Update 7ET: Looks like Goldobin will play for HIFK in the Finnish Elite League.
Update 3:35: Nikolay Goldobin is heading to Europe, confirming he is the third cut.
David Pollak …@PollakOnSharks 6m6 minutes ago #SJSharks top pick Goldibin say he'll play in Europe this season, probably Finland or Germany.
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The Sharks waived defenseman Taylor Doherty this morning with the intention of sending him to Worcester in the AHL. Providing no one puts a claim in on the 6’8… defender he will be removed from the Sharks roster as they attempt to get to the magic ‘23’ number prior to opening night.
Taylor Fedun was victim #2 on the day when he was assigned to Worcester this afternoon, bringing the current camp total to 28 (with Doherty gone).
What do those cuts mean? Well, it means Mirco Mueller is going to start the season with the big boys. The Sharks first round pick in 2013 made the most of his chances in camp and impressed the staff enough to garner an extended look into the regular season. It’s a move that comes as no surprise as Mueller was considered a good bet to make the club this season.
There are now two more players who must be cut from the current 28 man roster to give San Jose 23 active players, with Torres/Kennedy/Sheppard on IR/LTIR. Eriah Hayes wasn’t placed on waivers which absolutely blows my mind. Hayes was an easy cut; no one would have claimed him had he been waived. John Scott, Mike Brown, Adam Burish, Andrew Desjardins and Eriah Hayes will all now battle for that prestigious fourth line role. Impressive company he’s in.
Goldobin, Tierney and Goodrow are the only three players that can be cut at this point. With the lack of presence in club activities for the final stretch of pre-season it’s a good bet that Goldobin is going back to Sarnia in the OHL. One to go. I’d value Tierney higher than Goodrow right now because he can play that third line center, presumably with McGinn and Wingels on his flanks, allowing Pavelski to remain in the top-six forward group.
I’m going to say it’s Goldobin and Goodrow rounding out the cuts to bring the roster to 23 for opening night.
Here’s a look at potential lines for opening night.
Hertl-Thornton-Pavelski Marleau-Couture-Nieto McGinn-Tierney-Wingels Brown-Burish-Desjardins
Vlasic-Braun Mueller-Burns Irwin-Demers
That leaves John Scott, Eriah Hayes and Scott Hannan in the booth. Things will get complicated again when Kennedy and Sheppard come back, unless Doug Wilson can move a few one-way contracts out beforehand.
Minus the keeping of Hayes, this roster is as good as it gets with the contracts the Sharks are dealing with. There isn't much turnover from last year, which was widely known before camp, so this is a team that should compete hard again like last season.
I’ll update should San Jose make any more moves on the day. Thanks for reading.
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