Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Sharks Rumors

Noah Gregor Signs ELC With San Jose Sharks

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Another prospect, another contract for the San Jose Sharks, who today signed Noah Gregor to his three-year entry-level contract. Gregor is currently in the second round of the WHL playoffs with his Victoria Royals, and might not get a chance to sign an amateur tryout in the AHL this season. GM Doug Wilson released this statement on the young forward:

Noah’s taken his game to a whole new level during Victoria’s postseason run, and has shown that he can be a difference maker at both ends of the ice. His combination of talent, hockey sense, speed and hard-working nature make him a player that can be counted on in all facets of the game and we look forward to his continued development.

Indeed, Gregor was a force for the Royals in the first round, recording 10 points in the seven-game series, and showing that he probably deserved to go higher than his fourth-round draft selection. He was ranked #45 among North American skaters pre-draft in 2016, but fell all the way to 111th-overall. The Sharks, who had selected Dylan Gambrell 60th-overall, quickly snapped Gregor up with just their second pick of the day.

That draft looks like it could bear fruit even though the team had so few selections, and Gregor is a big part of that. The two-way forward has experience at center and could make an impact for the San Jose Barracuda next season.

Minor Transactions: 4/5/18

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

It’s been a slow day for player movement as the regular season winds down, but some intriguing late action serves as a reminder that teams are still tweaking their rosters even this late in the season. 13 teams have been eliminated from postseason contention, but seven out West and five in the East have clinched spots and the remaining six are still fighting. For those lucky enough to still have eyes on the playoffs, there are important transactions to be made:

  • As has been commonplace through this season – and will finally come to an end soon – the San Jose Sharks have reassigned defenseman Tim Heed to their in-house AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda themselves announced. Heed will suit up for the Barracuda tonight, just his sixth game in the minors this season. However, Heed has only skated in 29 games with the Sharks as well, as the 27-year-old rearguard has been passed back and forth continually but under-utilized overall.
  • The St. Louis Blues have recalled goalie Ville Husso, the recently-named AHL All-Rookie Team keeper, from the San Antonio Rampage. There has been no indication that this is an emergency call-up by the Blues, meaning Jake Allen and Carter Hutton are likely fine and the team will simply ride with three goalies to close out the season. St. Louis trails the Colorado Avalanche by one point with two games remaining, including a head-to-head match-up on Saturday.
  • The flood of young talent in Boston isn’t ending any time soon and fans can get another glimpse into the future by watching the remainder of the AHL’s Providence Bruins’ season. Boston assigned junior players Jack Studnicka and Kyle Keyser to their minor league affiliate, per The Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont, and the pair of Oshawa General teammates reported to the team today. Studnicka, the Bruins’ second-round pick last season, led the Generals in scoring this season with 72 points and did so on a team that featured two potential first-round forwards this June in Serron Noel and Allan McShane. Like fellow Boston prospects Trent Frederic and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Studnicka is an intelligent, two-way center who the Bruins hope could grow into a Patrice Bergeron clone. Perhaps more impressive though has been the play of Keyser, an undrafted free agent signing, who has been one of the best goalies in the OHL this season and was recently named the General’s Most Valuable Player. Both Studnicka and Keyser had previosuly signed ELC’s, but will more than likely still return to junior to begin next season; for now they will get a taste of the pro game in anticipation of NHL futures on the way.

San Jose Sharks Sign Lukas Radil To One-Year Contract

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The San Jose Sharks have dipped their toes into European free agency a bit early, signing Lukas Radil to a one-year deal that starts next season. The 27-year old forward recently suited up for the Czech Republic at the Olympics, and has been playing in the KHL for three seasons. Even if the contract began this season, Radil would not be playoff eligible for the Sharks.

Sharks GM Doug Wilson spoke about Radil in the press release:

Lukas is a big-bodied, puck possession forward who has been playing professional hockey at a high level for seven-plus seasons. He is coming off his most successful year yet, and has represented his country on the world’s biggest stages. We feel his game will translate well to the way we play and we’re excited to welcome him to San Jose next season.

That successful year that Wilson mentions was a big one, as Radil registered 38 points in 53 games for Moscow Spartak. That trailed only former AHL dynamo and Boston Bruins second-round pick Alexander Khokhlachev for the team lead.

Radil is a big-bodied forward who was a solid contributor at both even strength and on the powerplay, and could step right into a bottom-six role for the Sharks next season. There is no reason to think that he will turn into a real impact forward right away, but adding NHL-caliber players on reasonable deals adds depth to any team. Radil will turn 28 in August, meaning he won’t be restricted by the entry-level contract system. No word has been released on the financial details of the contract.

