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NOLLY'S NOTES - BLOG (VOL. 4, ED. 8)

Sep 2, 2024

Hey, Cuda Country!

 

We begin this blog with heavy hearts. The sports world is still grappling with the tragic loss of Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, who passed away last Thursday in a car-bike accident. While I never had the chance to meet Johnny personally, I watched him play many times for the Calgary Flames against the Sharks at SAP Center. I just remember thinking how fun it was to watch a player of his size have such an impact. Matthew, too, spent a brief period with the Flames' affiliate, the Stockton Heat, and I had the opportunity to call one of his games against the Barracuda back in 2019. Even if you didn’t know Johnny or Matthew, the shock of their sudden passing and the outpouring of love from the hockey world has made you feel like you did. Beyond their talents on the ice, they seemed to be genuinely kind and caring people who deeply loved their families. Knowing that Matthew’s wife is expecting, and Johnny leaves behind two young children under the age of two, makes this loss even more heartbreaking. My own wife is eight months pregnant, and I can’t imagine not being here for her. The entire situation is unimaginable and difficult to process. Though nothing can bring them back, I pray for healing for their families and friends. They will be deeply missed. RIP Johnny and Matthew.

 

There’s no easy way to transition from this, but I’m sure Johnny and Matthew were as excited about the upcoming hockey season as anyone. While games that count don’t start until October, players are beginning to arrive in San Jose, and we have rookie camp, the NHL Rookie Faceoff, NHL training camp, and the preseason all happening this month.

 

As I’ve mentioned a few times over the summer, the Sharks had one of their most productive off-seasons in recent memory, between the draft, free agency, and trades. That momentum continued last week when Mike Grier acquired one of the top goalie prospects in the world, former Predators first-round pick Yaroslav Askarov.

What the Sharks and Grier have accomplished this summer is nothing short of incredible. They’ve added a future superstar in Macklin Celebrini, a potential top-pairing defenseman in Sam Dickinson, and now an elite goalie prospect in Askarov. When rumors first linked the Sharks to Askarov earlier this summer, many believed they’d have to give up one of their top prospects to make it happen. In the end, it was David Edstrom went to Nashville, with the Preds making it clear they wanted a young center prospect in return. While the Sharks were high on Edstrom when they acquired him in the Tomas Hertl trade last spring, the depth of the prospect pool at center made him more expendable. The Sharks already have another promising Swedish center in Filip Bystedt who is similar in stature and style, and if Bystedt becomes the Sharks' future third-line center, the team could have its top three centers—Celebrini, Will Smith, and Bystedt—set for years to come. That’s a bright outlook for one of the most crucial positions in hockey.

 

Speaking for myself, when the Sharks traded for Askarov, I wondered if they might move one of the goalies on their NHL roster to clear a path. The Sharks already have two NHL-caliber goalies in Vitek Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood. However, Mike Grier has said he expects all three goalies to be in camp. If Askarov needs to start in the AHL, that option has been discussed with him, and he’s open to it. One reason Askarov was available in the first place was Nashville’s decision to sign Juuse Saros to an eight-year extension on July 1, which effectively blocked Askarov’s path to becoming their #1 goalie anytime soon. When it was reported on August 21 that Askarov wouldn’t report to camp and had requested a trade, a trade was only a matter of time.

 

Here’s how the trade breaks down:

With Chrona included in the trade, the Barracuda now have two goalies from last season’s roster, Georgi Romanov and Gabe Carriere. While Askarov has seen limited NHL action, he’s excelled in the AHL over his two years in North America. A season ago he had a 14-game winning streak for the Milwaukee Admirals from Dec. 23 to Feb. 22. The Admirals acutally won 19-straight games, splitting the net during that stretch between Askarov and former Sharks’ prospect Troy Grosenick. As mentioned, Grier is open to placing Askarov in the AHL if needed, at least to start the season. There’s also a chance one of the veterans, Vanecek or Blackwood, could be assigned to the AHL, but they’d have to clear waivers. There’s a lot to sort out, but the competition in camp will be one to watch closely. After the deal, the Sharks quickly signed the 22-year-old Askarov to a two-year, $4 million contract.

 

On Tuesday, the Sharks announced their roster for the 2024 NHL Rookie Faceoff, featuring 15 forwards, 10 defensemen, and three goaltenders. The roster includes several players who appeared with the Sharks last season, such as Collin Graf, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and Georgi Romanov, along with top prospects like 2023 first-round picks Will Smith and Quentin Musty, and 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini. Of the 28 players, 13 appeared in at least one game with the Barracuda last season, including the team’s Rookie of the Year, Ethan Cardwell.

 

Click HERE for the full 2024 NHL Rookie Faceoff roster.

 

I’ll be calling all three games in Los Angeles, starting on Sept. 13 against the Utah Hockey Club.

 

Sept. 13 (1 p.m. PT): San Jose Sharks vs. Utah Hockey Club [NHL Rink 1]

Sept. 15 (4:30 p.m. PT): Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks [NHL Rink 1]

Sept. 16 (11:30 a.m. PT): Colorado Avalanche vs. San Jose Sharks [NHL Rink 1]

On August 23, the American Hockey League’s Board of Governors unanimously approved mandatory cut-resistant neck protection for all players and on-ice officials, starting with the 2024-25 season. This decision comes in response to the tragic death of Adam Johnson, who passed away last year during a game in England after being struck in the neck by a skate.

Following the tragedy, while it wasn’t initially mandatory, some players chose to wear cut-resistant protection for their necks, wrists, and ankles. Although it might take some time to adjust, I don’t foresee many complaints. Obviously I wasn’t a pro hockey player but when I was a kid, wearing neck guards was mandatory whenever we played in Canada, and I never found it bothersome. In speaking to a few of the guy’s last year, the ones who chose to wear them, didn’t find it all that intrusive when I asked them about it. Most players have worn a neck guard at some point of their career.

In other Cuda news, the Flyers have added former Sharks and Barracuda goalie Eetu Makiniemi to a PTO. Makiniemi, who was acquired from Carolina in the Brent Burns trade, has faced a string of injuries over the past few years. Here’s to hoping he can get healthy and back on track. He’s got a ton of talent, but his health has been the biggest inhibitor to getting to the NHL.

 

That wraps up this edition of Nolly’s Notes. As always, I sincerely appreciate you reading. Stay safe, and we’ll catch up after the Rookie Faceoff.

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