHL level.
Wilson also added a couple veterans, one via a blockbuster deal that instantly
provides more offensive horsepower (Dany Heatley, and one that adds energy
vacated by Jeremy Roenick (Scott Nichol).
Here's a guide to the Sharks
additions and subtractions:
Forwards--
Benn Ferriero
2008-09
Team: Boston College (HE)
The rookie centerman spent the past four seasons
playing college hockey for Boston College were he scored 64 goals, including 23
as a sophomore. The Boston native was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2006,
but went unsigned. He scored three goals in the pre-season for San Jose, and
will get a shot at 3rd or 4th line duty, until Torrey Mitchell returns from the
injured list.
Dany Heatley
2008-09 Team: Ottawa (NHL)
The 28-year-old left wing gets a clean slate in San Jose after his trade demand
went public last summer and turned into the NHL's biggest soap opera over the
summer. Heatley has averaged more than a point a game during his seven year pro
career, which includes back-to-back 50-goal seasons in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
He'll get plenty of opportunities to bag goals on the power play, and is
expected to flank Joe Thornton on the Sharks top line.
Manny
Malhotra
2008-09 Team: Columbus (NHL)
Malhotra passed up big money
as an unrestricted free agent his summer to come to San Jose in an effort to
win a Stanley Cup. The Ontario native will fill the penalty killing vacancy
created by Mike Grier's departure.
Frazer McLaren
2008-09
Team: Worcester (AHL)
The 6'4" 225 pound winger brings size and grit to
the Sharks lineup. He is not expected to see much ice time, and will be
relegated to checking and enforcer duty. He led Worcester with 181 penalty
minutes last season.
Scott Nichol
2008-09 Team: Nashville
(NHL)
With Jeremy Roenick's retirement, the Sharks were in dire need of a
high energy, veteran presence. Nichol fits the bill perfectly. Not as outspoken
as Roenick, but the veteran of 8 NHL seasons brings tenacity to the Sharks
lineup. Don't look for goals from Nichol, but he'll rack up penalty minutes.
Jed Ortmeyer
2008-09 Team: Nashville (NHL)
Another
transplant from the Nashville Predators organization, Ortmeyer languished in
the Milwaukee (AHL) last season. Like Nichol, he wasn't brought in to score
points, but he will lay the body on opponents. He'll fill a 3rd or 4th line
role as a checking forward.
Defensemen--
Joe Callahan
2008-09
Team: NY Islanders (NHL) / Bridgeport (AHL)
Callahan is a journeyman
prospect, having split time between the New York Islanders and Bridgeport last
season. He was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002 and has spent time in
Anaheim's development program. The big defenseman will play if Joslin and
Demers falter.
Jason Demers
2008-09 Team: Wocester (AHL)
Demers had a strong pre-season and is regarded as one of the surprises of
camp. He will get the nod on the blueline early in the season. Demers was a
mainstay on the Worcester blueline last season, assisting on 31 goals in 78
games. Demers led all skaters in +/- for Worcester last season (+15).
Kent Huskins
2008-09 Team: Anaheim (NHL)
Huskins fills
the veteran blueline leadership void created by Brad Lukowich's trade to
Vancouver. The defenseman was acquired last spring along with Travis Moen, but
didn't see any ice time as he nursed an injury. Huskins is three years younger
than Lukowich, and has a new 2-year deal to bring some security on defense.
Derek Joslin
2008-09 Team: Worcester (AHL)
One of three
youngsters being asked to hold the fort defensively, this is Joslin's
opportunity to sow he's an NHL caliber defenseman. The young defender racked up
the frequent flyer miles between San Jose and Worcester last year, but the
Sharks hope he can bring some consistency to his game this season and establish
himself as an everyday defender. Hopefully the sharks allow him to open up
offensively. He was 5th in shots for Worcester last season, even though he only
played in 63 games.
Mike Moore
2008-09 Team: Worcester (AHL)
Moore rounds out the trio of defensive prospects the Sharks hope can bring
some stability to the blueline. The 2008 ECAC Hockey Defensive Defenseman of
the Year is establishing himself as a big hitter, which is what the Sharks need
more of. Douglas Murray can't do it all himself, so more physical presence in
the middle will make opposing players think twice about entering the Sharks
zone. Moore's 132 penalty minutes at Worcester last season was second only to
McLaren's team high 181 PIMs.
Goaltenders--
Thomas Greiss
2008-09 Team:
Worcester (AHL)
The Sharks were lukewarm on turning over the backup
goaltending responsibility to Greiss last season, but the youngster gets this
shot this year. Wilson pulled Brian Boucher off the NHL scrap heap last year
after, so don't be surprised to see more of the same if Greiss fails to deliver
in his limited opportunity. He was spotty in the pre-season, primarily against
minor-league rosters.
Key
Subtractions-
Forwards--
Jonathan Cheechoo
Disposition: Traded to Ottawa
Marcel Goc
Disposition: Signed
with Nashville
Mike Grier
Disposition: Signed with
Buffalo
Lukas Kaspar
Disposition: Signed with Philadelphia /
Adirondack
Claude Lemieux
Disposition:
Retired
Milan Michalek
Disposition: Traded to
Ottawa
Travis Moen
Disposition: Signed with
Montreal
Tomas Plihal
Disposition: Signed with TPS Turku
(Finland)
Jeremy Roenick
Disposition:
Retired
Defensemen--
Christian Ehrhoff
Disposition: Traded to Vancouver
Brad Lukowich
Disposition:
Traded to Vancouver
Alexei Semenov
Disposition: Signed with
NY Rangers
Goaltenders--
Brian Boucher
Disposition: Signed
with Philadelphia
 |
|
| What did you think of
this article? Post your comments on the Feeder Forums |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
