TAMPA BAY — The Sharks have some interesting upcoming roster decisions, especially up front.
How general manager Mike Grier will solve them, that’ll be telling.
Sitting out a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday were forwards Igor Chernyshov and Jeff Skinner, both with valid cases for being in the lineup. Philipp Kurashev is injured, but appears close to returning, re-joining practice yesterday.
When healthy, the Sharks have 17 NHL-caliber forwards: Macklin Celebrini, Chernyshov, Ty Dellandrea, William Eklund, Adam Gaudette, Barclay Goodrow, Collin Graf, Kurashev, Michael Misa, Zack Ostapchuk, Ryan Reaves, Pavol Regenda, newly-acquired Kiefer Sherwood, Skinner, Will Smith, Tyler Toffoli, and Alex Wennberg.
We’re about to see what Grier and Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky value most in their forwards.
For example, it was striking that Grier traded a couple second-round draft picks, despite his roster glut, for Sherwood on Monday. But the Sharks, for all their forwards, are missing a winger like Sherwood, an uncommon combination of speed, grit, will, and scoring touch.
Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast