Been sick all weekend, but wanted to get a few things out here so forgive me if the blog is brief this week...
One name to keep your eye on for the vacant head coaching position in San Jose is Marco Sturm, currently coaching the Ontario Reign of the AHL (LA Kings affiliate). It sounds like he’s ready and wants to take the next step in his career. His Reign won their AHL opening round playoff series with the Bakersfield Condors 2-0 and will face the winner of Colorado-Abbotsford. Sturm is a former Shark and played with GM Mike Grier in San Jose. We’ll see.
Speaking of the Sharks, as of now the assistants are still in place and one name should stand out here for people – Brian Wiseman. Even through the most difficult of seasons for the Sharks he still had the power play clicking at 21st in the league. Look, anything better than 32 is news. And if you drill down from Feb. 1 onward, San Jose was tied for seventh with Carolina and LA.
I know more than a few teams looking for help on their power play.
There is also some talk that Sharks assistant Ryan Warsofsky is ready for the bench boss position. There are a lot of people high on him.
JAKE ALLEN AND THE SHOOTING TRIANGLE
Had a great talk with New Jersey Devils netminder and future broadcaster who will take all our jobs, Jake Allen, on the radio show this past week and one thing more than anything stood out — the triangle. Allen describes it as the area between where the heel of the goalie stick ends and the right skate blade begins. A near impossible save to make on a left-hand shooter unless you cheat by getting the pad down early.
He explained sometimes we think players are just shooting five-hole but they’re actually aiming at the inside of the right skate (try it at beer league next time, you heroes). When asked who shoots there more than anyone else on him, Allen cited JJ Peterka, Tim Stutzle, and Jared McCann. He figures 30-50 goals have been scored that way this season and cites former AHL Peoria teammate Derek Nesbitt as being the first he noticed consistently shooting at that area to much success.
AGENCY REPRESENTATION FOR PWHL PLAYERS
Big news in the women’s hockey space to be announced soon.
Hearing KO Sports (Kurt Overhardt’s agency) and 3G Sports (founded and operated by Spencer Gillis, son of former Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis) will be announcing a partnership of joint representation for women’s players like Sarah Fillier, Allyson Simpson and Caitlin Kraemer. Fillier will most likely be the first selection in next season’s PWHL draft.
Gillis has represented women’s players for years while that file has mainly been handled by Cam Stewart and Kevin Magnuson for KO Sports.
COULD HAJEK RETURN TO THE NHL?
Starting to hear some buzz around former NHL defenceman Libor Hajek, who left Wilkes-Barre in December to play in the Czech Extraliga this season instead of the AHL.
The UFA defenceman had a great campaign with Pardubice HC and NHL teams have noticed. We'll see what happens after the World Championship where he'll most likely suit up for Czechia. Something to watch out for.
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