The day is finally here: opening night! Tonight the Sharks open the season at home against the Florida Panthers at 7:00 P.M. PST. Hype has been mounting around the team for a while, and there are a lot of things to look forward to. Here’s a breakdown of some expectations for tonight:
Macklin Celebrini
Starting with the captain, the 20-year-old will be making his first regular season appearance wearing the “C”. There have always been high expectations surrounding the young generational talent, but now they’re higher with the added leadership responsibility. Doubters say he’s too young and can’t handle it. However, he’s time and time again proven he can handle any level of pressure. Whether it be helping lead Team Canada to a silver medal in the Olympics (the youngest in Olympic history with NHL participation to represent Canada), leading the Sharks in goals, assists, and total points, or taking over as Team Canada’s captain for Sidney Crosby in the World Championship, pressure easily rolls off his back.
Ivar Stenberg
Celebrating his 19th birthday a day late with an NHL debut, all eyes will be on this year’s second overall pick. Stenberg wowed in the Rookie Showcase, and was even more impressive in the preseason. In three preseason games played, Stenberg tied for second in the league for most points with 5 (3G, 2A). His three goals came in the form of a hat trick in a crushing 10-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Although the Ducks’ squad that night was mostly AHL players and the Sharks’ mostly NHL, Stenberg’s offensive performance was notable. Additionally, his defensive capabilities were remarkable. Incredibly aware of his positioning and incoming threats, Stenberg repeatedly was able to effectively backcheck and regain control of the play. He also repeatedly finished plays and made sure possession was regained before getting off the ice to finish shifts.
Michael Misa
Following the close of last season, Michael Misa very deliberately told the media the world hasn’t even begun to see the full range of his capabilities. With a league-leading 6 (3G, 3A) points in three preseason games, this statement is proving to be absolutely true. His immense speed coupled with his equally fast and extremely accurate shot makes him a clear offensive threat. However, his biggest obstacle comes in the form of his linemate. Although he played very well with Stenberg and Igor Chernyshov on his wing, Head Coach, Ryan Warsofsky, repeatedly insists on saddling him with Tyler Toffoli. Toffoli is far too slow and actively holds back Misa’s full capabilities. That being said, Misa has something to prove…especially to Warsofsky, who severely limited his ice time during the preseason. Despite these limitations though, Misa continues to shine. All things considered, it probably wouldn’t be surprising if he gets the first goal of the season.
Igor Chernyshov
Igor Chernyshov is a force to be reckoned with, and won the hearts of fans during his 28 games played last season. Big and strong, he is effective in creating space and assisting in play development. Although we learned very quickly into his short-lived penalty kill appearance that he’s NOT a penalty killer, he is very productive on the power-play. He is particularly spectacular at using his body to box-out players and create space in the slot as the team cycles to set up a play, creating high-danger scoring chances. During 5-on-5 play, he is great at preventing defensemen from interrupting plays and keeping the play onside.
Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba
These two hard-hitting additions to defense have an opportunity to shine, particularly in tonight’s matchup against the Panthers. Florida is a team that is pretty well known for being bullies, and Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba have an opportunity to show the rest of the league no one is pushing around the Sharks anymore. The Sharks are a pretty finesse team, so adding bulk was important this offseason. This bulk also comes in the form of Mason Marchment, who fit in nicely on the wing of Celebrini. His antagonistic qualities will certainly be on display tonight. Nurse and Trouba will likely be delivering hard and big hits early, eager to set tone. The two are also important for the development of the organization’s young defensive core.
Luca Cagnoni
Part of this young defensive core is 21-year-old Luca Cagnoni. Fans were incredibly eager to see his name on the season-opening roster, and tonight will be a good opportunity to show his full capabilities. He was exciting in the preseason with his speed, repeatedly crashing the net, and his offensive playmaking, especially when quarterbacking the top powerplay unit. His deliberate action to carry the puck into the offensive zone, rather than dump and chase, repeatedly created high-danger plays. His biggest criticism, though, comes with his size. Standing at just 5-foot-nine inches, fans are concerned about him being knocked off the puck. While his speed and awareness often negates this issue by avoiding getting hit altogether, it’s a valid concern. If he can hold up against the Panthers, he can hold up against anyone.
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