Sharks forward Will Smith didn’t get a long-term deal across the finish line before the September 15 deadline, but he doesn’t sound rattled by it.
Late last week, Smith told reporters including Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now that he’s not worried about where negotiations stand. Sharks GM Mike Grier gave the same basic message, saying talks are expected to continue during the season. Smith is coming off a strong sophomore campaign in which he scored 24 goals and added 35 assists in 69 games, and if he keeps climbing the way many expect from the fourth overall pick in 2023, a new contract with a double-digit AAV could be waiting for him heading into 2027-28.
In Los Angeles, Mats Zuccarello has been working in a non-contact jersey lately, according to Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider. The veteran is dealing with a minor shoulder injury, and head coach Peter Laviolette said the team is taking the cautious route before letting him back into contact work.
That likely keeps Zuccarello on the sidelines for most, if not all, of the preseason, but he still appears on track to be ready for the season opener. Last season with Minnesota, he posted 15 goals and 39 assists in 59 games.
Anaheim is also dealing with a couple of injury questions as opening night approaches. Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports that defenseman Drew Helleson will miss the next week with a lower-body injury, while winger A.J.
Greer is likely facing the same timeline because of an upper-body injury. It remains unclear whether either player will be cleared next week, though both are hoping to return, with Greer seeming less likely.
Helleson has a shot to earn a larger role on the Ducks’ blue line this season after several departures, while Greer was brought in this summer to add more grit to the bottom six.
In Other News...
Sharks Showed Promising Young Signs But One Question Still Lingers
The Sharks got a good look at some of their young talent in a preseason test against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center, and there were encouraging signs even in a 2-1 shootout loss. Michael Misa found the net for San Jose, while the game offered a full three-period snapshot of how the roster is starting to take shape as camp moves along.
Among the more notable developments was the preseason NHL debut of Ivar Stenberg, who drew attention for his work in both the defensive end and the transition game. Those kinds of performances matter most in October because they hint at how quickly young players can earn trust, and San Jose left this one with a better feel for several of its prospects - even if the final question around how much of that promise translates into lasting lineup decisions still hangs in the air. [Read more 🡒]
PWHL San Jose Is Finally Taking Shape As Bigger Roster Questions Loom
PWHL San Jose took another step toward becoming a real on-ice roster this week, opening ticket sales to fans who had already placed deposits and announcing its latest pair of signings. The team added forward Sloane Matthews of Ohio State and goaltender Tia Chan of UConn, continuing the slow but steady build of a club that will soon be trying to turn local interest into a home-ice product at SAP Center.
The additions give San Jose more shape heading into its first season in the market, with the club now at eight forwards and three goaltenders under contract. It also reinforces how much work remains, even as the team plans to open the bottom bowl of SAP Center for all 15 of its home games. The early roster core is starting to come into focus, but the bigger questions around depth and balance are still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]
Top Sharks Prospect Faces One Early Test Before Preseason
Ivar Stenberg arrived at Sharks training camp with the kind of reputation that gets attention fast, and the 18-year-old has already spent his first days trying to translate that promise into the details San Jose wants from him. He is learning the team's system while also getting used to the smaller North American rink, a change that can reshape everything from spacing to decision-making. Coach Ryan Warsofsky has noticed the playmaking touch, which is part of why the prospect is in the conversation at all.
The next test is less about talent than adjustment, and Stenberg knows the game here can ask different questions than the one he came from. He has talked about advice from Alex Wennberg and his linemates as he settles in, while also taking on the physical side of the North American game. For a player trying to make an impression before preseason even begins, the margin for error is already thin. [Read more 🡒]