Former Sharks Defenseman Justin Braun Announces His Retirement

 Former Sharks defenseman Justin Braun announced his retirement from professional hockey yesterday morning, hanging up the skates after 13 seasons with the Sharks, Flyers, and Rangers. 

Braun played his first nine seasons with the Sharks from 2010 to 2018 and was a solid defenseman during his tenure in San Jose. He was a longtime D-partner of Marc-Eduoard Vlasic and a key player in the Sharks' Cup run in 2016, scoring the most goals by a defenseman sharing the team lead in goals in that Cup Final.

The 36-year-old defenseman was a seventh-round pick by the Sharks in 2007 and has amassed a total of 199 regular-season points and 16 playoff points over the course of his NHL career. He was traded to the Flyers from the Sharks during the 2018 offseason in order to clear some cap space. Braun helped the Rangers advance all the way to the Eastern Conference Final after he was traded to the Big Apple at last year's trade deadline and returned to the Flyers on a one-year deal to mentor the young players in Philly in what would be his final season in the NHL. 

I've always had a lot of respect for Justin Braun dating back to his days in teal, and I wish him nothing but the best in retirement. 

Source: ESPN

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store

 

My 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Predictions

 The 2022-23 NHL regular season has officially concluded and the playoff match-ups have been determined. Although the Sharks won't be in it this time around, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are always a great time of the year and remain one of the greatest spectacles in sports. It's time to continue an annual tradition and give my Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions. I will present them bracket-style and in two different sets: one based on who I think will win and advance, and another based on who I want to see win and advance. Due to the wildly unpredictable nature of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I anticipate that many of my picks will be wrong, but this is supposed to be fun. Let's dive into my NHL playoff predictions for this year:

Who I Think will Win and Advance:

First Round:

Islanders vs. Hurricanes: Hurricanes in 6

Rangers vs. Devils: Rangers in 7

Panthers vs. Bruins: Bruins in 5

Lightning vs. Maple Leafs: Lightning in 7

Avalanche vs. Kraken: Avalanche in 5

Stars vs. Wild: Stars in 7

Golden Knights vs. Jets: Golden Knights in 6

Oilers vs. Kings: Oilers in 7

Second Round: 

Hurricanes vs. Rangers: Rangers in 7

Bruins vs. Lightning: Bruins in 5

Avalanche vs. Stars: Avalanche in 6

Golden Knights vs. Oilers: Oilers in 7

Conference Finals:

Rangers vs. Bruins: Bruins in 6

Avalanche vs. Oilers: Oilers in 6

Cup Final:

Bruins vs. Oilers: Bruins in 6

Who I Want to See Win and Advance: 

First Round:

Islanders vs. Hurricanes: Islanders, but would be fine with the Hurricanes

Rangers vs. Devils: Rangers

Panthers vs. Bruins: Bruins, but would be okay with the Panthers

Lightning vs. Maple Leafs: Lightning, but would be okay with the Leafs

Avalanche vs. Kraken: Avalanche

Stars vs. Wild: Wild, but would be fine with the Stars

Golden Knights vs. Jets: Jets

Oilers vs. Kings: Oilers

Second Round:

 Islanders vs. Rangers: Rangers

Bruins vs. Lightning: Lightning

Avalanche vs. Wild: Avalanche

Jets vs. Oilers: Jets

Conference Finals:

Rangers vs. Lightning: Rangers

Avalanche vs. Jets: Avalanche

Cup Final: 

Rangers vs. Avalanche: Rangers

In other news, the Sharks signed prospects Ethan Cardwell and Artem Guryev each to three-year entry-level deals, with the former being named this year's Prospect of the Year by the team. In addition, after the Columbus Blue Jackets lost 5-2 to the Buffalo Sabres on the final day of the NHL regular season on Friday, the Sharks have officially finished their 2022-23 season 29th in the league with the fourth-best odds at winning the draft lottery and the Connor Bedard sweepstakes at 9.8 percent. 

The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Monday, and I can't wait to see and find out what goes down and what history is made this year. I encourage everyone reading this to tune in to playoff action at some point between Monday and the day the Cup is awarded, you'll thank me later. 