Snapshots: Kane, Martin, Rasmussen, Rask, Hart

at CDT | by 4 Comments

While it’s not a big surprise, the play of San Jose rental Evander Kane has opened some eyes in the NHL. In 15 games with the Sharks, the 26-year-old has put up nine goals and five assists, showing he has the skills to be the star winger that many teams thought he could be despite some mid-season struggles with the Buffalo Sabres.

Despite getting Kane for a reduced price because of the lack of interested teams, don’t expect that to be the case this offseason. While it is believed that the San Jose Sharks will try to re-sign him this summer, The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz (subscription required) writes in a mailbag column that no extension talks have begun and the price should be quite high as many more teams are likely to be in on Kane. In fact, Kurz writes the forward will be looking for both term and salary in this deal and could cost the Sharks as much as seven years at $7MM per season, which he believes will likely happen

  • Kurz also mentions in his mailbag feature that it is extremely likely the team will buyout defenseman Paul Martin, who has one more year next season at $4.85MM. The 37-year-old blueliner has slowed down and has only managed to appear in 10 games for the Sharks this year and spent 18 games with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL, the first time he’s ever played in the AHL. A buyout would save the Sharks $2.83MM in cap space for next season, which they might want if they intend to sign a big-named free agent.
  • Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press writes that 2017 first-round pick Michael Rasmussen has been playing some of the best hockey of his career in the WHL playoffs. One big difference is that the center has occasionally moved to the wing during recent games due to his excellent chemistry with Carolina Hurricane’s prospect Morgan Geekie. His success at the wing could be a good sign if the 19-year-old prospect hopes to make the Red Wings squad out of training camp. Rasmussen, who has had 31 goals and 59 points (along with five goals and 12 points in four playoff games) for the Tri-City Americans, could be a key rebuilding chip for a struggling Detroit squad.
  • Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News-Observer tweets that Carolina Hurricanes forward Victor Rask, who was declared out for the season almost two weeks ago, had successful surgery on his shoulder and is expected to be ready for training camp next season assuming his rehab goes well. The 25-year-old had 14 goals and 31 points this season.
  • The Athletic’s Alexander Appleyard (subscription required) breaks down the amazing success that Philadelphia Flyers prospect goaltender Carter Hart has had this year. Besides the amazing, eye-popping numbers of a 1.60 GAA and a .947 save percentage with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, the 19-year-old has had a such a dominating season that no other goalie’s numbers are even close to Hart. Appleyard continues to break down 106 seasons between the WHL, OHL and the QMJHL combined and can’t find a year in which a prospect had this great of a season in comparison to his peers. Hart is expected to get more seasoning next year in the AHL before he takes over in Philadelphia.

Daniel Brickley, Mikey Eyssimont Sign With Los Angeles Kings

at CDT | by 3 Comments

Friday: The Kings have officially announced the Brickley contract. The two-year entry-level contract will start this season.

Thursday: Daniel Brickley might be the most sought after college free agent on the market this year, and we’d recently heard he had visited the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks in an attempt to make a decision. That decision didn’t take long, as the defenseman has agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Kings. The deal will be a two-year entry-level contract when it is finally signed, and Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that it will start in 2017-18.

Brickley, 22, just finished his junior season with Minnesota State-Mankato, where he recorded 35 points in 40 games and was a considerable two-way force. After playing in the World Championships for Team USA last spring, it is expected that Brickley will be able to step right into the NHL and play a role on any defense corps, making him a desirable asset for nearly every club.

The left-handed shot defenseman stands 6’3″ 205-lbs and has quick feet to skate himself out of trouble in his own end. Though there are sometimes lapses in his own end like many young defenders, his ability to push the play through a solid first pass and ability to carry the puck is perfectly suited to the new NHL.

It is important to note though that Brickley will not be eligible to play in the playoffs this season, since he was not on any team’s reserve list at the trade deadline. The free agent will have to wait until 2018-19 to really make an impact, though the actual contract will still come into effect right away and make him eligible to play in the last few regular season games.

The team has also signed Mikey Eyssimont out of St. Cloud State, their fifth-round pick form 2016. Eyssimont was a point-per-game player this season, recording 39 on the year and leading the club in goals with 17. The 21-year old was also entitled to a two-year deal, but actually would be eligible for the playoffs if it takes effect in 2017-18.

Dylan Gambrell Signs Entry-Level Deal With San Jose Sharks

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The NCAA signing madness continues, with Dylan Gambrell officially inking his entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks. Gambrell was expected to turn pro after his junior season at the University of Denver, and will sign the maximum two-year entry-level deal. It’s not clear if the contract will start this season or next, which will determine whether or not he suits up for the Sharks or San Jose Barracuda down the stretch.

Gambrell, 21, was selected in the second round in his final year of eligibility in 2016 and is a dynamic offensive player. Recording at least 40 points in each of his three seasons at DU, and was a nominee for the 2018 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as one of the best players in the country. Part of a trio of talented DU forwards heading for the NHL (Troy Terry, Henrik Borgstrom), Gambrell is sometimes considered a byproduct of the solid Denver program and doubted for his ability to continue producing at the next level.

