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2011 Training Camp Roster
Notes
Additions and subtractions
A pack of new faces will take the ice when training
camp opens this week. LGS takes a look at the sharks veteran and prospect
addiditons, as well as major depatures.
| # |
POS |
NEW VETS |
NHL EXPERIENCE |
The SKINNY |
|
| 88 |
D |
Brent Burns |
7 |
The big defenseman brings the Sharks the
power play quarterback that they've long coveted. Burns style gives the Sharks
more punch in the offensive zone, adding another scoring threat from the
blueline along with Dan Boyle. Don't expect to see Burns playing alongside
Boyle, but that's exactly what head coach Todd McLellan wants. Opposing teams
need to shut down multiple threats, spread out across the lineup. At 6'5",
220lbs., Burns isn't going to get pushed around. He's spent most of August
acclimating himself to the Bay Area, which will allow him to spend all of
September associating his game with the Sharks system. Burns eclectic
personality will make him a fan favorite. |
 |
| 40 |
RW |
Ben Guite |
5 |
Guite comes to camp in an attempt to crack
the NHL roster after spending last season in the Phoenix Coyotes farm system.
The right wing played 79 games for the Avalanche during the 2007-08 season, but
was limited to 50 games the following year. He signed a one-year deal with
Nashville in 2009, but only played in 6 games before relegation to Milwaukee of
the AHL. He re-established his scoring touch in the NHL last season, but will
be fighting for a 4th line job in San Jose. |
 |
| 26 |
C |
Michal Handzus |
13 |
The Banska Bystrika, Slovakia native joins
the Sharks after spending the last four seasons in Los Angeles centering a line
for the Kings as they nurtured their young forwards. Handzus will add to the
Sharks already imposing team height, but don't look for him to push opposing
players around. He was brought in to help control the faceoff circle from the
third line. He ranked 16th in the league in faceoffs taken last season, winning
51.7% of his draws. Handzus has averaged 40 points a season, but saw those
numbers dip last season. The versatile forward has played in 80 or more games
each of the last four seasons. |
 |
| 9 |
RW |
Martin Havlat |
10 |
Havlat essentially replaces Dany Heatley,
who was shipped to the Wild during the off-season in exchange for the ten-year
NHL veteran. The Czech native will have the opportunity to unleash his
offensive style with a stronger supporting cast. Havlat led the Wild in scoring
last season with 22 goals and 40 assists, on team that has repeatedly ranked at
the bottom of the league in scoring. Minnesota averaged 2.48 goals per game
last year (26th). The 30-year old winger missed most of the 2007-08 season
after suffering a shoulder injury. |
 |
| 28 |
C |
Andrew Murray |
4 |
The Sharks will look to Murray to fill the
role that Scott Nichol played the last two season, as agitator and checking
line pest. The Selkirk, Manitoba product spent the last four seasons in
Columbus, but his playing time decreased the last three years. Murray only saw
action in 29 games last season and 46 games the season prior, after playing in
67 games for the Blue Jackets in 2008-09. |
 |
|
C |
James Sheppard |
3 |
The future of the former 9th overall pick
of the Minnesota Wild looked bright, making the jump straight from junior to
the NHL, but an off-season ATV accident soured his relationship with the team.
He fractured his patella in September of 2010 and was suspended by the Wild for
violating a "no-ATV riding clause in his contract. He resumed skating in
December, but was forced to abort the thought of a return in 2010-11 after the
knee began to give him issues. The Sharks rolled the dice and sent a third
round pick to Minnesota in exchange for the centerman, with hopes that the
23-year old will match the potential that made him a top-10 pick. |
 |
| 2 |
D |
Jim Vendermeer |
8 |
The journeyman defenseman has played in
436 games over 8 seasons, donning the sweaters of five different NHL teams
(including two stints with the Philadelphia Flyers). Given the Sharks new found
depth on the blueline, Vandermeer will most likely see spot duty as a 7th
defenseman or fill-in should the injury bug strike. His role will be to ensure
that opposing players don't take liberties with the Sharks star players. He's a
stay at home defenseman, who won't wow you offensively. |
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| 5 |
D |
Colin White |
11 |
San Jose adds a two-time Stanley Cup
winner and 11-year NHL veteran to the blueline to supplement the addition of
Brent Burns and Jim Vandemeer. White's addition was necessitated by the loss of
Niclas Wallin and Kent Huskins. The burly defenseman is 4th all-time in New
Jersey Devils history for games played, behind the likes of Ken Danyko, Scott
Stevens and Scott Neidermeyer. The 33-year old will need to make the transition
from the only professional team that he's ever played for. He is another
stay-at-home defenseman, that will be asked to clear out the front of the
crease and keep Antti Niemi's sight lines clear. |
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Prospects
In
addition to the 20 plus returning prospects that will be attending training
camp, the Sharks will have the following farmhands in attendance.
| # |
POS |
NEW PROSPECTS |
LAST LEAGUE |
KEY STATS |
| 62 |
D |
Sena Acolatse |
WHL |
15G / 48A for Prince George last year |
| 48 |
LW |
Mike Connolly |
WCHA |
55G / 81A in 123 G at University of
Minnesota - Duluth |
| 75 |
C |
Freddie Hamilton |
OHL |
73G / 93A over last 3 years for Niagra Ice
Dogs |
| 63 |
RW |
James Livingston |
OHL |
22G / 27A last year for Plymouth
Whalers |
| 42 |
D |
Matt Pelach |
AHL |
323 PIM last 2 seasons with Abbortsford
Heat |
| 56 |
RW |
Brodie Reid |
H-East |
11G / 17A last season at Northeastern
Univ |
| 58 |
C |
Marek Vidensky |
WHL |
36G / 52A last season with Saskatoon
Blades |
Departures
Several
faces from last year's roster will be wearing new sweaters this season. Here is
a recap of those players that will not be returning this season.
| POS |
PLAYER |
NEW TEAM |
THE SKINNY |
| LW |
Ben Eager |
Edmonton |
Wore out his welcome after his antices in
the Canucks series. |
| LW |
Dany Heatley |
Minnesota |
Didn't meet scoring expectations and took
too many shifts off |
| D |
Kent Huskins |
St Louis |
Reliability issues made him
exepndable |
| RW |
Jamal Mayers |
Chicago |
Did what the Sharks asked of him, but his
age and price tag made him expendable |
| C |
Scott Nichol |
St Louis |
Mr Energy provided lots of sparks, but
injuries and age finally caught up |
| RW |
Devin Setoguchi |
Minnesota |
SJ had to give to get. His playoff numbers
improved, but inconsistency was the knock |
| D |
Niclas Wallin |
Lulea (SWE) |
Wanted to finish out his career in his
native Sweden. |
| C |
Kyle Wellwood |
TBD |
Still unsigned, but a return to San Jose
is unlikely |
| D |
Ian White |
Detroit |
Couldn't fit his salary demands into
longer term plans once Burns was acquired |
>> 2011 Training Camp Center
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