The San Jose Sharks are down to the wire if they want to lock up one of their young players to an eight-year extension, with the current CBA set to expire tomorrow and be replaced on Wednesday.
There are technically six Sharks eligible for an extension right now, but not all of them are realistic candidates for the maximum term. Barclay Goodrow, Adam Gaudette, Dmitry Orlov and Luca Cagnoni are not likely to be in the mix for that kind of deal. That leaves Will Smith and Yaroslav Askarov as the two players who could potentially sign eight-year extensions.
Smith looks like the likelier of the two to get something done. Even so, Mike Grier’s recent approach suggests the Sharks want to keep their core on shorter deals in the 3-5 year range as they move through the current contract cycle.
If Smith truly wanted to stay in the Bay Area for the next eight years and was willing to accept a lower average annual value to make it happen, that would be the kind of structure that could fit. Anything else, and it’s hard to see Grier pushing it.
Askarov presents a much different conversation. A long-term deal for a goaltender always comes with extra risk because that position is so hard to forecast, both night to night and over the long haul.
An eight-year commitment to Askarov could pay off huge if he develops into what the Sharks believe he can be. But if he doesn’t, the downside could be severe and undo a lot of the work San Jose has already put in.
In Other News...
Sharks Are Showing An Identity Young Players Cant Ignore
The Sharks used their exhibition date against the Kings at Tech CU Arena to reinforce what kind of team they want to be this season. San Jose spread the offense around in a win, with Filip Bystedt, Carson Wetsch and Andre Gasseau all finding the net, while head coach John McCarthy pointed to the groups physical edge, communication and willingness to support one another as the traits he wants young players to absorb.
McCarthy also liked the way the lineup handled the grind of the night, especially from the lower part of the forward rotation, where the effort level matched the tone of the game. For a roster still trying to define its identity, those are the sorts of details that matter, because the Sharks are clearly hoping this is more than a preseason snap shot and that the younger skaters leave with a message they cannot miss. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Are Changing Their Home Helmet Look This Season
The Sharks are heading into the 2023-24 season with a new look on home ice, adding Avens logo to their helmets as part of a multi-year partnership with the Silicon Valley fintech company. The deal also makes Aven the teams official home equity credit card partner, another sign of how closely the organization is tying itself to the local business community.
San Jose will keep the SAP logo on the helmets it wears on the road, but the home version will now carry a different visual for the first time under this agreement. The partnership is broader than just the helmets, with Avens branding set to show up around the Sharks facilities and across the teams media and community efforts for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Prospects Are Creating A Depth Debate Fans Will Notice
The Sharks prospects gave the organization something useful to chew on at the Rookie Faceoff, and not just because the scoreboard tilted their way. San Jose beat Utah 3-1, with several young forwards making a strong case that the pipeline is deeper than it has looked in recent years. Jake Gustafson, Andre Gasseau and Carson Wetsch were among the standouts in a game that seemed to reinforce why the Sharks and Barracuda staff have been talking up the competition for roster spots.
For a development camp that was supposed to be about evaluation, the performance also hinted at a real depth conversation taking shape inside the organization. The coaching staff praised the groups effort, and the mix of offensive push plus steady goaltending gave the Sharks plenty to review after the opener. What makes it more interesting is which prospects helped swing the result and how the crease was handled along the way, leaving San Jose with a few more questions than it had before puck drop. [Read more 🡒]