Sharks News & Rumors: Celebrini, Klingberg, World Juniors, Crazy Comeback vs. the Penguins & More
Hello everybody and welcome into another Sharks news and rumors here at the Hockey Raiders. I’m your host Matthew Ztor as always. Joined by Alex Hutton. Alex, how’s it going? >> It’s going well. Uh doing well. Glad to be It’s been been a couple weeks obviously, but there’s been a lot of good stuff since then. So, a lot of stuff to talk about. >> For sure. Yeah, the Sharks are uh still they’re on a three-game winning streak uh right now. And uh I mean they’ve been on I mean bit on fire. They are won three in a row. 10, five and three at home. One of the best uh home records in the league right now, which is uh kind of fueling their where they are in the standings because their road record is seven and nine. So, they got to do a bit better in that. Um but I mean, yeah, they’re they’re in a playoff position as we’re recording with 37 points. They’re in the second wildard position uh tied with the LA Kings uh with 37. And I mean that’s I don’t know if anyone really expected at this point in the season with 34 games played now that the Sharks would be in a playoff spot. I and I mean it’s there’s a lot of things that go into it. We of course we’ll talk about Mlin Celbrini as we’ve talked about probably every video so far this season. So but I want to talk about the crazy comeback against the Penguins which I mean the Penguins have been not a bad team uh this season either. Um, were you expecting something like that? Uh, because it w what were they down? Three nothing or three goals in the third period and came back four goals. It was even worse >> and came back and won. So, >> yeah. No, I mean it was it was kind of unbelievable and like the the way I’ve been thinking about it obviously, you know, these these last few days, I think everybody in in sort of Sharks world has been reflecting on it and like sort of their their takeaways from from a game that that insane. I think what what I what I keep thinking back to is like how many times I use the phrase at least during that comeback. And what I mean by that is it was 5-1, then they made a 5-2. It’s like, all right, well, at least they didn’t roll over. At least they know stayed in enough to get a second goal. Then they made a 5-3. Okay, well at least they got to a place where they can like pull the goalie and and you know, get into an empty net situation and like actually have something of a comeback here. Then they made a 5-4. Okay, well at least they got it to a onegoal game. Then they tied it. At least they sent it into overtime and got a point out of all this. And then they actually won. And so it was just sort of wild the way because I think the last couple years this is the team that probably would have ended up losing that game six or seven to one or may maybe six or seven to two at best and instead they’re they just have the different belief and you know between that and having more skill. There’s just there’s a definitely a different feeling where they’re not getting quite as knocked off as as they maybe were once upon a time. And you know every once in a while you’ll get a game where they where they lose pretty pretty badly. You had the one against Carolina, one against Washington, and I think believe one against Colorado. But even those are not quite as bad as they might have been a couple seasons ago. So, it just shows again the the strides they’re taking at this point in the in the rebuild and the development as they build back up. >> For sure. I mean, I think it’s the that they’re not giving up. I mean, not saying that they were I mean, giving up in the past, but it seems like they do have a bit more of a push back uh this season. And you know, when they’re down a lot, it’s not necessarily they’re going to lose. And and that game really showed it. I mean, the Penguins have had their struggles lately with that that exact thing. Uh they blew another lead, I believe, the next game, multiple goal lead >> against the Mammoths. So, I mean, they’ve been having their issues with that. And I mean, the Sharks, you know, full value for to them to do it. Um, but yeah, for a team that’s fragile like that, you got to take advantage of doing it and that’s what the Sharks did. So, it is a very impressive what they did in that game. And I mean, they’ve won a few games since then as well. So, it is a it’s impressive how what they’ve been able to do this season, not just in this last stretch, but stay well well above 500, which I mean, like we’ve mentioned, last season they weren’t at this position. uh previous season to that they weren’t in this position. I believe they’re well below 500 uh right now. Uh oh, definitely not in the playoffs for sure. All right. Well, a big architect of that comeback was of course Mlin Celerini. He’s been architect of a lot of of the success. He’s now third in the NHL in points. He’s stayed uh around there probably all season. He’s at 51 points now uh behind Nathan McKinnon, Conor McDavid, who both those guys have been on fire this season as well. I celebrating on on pace for 123 points this season. 