The San Jose Sharks are optimistic as they enter the new NHL season, bolstered by significant changes in their roster. With the addition of veteran players in both the forward and defensive lines, the team is looking to enhance its competitiveness. Central to this improvement is the revamped goaltending situation, which now features Yaroslav Askarov stepping into a full-time role and Alex Nedeljkovic providing crucial experience and competition for the starting position.
Last season, the Sharks faced considerable challenges in goal, recording the third-worst team save percentage in the league at just .881. They also had the highest goals against average at 3.74. Given these statistics, the team had no option but to make strategic changes in net. According to Ryan Warsofsky, head coach of the Sharks, “We needed to solidify our goaltending position, and I thought we did a good job getting a guy like Nedeljkovic to complement Askarov as a young pro.”
Despite the optimism surrounding their goaltending, several questions linger. Askarov, now 23, is making the transition to the NHL, having previously served as the number one goalie for the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. He played a total of 60 games in the 2022-23 season and 51 the following year. However, injuries limited his appearances last season to just 41 games across both the Sharks and their AHL affiliate, the Barracuda.
Nedeljkovic, aged 29, is also under scrutiny after a difficult season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he registered a career-low save percentage of .894 in 38 games. The Penguins, who have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, did not provide strong support for their goalies. Over the last five seasons, Nedeljkovic has maintained a save percentage of .903 across 179 career games.
Warsofsky commented on the need for careful management of Askarov’s workload, emphasizing that “Askarov’s got to stay healthy, we’ve got to manage him, and there’s a lot of data that goes with that.” He acknowledged Nedeljkovic’s experience, noting that “he’s a competitive guy,” which adds depth to the Sharks’ goaltending strategy. The coach indicated that both goalies are likely to see action early in the season, as the Sharks will play 16 games in the first 31 days, including four back-to-back matches.
In addition to the goaltending situation, the Sharks are monitoring Macklin Celebrini, a promising center who recently missed two days of training camp due to illness. Celebrini returned to practice but has not yet participated in contact drills. His condition remains under observation, and it is uncertain whether he will be ready for the Sharks’ preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights on September 22, 2024.
Other injury updates include defenseman John Klingberg, who is dealing with an upper body issue. Klingberg skated separately from the main training group on Wednesday, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming game. He sustained the injury during a 3-0 victory against the Golden Knights, where he played over 21 minutes and scored a power-play goal. Additionally, rookie Haoxi Wang, drafted 33rd overall in June, is nursing a lower body injury but is reported to be recovering well, according to Warsofsky.
As the Sharks gear up for the season, the emphasis will be on performance, health, and the ability to adapt to a demanding schedule. With the changes made this offseason, fans are hopeful for a more competitive team that can turn last season’s struggles into a successful campaign.