The San Jose Sharks are assured to complete final within the NHL’s total standings this season, which means they’ll as soon as once more have the most effective probability to win subsequent month’s draft lottery.
The Sharks (20-48-11) enter Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Calgary Flames with 51 factors and might not catch Thirty first-place Chicago after the Blackhawks earned a degree with a shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
San Jose trails Chicago by six factors and has three video games left, together with Sunday’s, however the Blackhawks personal the primary tiebreaker with 20 regulation-time wins. The Sharks have gained simply 14 video games in regulation time.
“We know it’s been a struggle this season for wins, but we’ve made some progress,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky stated Sunday morning. “We’ll talk after the season, peel back the onion here and look forward, but my focus is on tonight.”
By ending with the fewest factors, the Sharks could have a 25.5% probability of successful the draft lottery. They’re additionally assured a top-three choice.
The Sharks completed final season with a 19-54-9 document, gained the draft lottery, and chosen Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 total decide. Celebrini entered Sunday with a team-leading 62 factors, second-most amongst all NHL rookies.
One of the best participant obtainable on this 12 months’s draft is broadly believed to be Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who has not performed since he sustained a damaged collarbone in December whereas taking part in for Staff Canada on the IIHF World Junior Championships.
The final group to complete in final place in back-to-back seasons was the Buffalo Sabres in 2014 and 2015.
RUTTA’S FUTURE: Sharks defenseman Jan Rutta, a pending unrestricted free agent, stated he’s open to re-signing with the group this offseason.
Rutta, acquired by the Sharks in Aug. 2023 within the multi-player deal that despatched Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh, turns 35 in July and is within the remaining 12 months of his three-year, $8.25 million deal he signed with the Penguins in July 2022.
It’s unclear whether or not Rutta, a right-shot defenseman, will return. For subsequent season, the Sharks have 9 defensemen with NHL expertise below contract or group management, together with right-shot defensemen Timothy Liljegren, Vincent Desharnais, and Jack Thompson.
“I like San Jose. I like playing for the Sharks,” Rutta stated Sunday. “I’m a free agent, so we’ll see what the future brings. I would really like to be a Shark, but for now, I’m just really happy that I get to play games.”
After practically a three-month absence, Ruttas returned from a lower-body harm on Friday within the Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. In his first recreation since Jan. 23, Rutta had 19:29 in ice time and was credited with two blocked photographs.
Rutta stated the sport “wasn’t a Picasso” however was glad to be again after an arduous rehab.
“It was frustrating at times, but just really happy that I get to play, get back into the action,” Rutta stated. “Huge thanks to the Sharks and the doctors. Took a while, but really happy.”
Rutta stated he’s had conversations with the hockey officers in Czechia about as soon as once more taking part in for his dwelling nation within the World Championships. Rutta helped Czechia seize the gold medal final season when the event was held in Prague and Ostrava.
LINEUP NOTES: Ahead Thomas Bordeleau, recalled from the Barracuda on Saturday, will draw into Sunday’s lineup. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky stated that winger Cam Lund has an sickness and won’t play, and that Klim Kostin is unavailable because of a lower-body harm.
Bordeleau’s recreation might be his first within the NHL since April 18, 2024, when the Sharks misplaced to the Flames of their regular-season finale. He had 38 factors in 59 video games with the Barracuda this season. He’ll begin Sunday’s recreation on a line with Zack Ostapchuk and Carl Grundstrom.
Bordeleau is slated to turn out to be a pending restricted free agent this summer season, and the Sharks must determine by late June whether or not to problem him a qualifying supply and retain his rights.
“He’s played here before, he understands how to play this league, what he needs to do to impact the game in certain areas,” Warsofsky stated of Bordeleau.
Warsofsky stated it’s unclear whether or not Kostin might be obtainable to play in one of many Sharks’ remaining two video games, both Monday in Vancouver or Wednesday at dwelling in opposition to the Oilers.
Initially Printed: April 13, 2025 at 12:21 PM PDT
