The San Jose Sharks continue to whittle away at the training camp roster with the start of the 2016-17 season a little more than a week away.
Now that the World Cup of Hockey is over and players are finally filtering back to their NHL clubs, cuts have to be made and yesterday the Sharks took a hatchet to their camp roster.
By the time the whacking was over and the dust settled more than 20 players found themselves headed back to the AHL. It was San Jose's largest series of cuts to date.
The Sharks placed D Dan Kelly and G Troy Grosenik on waivers and sent the following players down to the Barracuda....
Ryan Carpenter - F
Rourke Chartier - F
Alex Gallant - F
Adam Helewka - F
Nikita Jevpalovs - F
Jake Marchment - F
Jonathon Martin - F
John McCarthy - F
Daniel O'Regan - F
Marcus Sorensen - F
Matt Willows - F
Julius Bergman - D
Michael Brodzinski - D
Jason Fram - D
Patrick McNally - D
Jacob Middleton - D
Joakim Ryan - D
Mantas Armalis - G
Jamie Murray - G
That leaves young players like Nikolay Goldobin, Barclay Goodrow, and Kevin Labanc in the mix to earn a roster spot.
Kevin Kurz tweeted that Goodrow is somebody the Sharks see as a replacement for a couple dearly departed vets and maybe even Tommy Wingels.
Be scared Tommy, be very very scared.
DeBoer also talked up Barclay Goodrow again today as a potential replacement for guys like the departed Zubrus, Spaling #SJSharks
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzCSN) October 1, 2016
Labanc has been perhaps the most noticeable youngster for the Sharks, showing up on the score sheet and my twitter feed with regularity. The 20-year-old scored a goal and collected an assist in the Sharks 3-2 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks a couple nights ago and leads the Sharks in scoring with 4 points (2g 2a).
Kevin Labanc
— Hockey Jerk (@hockey_jerk) October 3, 2016
Before being drafted: 35 pts in 65GP
Since being drafted: 234 pts in 133GP
One hell of a 6th round pick#SJSharks #SaddleUp
Kevin Labanc continued to build on a strong preseason with a goal and an assist tonight. Now has four points in three games.
— Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell) October 3, 2016
WATCH: Kevin Labanc scores his second pre-season goal, leads #SJSharks in points (4) within three games (2g,2a). https://t.co/rP5Niw40cq
— Sharks Radar (@SharksRadar) October 4, 2016
It's really starting to feel like hockey season. The temp has finally dipped below 95 degrees here in So Cal and the Sharks roster is actually starting to resemble the team we drooled over in April, May and June.
Hertl, Thornton and Pavelski together as a line this morning #SJSharks
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzCSN) October 4, 2016
So with a week and a day before the opener, Boedker, Couture and Donskoi is second line, and Tierney centering third line with Marleau, Ward
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzCSN) October 4, 2016
San Jose is 3-0 in the preseason and can finish 6-0 if they take care of Ducks on Wed., Arizona on Fri. before closing out the preseason in Anaheim on Sunday.
Thanks for reading, Steve