43 goals, 80 assists. I I mean, I don’t know if he really surprised by what he’s doing anymore. I He’s just carrying the Sharks right now. >> Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, he’s I think he’s been involved in like I think over half of their goals this season, either by scoring it or getting an assist. So, I mean, that just shows you I mean, that’s a ridiculous workload for anyone to be taking on, much less a 19-year-old in a second season. Um, you know, he is his his vision, his playmaking, his anticipation, his passing ability, and his shooting ability. You just combine it all and it just shows what an offensive force he is. Uh, he’s going to be their captain sooner rather than later. And it, you know, you talking about all this stuff with the with the Olympics and will he make it onto team Canada. I mean, at this point, it feels like they don’t really have a choice. Like, who who else would they take? Obviously, you know, McKinnon and McDavid, sure, they they’re probably a little bit above him, but but after that, if you’re looking for that third for that third center, who who else would you rather have at this point? He’s he’s just been that good. And at least on the offensive side, I think pretty much at times almost single-handedly carrying the Sharks to to what they’ve been able to do this season. And I think that’s something that any Olympic team would would like would love to have regardless if it’s like a a really high-powered one like Canada. >> 100%. I mean, Connor, we talked about Conor Bard being in that conversation. Uh he’s unfortunately got injured not that long ago and it doesn’t seem I don’t know if it’s going to be really long term or his point totals are ridiculous as well uh this season. And I do you think celery could if he keeps going on this it looks like he is in the conversation for the heart trophy. I mean my opinion is MVP is like you take him off the Sharks I don’t think the Sharks are very good and that’s my definition of an MVP. Do you think that’s something that would come in to play because of course McDavid and McKinnon are going to be there too but do you think he’s the third guy there? >> I I think there’s I would think so. Yeah. I mean, when you mean look at the sort of the definition of MVP, you know, the player most valuable to his team, it’s hard to argue for anyone, I think, outside of probably those three players. Um, so I mean when you when you look at what he’s done just just the numbers you you throw out where like the Sharks, you know, you look at their sort of the advanced stats of the Corsy and the Fenwick and what percentage of the scoring chances are they getting. They’re it’s relatively low, but their their gold totals are are not the advanced numbers suggest their gold total should be dead last and their gold numbers are not dead last because of what he’s doing. And like like I said a minute ago, over he’s respon he’s involved in over half their goals and like that on its own is making the Sharks competitive. So, it’s it’s pretty pretty remarkable. >> Mhm. And he’s of course on pace for a full season. His first full season in the NHL because of course injuries last last season kind of derailed at the beginning uh when of the season there having played close to 70 games is still pretty good, but he’s on pace for a full season. And yeah, and he’s really close already to getting to that 63 points if he’s going to he’ll hit that 63 points probably in the next two weeks the way he’s going. Um, but yeah, it’s a it’s really crazy what he’s what he’s doing for the Sharks right now. All right. Well, some going from a guy that’s on fire to another defenseman that’s on fire and not a rookie, not a young guy. This is a veteran. John Clingberg, I mean, he’s he’s a guy that’s, you know, he’s had some problems with injury. He looked like he might be at the end of his career uh last season. And I mean, comes to the Sharks and now he’s on pace for 43 points. His best season since uh this 21-22 when he had 47 and he’s probably done most of these points in the last what two weeks he’s been doing. I what have you liked about his uh game so far this season, especially probably in the last month? >> Yeah, I mean what what I think you’ve seen from him at least recently is first of all he’s like he’s definitely, you know, getting more more adjusted to a to a new setting and he’s the first, you know, the first couple months were I think were pretty were pretty rough and I think everyone could could see that where he was, you know, having some trouble handling the puck along the blue line. Maybe his shot selection wasn’t the best. Uh, but you know, even as a veteran, you know, showing a willingness to like, okay, what am I doing here? What do I need to work on? That’s that’s a great sign. Sets an example for everybody else. Recently, I’ve seen I think his his puck movement has been better. He’s being more more selective with his shots. Like I think a lot of times early on, he was just kind of wildly firing in the traffic and just hoping for some sort of screen or deflection or something. And I think he’s been a lot a lot more thoughtful with when do I shoot the puck, when do I just move it to the next guy, keep the offense going. And he’s he’s getting rewarded for that with those numbers. Fiveame point streak, I believe. I think five goals in his last five games. So, uh that that I think that’s where where it starts for him is making just smarter decisions with the puck when he has it up top. >> And he’s playing a lot, too. I mean, he’s over 20 minutes of the last uh four games. And I mean, yeah, most of his points have been have been in the last five games. When you’re looking at the goal totals, you say five of his eight have been in the last five. So, I mean that’s I mean it might be just a little bit of a hot streak. It you know the on pace numbers go crazy when you do do this kind of thing. Um so I mean not saying he’s going to hit 23 goals this season. I don’t think so. Uh he’d have to stay on this and I don’t think that’s happening. But yeah, this a I mean it’s great for him. I I don’t know. I mean, when you’re looking at the Sharks right now in the playoff picture, if it they were out of it, you’d think Clinger would be be a guy that they’d trade. I do you think that’s still on the table or because they are in still in the playoff picture that that’s something they wouldn’t do? >> It’s It’s interesting because they I think at some point maybe closer to the trailer end, they have to move a defenseman. Yeah. like there’s there’s too much of a log jam there with trying to find time for Mandulan and Dickinson and all these other guys and just the constant sort of shuffling in and out and rotating guys in and out. I don’t think this that’s sustainable for very long. So they have to move somebody and