SAN JOSE – Thomas Bordeleau’s lower-body damage might have a ripple impact all through the San Jose Sharks’ lineup, notably within the competitors for one of many staff’s remaining few roster spots.
Bordeleau was injured in a Sharks’ apply over the weekend and was, or is, competing to start out the season within the NHL, maybe as a third-line winger. Now he’s thought of week-to-week, with the Sharks uncertain if he can begin the common season on time.
Who jumps into Bordeleau’s spot, ought to he should miss the subsequent couple of weeks, may turn into one of many larger storylines in coaching camp because the Sharks’ preseason continues with Thursday’s recreation in Anaheim towards the Geese.
On Tuesday, some NHL hopefuls tried to make a case for themselves in what turned a 4-3 loss to Anaheim earlier than an introduced crowd of 9,462 at SAP Heart.
Ahead Danil Gushchin scored and added an help, and veterans Jake Walman and Alexander Wennberg additionally scored. However the Sharks fell to 0-2-0 within the preseason, thanks primarily to a sloppy second interval when San Jose allowed 4 unanswered targets.
“We’re going to should peel some scabs again from the final couple of years and perceive that to win on this league, you must do it shift after shift after shift after shift,” Sharks coach Ryan Warosfsky mentioned. “There’s guys in there which have gained Stanley Cups and have gained quite a lot of hockey video games on this league, and I’m going to depend on these guys fairly a bit to drive that dwelling.”
Can Gushchin make a roster push? His offensive abilities have by no means been in query. However can he be accountable on the defensive finish?
“Good first interval, and identical to everybody else, not an excellent second interval,” Warsofsky mentioned of Gushchin. “I assumed he bounced again within the third and confirmed some moments. One other younger man who wants to search out his method just a little bit, and he has loads to work on.”
Issues determine to get just a little harder from right here for all gamers competing for a spot on the Sharks roster as opposing groups begin to costume extra NHL regulars in video games. Anaheim’s lineup Tuesday primarily featured gamers who will begin the season within the AHL.
Listed here are three takeaways from Tuesday’s recreation.
SMITH’S PLAY: Prime prospect Will Smith displayed his imaginative and prescient and playmaking potential within the first interval, as he arrange winger Tyler Toffoli for a high quality scoring probability on the facility play. Smith completed with over 21 minutes of ice time, had two photographs on aim, and gained 4 of 8 faceoffs.
“I assumed he was fairly good,” Warsofsky mentioned. “He dealt with some issues, he obtained inside ice, performed with some tempo. Clearly, there’s some issues he must work on, however I appreciated his recreation tonight.”
Smith’s spot on the 23-man roster appears assured, and his offensive expertise determine to land him on the scoresheet in some unspecified time in the future right here. Nevertheless, his largest development space as an NHL centerman might be within the defensive zone.
Being a Massachusetts native, Smith watched former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, probably the greatest two-way facilities in NHL historical past, play often. Being part of the identical company as Bergeron, the 2 have additionally gotten to know one another off the ice.
“We had been alleged to get out and golf earlier than I left (the Boston space), nevertheless it obtained just a little busy, having to go to the (NHLPA) rookie orientation,” Smith mentioned earlier than Tuesday’s recreation. “However he mentioned each time I wish to attain out, it’ll be good.”
Having a six-time Selke Trophy winner a telephone name away is a fairly priceless useful resource for an offensive wizard like Smith, who confronted questions on his two-way recreation in his draft 12 months. He additionally is aware of it’ll be a piece in progress as he begins to compete towards among the greatest facilities on the earth, notably within the Pacific Division.
“(Bergeron) touched on there’s going to be ups and downs — everybody has mentioned that to me — and it’s a tricky league for a purpose, the most effective one on the earth,” Smith mentioned, “so that you’ve obtained to be there for the ups and the downs.”
IDENTITY PLAY: After Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Golden Knights, Warsofsky mentioned the staff wanted to start out taking part in nearer to its desired identification: taking part in with tempo and having numbers across the puck all recreation.
“We wish to be on prime of the opponent,” Warsofsky mentioned. “We had two or three guys doing it. We didn’t have 4 or 5 guys doing it. And we wish to play just a little bit faster, popping out of personal finish just a little bit cleaner.”
The Sharks began off nicely with targets from Gushchin and Wennberg within the first 11:59 of the opening interval. Anaheim, although, managed issues within the second interval, and among the Sharks’ defensive breakdowns that bit them Sunday cropped up once more Tuesday.
“My largest takeaway might be quite a lot of guys making an attempt to get used to one another and getting used to a brand new system,” Sharks defenseman Jake Walman mentioned. “It was scrambly at instances, however (we’re) making an attempt to form of set the usual of working exhausting and skating.”
MAKING A STATEMENT: Similar to throughout Sunday’s recreation when Givani Smith went after Kaedan Korczak after the Golden Knights defensemen hit Macklin Celebrini, a bunch of Sharks went at Geese ahead Jansen Harkins, together with Barclay Goodrow and Fabian Zetterlund, after he and Smith exchanged cross-checks. Harkins acquired a penalty, and Smith didn’t.
That’s a non-negotiable for the Sharks this 12 months. If opposing groups take liberties with the Sharks’ greatest younger gamers, there needs to be a response. No questions requested.
“I feel we’ve touched on being linked, and clearly, these guys have my again there,” Smith mentioned. “Feels good whenever you’re going on the market figuring out your two linemates are going to be there for you.”
FIRST ACTION: Goalie Vitek Vanecek performed the primary half of Tuesday recreation and stopped 11 of 12 photographs. It was a step in the fitting path for Vanecek, who had his 2023-24 season finish prematurely with a groin damage in February.
“He was excellent,” Warosfsky mentioned. “I assumed he was actually good. You might inform he was dialed in from the beginning, made some huge saves. However he seemed comfy, assured. He was good tonight.”
Vanecek mentioned he’ll take as a lot recreation motion because the Sharks coaches give him to assist him put together for the season.
“February was the final recreation,” he mentioned, “so it’s a very long time.”
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