San Jose’s AHL affiliate added four players to their roster on Monday, including the nephew of a current Sharks staff member.
With the San Jose Sharks hosting their annual development camp at the moment, the San Jose Barracuda, top AHL affiliate for team teal, made some news earlier today when they signed four players to AHL contracts.
The Barracuda announced the signings of forwards John McCarthy, Jake Marchment and Matt Willows, and goaltender Jamie Murray.
It should come as no surprise that McCarthy is back with the Barracuda as he just completed his seventh season with the organization. While never able to carve an NHL spot, McCarthy provides some sort of veteran presence at the AHL level as San Jose ushers in plenty of young forwards this year.
McCarthy actually had one of the best seasons of his career in San Jose last year after posting 16 goals and 45 points with a plus-six rating. Those numbers were only bested in 2011-12 when he recorded 20 goals, 47 points and a plus-seven rating.
Another interesting aspect was the signing of Marchment who is the nephew of current Sharks development coach Bryan Marchment.
The 21-year-old adds some size to the center position for the Barracuda as Jake stands 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds. He spent last season in the OHL where he amassed 25 goals and 20 assists in 60 games with the Erie Otters.
He will be another intriguing name to follow as he begins his professional career in San Jose.
Although small in stature at just 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Willows proved that he has some offensive capabilities after scoring 23 goals and 43 assists in 71 games in the ECHL last year en route to being named the ECHL Rookie of the Year.
An interesting tidbit is that Willows actually appeared in 11 games for the Worcester Sharks in 2014-15 where he managed three goals and two assists.
Finally, the 24-year-old Murray should challenge for a backup position with the Barracuda along with youngster Mantas Armalis who is currently participating in their development camp. With the goaltending position behind Martin Jones wide open within the organization, the Sharks will be looking for someone to step up and seize the opportunity.
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All four of these players are expected to be in training camp when it begins in September, but don’t expect to see any of them with the Sharks at any point next year.
However, they should help fill out what should be a much more interesting Barracuda squad next season as many of the prospects that Doug Wilson has touted should be in the AHL for the upcoming year.