you know if if Clingberg proves to be the one they can get the the most value for. I think that might ultimately be okay just because they have so many other defenseman who they need to try to fit in. So some I mean someone’s going to have to go and they just have to figure out who that is. I mean, it might be a good thing, especially if he stays on this uh, you know, binge of points. Uh, that a team might pay a bit more than what they they would if he wasn’t uh on fire with his confidence in, you know, generating offense. So, yeah, that’s something I think they will look at. And, uh, like you say, there are young defenseman that are going to be that they have even some veterans that that could replace that. Uh, we’ll see. That’s going to be something to monitor for sure, even if they are in still in that playoff uh mode, I guess, uh around the trade deadline. All right, let’s finish off the show with uh of the World Juniors because uh we might not get together again. Uh we might I mean when when the World Juniors are going on, but Michael Misa for sure. Uh he’s going to be there, but Sam Dickinson could also I mean we were talking about that they won’t send a guy like that because, you know, it might jeopardize I don’t know. with how he hasn’t really impacted the team a lot, but do you think that Dickinson is a guy that’ll go and then of course Michael Misa is he’s coming off an injury too, right? So yeah, I mean these two guys could be for team for the World Juniors as well. Yeah, for for me side I think it’s absolutely the right the right move just with the especially with the injury just to get him back up to speed playing with playing with and against guys his age I think it’s a good way to sort of get back into that not having to jump back into NHL competition right away. Same thing with the conditioning loan he was on with the Barracuda helping him out a little bit there. As for Dickinson, well, I they’ve had discussions about it and like while I I understand why they’re doing that, I I think the best thing for him at this point is to stay in the NHL and and work through that competition just because part of a big part of the reason he was promoted to to like a full NHL season this year was because just he kind of hadn’t learned everything he needed to learn at the the junior level and just dominating and and running over everybody at at that level just wasn’t doing anything for his development anymore. So, I think I would rather see him take that take that stretch of time to to play some NHL games, you know, work like we’ve been talking about in previous videos, work through his mistakes, just get that get that experience playing against the the big boys and the the the top level competition rather than just going in and and dominating everybody at at the junior level where, you know, maybe you can recover from mistakes just by your your size, your athleticism or whatever it might be. Whereas at the NHL, you you can’t quite do that as much. I think making those mistakes at this point is the better move for him. >> Yeah, I I agree as well. I mean, the thing is for defenseman, I think it is better for be able to work through that in the NHL and there’s no challenge anymore at the junior level like you said. And I I think that’s just there’s some defenseman or forwards as well that do need uh more time at the juniors, but I think for Dickinson, I think he’s already shown he can be an NHL defenseman and it’s just now he just has to kind of refine his game and that it’s better off doing it there rather than and he would be of course team Canada would love to have him because he would he would really help. I mean, they’ve got have a talented defense core already, but adding him would just be pretty crazy. Just Misa going, I mean, that that’s a big addition to Canada as well. Uh hopefully that the injury isn’t going to kind of hinder him a bit, but with his I mean, of course, he’s probably healthy enough. They wouldn’t send him if he wasn’t, but um being out for a while, he did get How How long did he get with the Barracuda? Just a few games, right? Yeah. >> Yeah. So, I mean, he’s still that, you know, you get that you’re probably back in the swing of things and like you say, the World Juniors is probably good for him to get back into that and then come back to the NHL and maybe he’ll take some confidence from there and and just transfer it for the rest of the season, which will be good for him as well. All right. Well, thanks, Alex, for coming on talking Sharks as always. As you know, the season continues for them, which has been a very successful one. I I mean, Sharks fans are probably excited to watch games right now when maybe they weren’t the last couple seasons, a lot of losing, but they’ve been doing a lot of winning lately. and uh kind of putting some teams on notice that you know what this team is is kind of for real right now and you got to you got to worry about them when you play against them especially uh going against Celabbrini now who’s one of the elite forwards in the NHL. So uh we’ll see if they can keep it going and uh by the time we get together again to see if uh they’re still in that playoff picture. But make sure you’re checking everything out at the hockey.com. We got great articles throughout the site as well as the Substack newsletter if you haven’t subscribed to that to keep up to date with everything we’ve got going on. Um but until our next video, we will see you next
In this edition of the San Jose Sharks News & Rumours Rundown, Matthew Zator and Alex Hutton break down the latest storylines surrounding the team, including the crazy third-period comeback against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Macklin Celebrini’s sophomore surge. They also talk about John Klingberg’s hot streak and the upcoming World Juniors that could see both Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson suit up for Team Canada.
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