Still, there is something to be said about the ability to perform alongside talented players and Gambrell has basically never disappointed in that role. He’ll likely need to be featured on a scoring line to really reach his NHL ceiling, but his versatility and work ethic could allow him to fit into a role in the bottom six. His vision and ability to get the puck to teammates in space is excellent, and though there are few standout physical skills that would separate him from the pack in the professional ranks—except perhaps his first few strides, which are quick and powerful—he always seems to drive play in the offensive zone.

Western Notes: Oilers’ Offseason, Kane, Denver Players, Sikura

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Edmonton Oilers are not heading to the playoffs and are currently looking at all their in-house options before the season ends. Then the team will embark on the next bunch of steps to fix the team that one year ago was the talk of the league. The Athletic’s Jonathan Willis (subscription required) comes up with an eight-point plan on how to fix the team this offseason, primary of which is to watch its spending, both on free agents as well as the possibility to send off some of their own contracts as well.

One of the first suggestions is that Edmonton should not overreact when it comes to some of their underperforming players. While several of their defensemen had tough seasons this year including Oscar Klefbom, Andrej Sekera and Adam Larsson, Willis believes that it’s unlikely that they will struggle again and the team must preach patience. However, the team needs to unload expensive contracts of bottom-tier players, suggesting the team might want to see if they can trade off defenseman Kris Russell and forward Zach Kassian to free up some of their money.

As for free agency, the team should avoid big-name free agents and look to sign some of the more modestly-priced players that will be on the market even suggesting that they could consider bringing back Patrick Maroon if he will agree on a short-term deal.

  • The Chicago Blackhawks great Patrick Kane said he hasn’t decided yet whether he will play at the World Championships in Copenhagen in May, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. He said he’ll consider it after his season ends, but it’s “definitely an option. After I didn’t go last year, I was thinking that maybe I should have went.”
  • Although this note is about a Western collegiate team, The Athletic’s Corey Pronman (subscription required) had an interesting nugget in his prospect mailbag. Pronman was asked of the potential signings of the University of Denver’s three forward prospects in Henrik Borgstrom, Troy Terry and Dylan Gambrell, three of the team’s top players. Pronman’s response is that he believes all three will be signing with their respective teams the moment their college season is over. Denver is currently playing in the NCAA tournament. Borgstrom, the Florida Panthers’ 2016 first-rounder scored 22 goals in his sophomore season. Terry, the Anaheim Ducks’ 2015 fifth-rounder picked up 13 goals and 44 points in his junior campaign, while Gambrell, San Jose Sharks’ second-round pick in 2015, finished his junior year with 13 goals and 42 points. All three could be major contributors to their teams as soon as next season.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks also could benefit greatly soon as well as Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that if Northeastern University loses today or Sunday, expect prospect Dylan Sikura to be signed and in the Blackhawks lineup by Thursday. The Northeastern senior, who was the sixth-round pick in 2014, has had dominant season the past two years, combining for 42 goals and 110 points in two seasons. Northeastern is playing Michigan today.

Minor Transactions: 3/24/18

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

As many team continue their quest to either clinching or closing in on a playoff spot, the NHL has a full slate of 12 games scheduled with many impact games upcoming. Teams like the New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues and the Florida Panthers all need victories to continue their playoff drives. The Vegas Golden Knights are also a win away from clinching their first-ever playoff spot today. Throw in multiple injuries and teams will be making many moves today to keep their rosters loaded for their playoff runs.

  • The Florida Panthers recalled goaltender Harri Sateri from the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL this morning, according to FoxSports’s Steve Goldstein. With starter Roberto Luongo banged up with a minor lower-body injury, the team will turn to backup James Reimer. Sateri, who has served as the team’s emergency backup on multiple occasions this year has played in nine games with the Panthers, putting up a 2.92 GAA and a .911 save percentage.
  • The Colorado Avalanche announced they have recalled goaltender Spencer Martin from the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL as veteran Jonathan Bernier is unable to play with an infection from a cut. While having been recalled several times this season, Martin has not appeared in a game for Colorado, who are fighting to clinch a playoff spot. The 22-year-old goalie has a 3.02 GAA and a .895 save percentage in 32 games for San Antonio.
  • The Vancouver Canucks announced they have recalled defenseman Ashton Sautner from the Utica Comets of the AHL under emergency conditions today. The move was made after veteran defenseman Chris Tanev left Friday’s game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. This is the second time the 23-year-old Sautner has been recalled by Vancouver, but he has still not made his NHL debut yet. In 59 games, the blueliner has three goals and nine assists on the season. Sportsnet’s Rich Dhaliwal tweets that Sautner scored the game-winning overtime goal for Utica last night and could play his first NHL game in Dallas Sunday.
  • CapFriendly reported that the San Jose Sharks have assigned defenseman Tim Heed to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL after being recalled Friday. He has been bouncing up and down for much of the season.
  • CapFriendly also reported that the Buffalo Sabres have recalled winger Justin Bailey from the Rochester Americans of the AHL on an emergency loan. Bailey has had some success in Buffalo, picking up three goals in 12 games.

