Sharks News & Notes (1/11/21)

 With the season just a few days away, here are some recent news and notes from around the Sharks organization heading into the new season: 

• The Sharks signed defenseman Fredrik Claesson to a one-year two-way deal worth $700k at the NHL level and $200k in the minors. He previously played three seasons for the Senators and then bounced around the league for the past few years, having stints with the Rangers, Hurricanes, and Devils. Claesson has recorded seven goals, 21 assists, and 50 penalty minutes in 155 NHL games in his career thus far. This move comes as the Sharks expect Radim Simek to miss some time due to injury. 

•  San Jose released its waiver list today, which consists of Claesson, Trevor Carrick, Antti Suomela, Kurtis Gabriel, Nick DeSimone, and Nicholas Meloche. Most of these players are AHL-caliber and expected to clear waivers before the start of the season. 

•  In the Sharks' most recent Teal vs. White Scrimmage on Sunday night, Teal defeated White 7-2. 

• Martin Jones has performed well during training camp and is expected to be the Sharks' starting netminder this season. 

•  The NHL will have commemorative decals on players' helmets starting Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend on January 16 to honor Willie O'Ree, the first black player to skate in the NHL. This will continue until the end of February, which is also Black History Month. 

• Team Teal has shaved its roster by seven players, sending Josef Korenar, Ryan Merkley, Jaycob Megna, Lean Bergmann, Alexander True, Joachim Blichfeld, and Jayden Halbgewachs down to the Barracuda in the AHL. In addition, Alexei Melnichuk is now the Sharks' third-string goalie. 

Expect more Sharks news and notes roundups on CPF Hockey as the season progresses. 

Multiple sources were used to compile this post.