The San Jose Sharks cut 11 players from their training camp roster on Monday. Forward Timo Meier, who was selected ninth overall by the Sharks during the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, was one of them.
Meier was reassigned to his junior team, the Halifx Mooseheads, following an impressive showing in the preseason. Upon returning to Halifax, Meier was named team captain.
The skilled winger showcased his size and speed, outlasting a number of more experienced forwards in training camp. Peter DeBoer was impressed with the strength Meier displayed during his stint with the Sharks, and it shouldn’t be too long until he will be on an NHL roster again.
Goaltenders Troy Grosenick and Aaron Dell were both assigned to San Jose’s AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, leaving Martin Jones and Alex Stalock as the club’s tandem in net heading into the regular season. Keep an eye on Grosenick this season as the organization appears really high on his makeup and potential.
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On the back end, the Sharks assigned defensemen Mark Cundari, Karl Stollery and Gus Young to the AHL. Mirco Mueller, Dylan DeMelo and Matt Tennyson all remain in the mix for the two spots up for grabs on San Jose’s crowded blue line.
Again, no real surprises here as the telling decision comes when the San Jose Sharks have to choose who is left out of the mix.
The Sharks also assigned forwards Bryan Lerg, Micheal Haley, John McCarthy and Ryan Carpenter to the AHL, and placed enforcer Frazer McLaren on waivers.
Joonas Donskoi and Nikolay Goldobin – both of whom were pegged as dark-horse candidates to make the team – still remain in camp. Donskoi, 23, has had a particularly strong preseason as one of the team’s leading scorers. The talented Finn has been skating on the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski in recent practices and could find himself in that spot on opening night.
It’s trickier with Goldobin who’s more of an offensive threat, so it doesn’t make sense to put him on the fourth line. Regardless, both players have made an impression in camp and should be with the Sharks at some point during the year.
As it stands now, there are 26 players remaining on the San Jose Sharks roster. The club will need to cut three of them before the regular season gets underway on Oct. 7 when they visit the Los Angeles Kings.
San Jose returns to the ice tomorrow night for their final preseason home game when they host the Vancouver Canucks at 7:30 p.m.
Next: What To Do With Nikolay Goldobin