2018 Preseason Opens with Rookie Faceoff

Jayden Halbgewachs

Next, to Ryan Merkley, I don’t think there is a player who will have the attention of fans more than Halbgewachs (which is as hard to spell as it is to say). The 2017-18 leading point scorer in the WHL with 129 points in 72 games. Usually, when an overage player has a breakout season like this it’s due to a growth spirt where a young man’s body has its way with a field of teenagers. This is not the case for Halbgewachs who stands at a modest 5’8″ and 165 lbs. There are plenty of reasons to think that his game could translate well to the pro’s as well. While it is still true that the smaller player has to show he can play in the NHL while the bigger guy has to prove he can’t, smaller players are breaking through all the time. This is a player that has all the tools that have made smaller players successful in today’s game.

Embed from Getty Images

Honorable Mentions

The group of forwards in this tournament have enough players of intrigue to make their own article. Sasha Chmelevski (pictured above) and Ivan Chekhovich both played a big part in pushing the Barracuda to the playoff’s last season. They will both be returning to their junior teams after camp but have real potential for long pro careers. Jeffery Veil had an outstanding run on the way to capturing the Memorial Cup with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and is currently signed to an AHL deal, I’m sure he would love to see that deal become a two-way NHL contract. Maxim Latunov has finally turned pro but is on his third team without playing a professional game.

So regardless of if your interested in seeing the potential future of the San Jose Sharks organization or simply hard up for some hockey there are plenty of reasons to tune into this weekends games. They are all being streamed for free on the San Jose Sharks official website at the following times:

September 8 – Coyotes vs. Sharks – 3 pm Pacific
September 9 – Golden Knights vs. Sharks – 7 pm Pacific
September 10 – Sharks vs. Avalanche – 11:30 am Pacific

Camp Rosters

Arizona Coyotes / Vegas Golden Knights / Colorado Avalanche

Who are you looking forward to seeing among the Sharks prospects or others? Let us know by dropping a comment below or hitting us up on social media at @TealTownUSA or me directly @IanBlogsHockey!

Pages: 1 2 3