Strauss Mann - Building on a foundation
Lizz Child
Oct 7, 2022
After joining the San Jose Sharks organization as a free agent in April, eyes have been on goaltender Strauss Mann as he returns to North American hockey after a season playing professionally in Sweden.
When asked what his favorite thing is about being back playing in North America, especially in California, Mann had a very quick answer:
“Everything. Just being in some good weather, first and foremost, that’s nice.”
Of course, the netminder went on to give a more hockey-specific answer as well:
“No, but on a serious note, just being in North America, so close to reaching my dream and having the ability to go out there every day and work for it and be around a great organization, a great group of guys, and a great coaching staff.”
Included in that coaching staff is former Sharks goaltending star Evgeni Nabokov. Working with Nabokov, Mann says, has been a positive experience, saying, “It’s been awesome to work with Nabby so far – just to keep developing my game. That’s been everything for me, just to keep trying to get better every day and kind of let the rest take care of itself. I feel like [San Jose] is a great place to do that and keep growing.”
While Nabokov has had corrections to give and words of advice for the 25-year-old netminder, Mann says it’s just been “little things here and there,” saying that it’s “pretty common” as the duo worked through the Sharks’ rookie camp.
"He also understands I’m a little bit older than the average rookie, and so I have a foundation for my game. He’s not trying to change anything per se, but just talk things through and work out new ways to do things and clean up little bad habits or whatnot.”
Mann knows his game and starts explaining it by noting ,“I’m really hardworking,” before going on to say, “I like to think I’m quick on my feet – trying to beat passes on my feet and be good positionally to make the reactions a little bit easier and try and just read the game well and be the backstop for my team that they know can be there and will stop the shots I’m supposed to and bail them out when I need to as well.”
“It’s good,” said Mann during the 2022 Rookie Faceoff in mid-September. “Good to be around all the guys. It’s fun. It’s been a lot of fun winning games, even though there’s not a win and losses record or standings or anything right now.”
Having started in net for the first of the three Sharks games at the Rookie Faceoff, Mann was the first of the Sharks organization’s netminders to experience the game-feel at Tech CU Arena.
“It’s awesome! I mean, the stands aren’t full or anything and it’s still so loud, which we all noticed,” said Mann ahead of the final day of Rookie Faceoff games. “[The game] was crazy. It’s awesome to get the support from the fans. They’re all really positive. Even when we’re around the rink, just stopping us and being pretty polite and invested in the team, that’s pretty cool.”
If you attended the Rookie Faceoff and arrived early, you may have seen the team warming up and playing some pre-game sewer ball on the concourse.
“Yeah, it’s cool,” commented Mann about fans being able to watch these off-ice warmups. “Again, you see how into the team [the fans] are, both the Sharks and the Barracuda. You could definitely tell this city just loves the team and that’s really exciting. I think that’s big for the team as they’re in a new chapter.”
Second time around
Sharks rookie camp and the Rookie Faceoff were Mann’s second time in San Jose for camp as he also attended development camp in July. With July’s camp being a shorter camp before everybody heads back out for the summer, it allowed Mann to be even more comfortable coming back for the long haul starting in September.
“I think dev camp is pretty quick. You get in here, it’s a four-day thing and a lot of new faces. It’s pretty different, feeling out the environment and everything. Now, coming back a second time around, knowing the lay of the land a little bit better and knowing a few faces, you get to know guys a little bit better and get past that surface-level and get to know where guys have played. Just go out to eat and have fun and it shows in the games. We’re playing like a team even though we’ve been together technically only a few days. Guys just feel pretty comfortable around each other, which is nice.”
Mann went on to correct himself a bit, mentioning that the guys usually eat at the arena rather than going out, but he did give one chain restaurant the shoutout we all knew was coming:
“The guys like Chipotle, that’s just a great spot.”
Of course, we had to ask if he had gone with noted Chipotle fan William Eklund yet and, though he said he hadn’t yet, he did support Eklund’s love of the establishment.
“Yeah, I mean, why wouldn’t you? They don’t have it in Sweden, I know that firsthand, and it’s definitely a great spot here."
For Barracuda and Sharks fans
“It’s been great to meet a few of you and see the excitement around the team. It’s an exciting time for the organization. I think there’s a lot of players here who are really hungry and a lot of great character guys. We’re really excited about the future and hope they are too.”
Of course, we had to ask Mann what fruit he would be, and it's safe to say, he belongs in California.
“I’ll just say avocado because it’s a different fruit, but it’s a great fruit... and it’s my favorite food.”