The San Jose Sharks roster underwent significant changes this offseason, and the changes were finally seen on the ice.
Hockey season is officially back, as the San Jose Sharks have hit the ice for the start of training camp.
Anthony Duclair, Mackenzie Blackwood, Mike Hoffman, Jan Rutta, and Filip Zadina officially hit the ice for the first time as a member of the Sharks.
Acquired via trade with the Florida Panthers, Anthony Duclair is set to be a top contributor for Team Teal. Now entering year 11 in the NHL, Duclair knows that preparation is crucial.
"Just excitement coming in the first days," Duclair said. "I think for everyone you want to give a first good impression for the coaching staff and management. [You want to] get in shape for preseason. We're always talking about having a good start, so it starts with day one, and I think everybody had a good day."
Until roster size is cut down, any line combination that head coach David Quinn puts together is purely speculative. It is worth noting the types of players that are put together.
The line of Duclair-Bordeleau-Barabanov could be seen as a line used during regular season games.
Bordeleau could also hold a spot for San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture.
"It's been good. We [have] a great team here [who] pushes me every day," Couture said to THN. "There has been improvement. I feel good. So every day [I'm] trying some new stuff, and I'm good."
Coture couldn't pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred but said it happened as he was ramping up his offseason work in preparation for training camp.
Kaapo Kahkonen will have a new goaltending partner this season in Blackwood.
"[I] really like the guy. I think we get along well together," Kahkonen said. "Obviously, we haven't known each other for that long, but he's looking good. He just got his full set of the new equipment. So he's probably gonna feel a little stiff with those things. I know that feeling."
Kahkonen made the entire media scrum laugh as he talked about the San Jose Sharks acquiring more Finnish players.
"[It's] always good to have a couple of friends," Kahkonen said. "We have [Gralund] and Pulli and Halttunen. It's good, especially to kind of balance out the Finns and the Swedes."
The San Jose Sharks granted Blackwood's wish for a fresh start. Blackwood is looking to find the form of 2018-2020. His save % was over .915, and during that time, he helped carry the New Jersey Devils to relevance.
"That's exciting to me," Blackwood said. "[I'm] just looking forward to starting a new chapter and getting my game to a place where I'm happy."
Per usual, Coach Quinn set up drills for all three groups involving heavy skating and battling along the boards.
Since being hired, GM Mike Grier and head coach David Quinn have made it evident that internal competition is needed.
The goal is to create an environment where battles are won all over the ice and breed a healthy competition level to practices. The San Jose Sharks don't have the most talented roster, so working as a unit and winning every battle will be the key to success this season.