Joe Thornton Could Return During Playoffs

at CDT | by 4 Comments

Don’t count out Joe Thornton just yet. One of the league’s most well-respected veterans, “Jumbo Joe” has largely been counted out this season. The 38-year-old suffered a major knee injury, a torn MCL, back in January and few expected a return to the San Jose Sharks lineup in 2017-18. Thornton tried to put those thoughts to rest today, as NHL.com reports that he hopes to return to action as soon as possible, even if it’s late in the playoffs. Thornton’s full statement when asked about his progress and a potential return:

“Who knows? If I’m better mid-April or mid-May, I’m not sure yet, I can’t say. I’d like to contribute and to play if I can… I’ve been just kind of fooling around on the ice for I’d say about 10 days now. Probably full equipment for four or five sessions just by myself. … It’s feeling really strong, but I’m sure as every week goes on it will get more intense, but so far so good.”

Thornton’s words don’t exactly inspire great confidence, but it at least instills a glimmer of hope that one of the game’s most visible players could return and make an impact in the playoffs. Considering the fact that Thornton has 20 years of wear and tear on his body, it’s amazing that the 1997 first overall pick hasn’t simply been shut down for the season.

Of course, both sides have a reason to fight for a return to the lineup. Before his injury, Thornton was somehow outpacing his last season’s scoring, with 36 points in 47 games. At his age, the big center has shown little sign of slowing down. However, he may not have the same luck in free agency again this off-season, after earning a one-year, $8MM extension from the Sharks. This extensive injury coupled with a stronger free agent market (and San Jose’s rumored heavy interest in spending) could mean that Thornton won’t be able to cash in again. However, fighting his way back into the lineup would show both the Sharks and other potential suitors that Thornton still has what it takes to play in the NHL. For the Sharks, it would of course be nice to add another familiar body – and one of the top play-makers of his generation, to the lineup even it it’s not until later in the playoffs. San Jose is chasing the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot in the Pacific Division, but seem more likely to square off with either the Anaheim Ducks or Los Angeles Kings in the 2-3 match-up, which could honestly be a more difficult draw. If they are able to move on, Thornton’s return would help to combat the upstart Knights (or a wildcard winner) and would certainly be a necessary boost to take on one of the many strong teams who could come out of the Central Division.

Thornton’s potential return would also simply be a great boost for fans of the game. A fun player to watch, a great personality, and a Hall of Fame caliber career that simply lacks a Stanley Cup makes Thornton an easy player to root for. Hopefully his optimism that this injury won’t be season-ending comes to fruition.

Minor Transactions: 03/23/18

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

While you get ready for some big matchups around the league tonight, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here. Keep checking back throughout the day to stay up to date on your favorite team.

  • Libor Sulak is coming over from Europe to join the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Czech free agent defenseman signed with Detroit last spring, but spent this season playing in Finland where he recorded 32 points in 42 games. The 24-year old will test his skills at the AHL level down the stretch, and battle for a spot with the Red Wings next year.
  • Because it’s another day that ends in “Y”, Tim Heed has been recalled once again by the San Jose Sharks. Heed has been bouncing up and down constantly for the last few weeks, but hasn’t played since February 25th.
  • Filip Gustavsson has been officially added to the Belleville Senators roster as expected, after paperwork was filed to bring him to North America. The young goaltender was the big addition at the trade deadline for the Ottawa Senators, who believe he can be an NHL goaltender (not so far) down the road.
  • Brad Malone is back up with the Edmonton Oilers under emergency conditions, rejoining the team after just sending him down yesterday. The 28-year old forward likely never left the club, and was just part of a paper transaction for the game last night.
  • With Marc-Andre Fleury back in the Vegas crease, Oscar Dansk has been returned to the Chicago Wolves. Dansk has played just four games for the Golden Knights this year, but carries a .946 save percentage and even recorded a shutout. The 24-year old goaltender will likely be the first call should Malcolm Subban or Fleury experience an injury in the postseason.
  • Samuel Blais has been recalled by the St. Louis Blues, as the team tries to make one last push towards the playoffs. Blais has 35 points in 35 games for the San Antonio Rampage this season, and three points during his short time in the NHL.
  • With Dominik Simon healthy enough to resume playing, the Pittsburgh Penguins have sent his interim roster spot replacement, Josh Jooris, back to the AHL. Jooris, acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes at the deadline, has yet to record a point with the Pens in four games.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top