Sources: NHL App, San Jose Sharks via Instagram 

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store  

Sharks 2022-23 Game 82 Recap: Oilers 5, Sharks 2 (4/13/23)

 The Sharks lose to the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in the final game of their 2022-23 season.

The Oilers scored the first two goals in the first period via Mattias Janmark and Leon Draisaitl, while the Sharks cut that early Oilers lead in half on Noah Gregor’s 10th goal of the season, setting a season-high in goals for Gregor. Thomas Bordeleau and Steven Lorentz were credited with the assists on Gregor’s 10th of the year. 

Early in the second period, the Oilers got their two-goal lead back after Evan Bouchard put one in on a mostly empty net. Later in the middle frame, Edmonton extended their lead to three on Mattias Janmark’s second goal of the game on a shorthanded breakaway. Team Teal got one back before the conclusion of the second period after Steven Lorentz redirected a shot from Tomas Hertl right in front of the net for his 10th of the year. This also marks Lorentz’s first power play goal of his NHL career. It was initially given to Jacob Peterson, but it was later changed to Erik Karlsson picking up the secondary assist on this second goal for his 101st point of the season. EK65’s 101 points are the 13th-highest point total 

The Oilers added one more goal late in the third period via Evander Kane to finish out the 2022-23 regular season. 

James Reimer was given the start in what could be his final appearance in teal, recording a total of 31 saves. 

And with that, the Sharks completed their 2022-23 season with a 22-44-16 record, good for 60 points, seventh in the Pacific Division, 14th in the Western Conference, and no worse than 30th overall in the entire league. This is the least amount of points earned by a Sharks team since they earned 47 during the 1995-96 season. Overall, it was mostly frustrating watching the Sharks in many games this season, but they certainly had their bright spots. Erik Karlsson had an unbelievable 100+-point campaign and should win the Norris Trophy, which nobody predicted at the beginning of the season and is absolutely amazing to see. We saw the further development of top prospect William Eklund, and Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture each had solid, productive seasons, to name a few more bright spots. However, the Sharks did as well as everyone expected them to this year, which was miss the playoffs and finish towards the bottom of the league. Towards the end of the season, once the Sharks were officially out of the playoff picture, I became more and more content with the Sharks losing as many games as possible to better position themselves to earn a top-3 draft pick in this year’s draft. May 8 is the draft lottery, and if it doesn’t result with the Sharks in a top-3 draft position, especially if it results in a generational talent like Connor Bedard or Adam Fantilli, then I will consider this season a failure for the Sharks. 

Overall, I am relieved that this season for the San Jose Sharks has come to a close. The game reviews will return next season, but until then, I am excited for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and can’t wait to see what goes down during the second season. Expect a Stanley Cup Playoffs Predictions post on CPF Hockey in the next few days. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App, Curtis Pashelka via Twitter 

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store  

Sharks 2022-23 Game 81 Recap: Flames 3, Sharks 1 (4/12/23)

 It was a close game for most of this one, but the Flames would edge out the Sharks 3-1. 

Team Teal got off to a great start, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first period after Noah Gregor scored off his own rebound. Radim Simek picked up the assist on this first goal by Gregor. Soon after, Fabian Zetterlund nearly scored his first goal in teal, but it was disallowed after he had gloved it in, marking the second time Zetterlund was robbed of his first goal in teal. 

The Flames tied it up in the second period via Nikita Zadorov. Zadorov would score another one early in the third period to give the Flames their first lead of the night. Later in the third, with a minute remaining, Zadorov would complete the first hat trick of his career with an empty-netter to seal the deal for the Flames. 

Kaapo Kahkonen made 46 saves in net against the Flames, which sets a season high for him. On the other hand, Flames goalie and Gilroy native Dustin Wolf made his NHL debut against the team he grew up rooting for, earning his first big-league win. 

In addition, Jacob MacDonald skated in his 100th NHL game tonight. 

The Sharks will suit up one last time this season tomorrow in Edmonton against the Oilers at 6 pm PT. 

Sources: TNT, NHL App 

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store  

Sharks 2022-23 Game 80 Recap: Jets 6, Sharks 2 (4/10/23)

 Erik Karlsson has finally hit 100 points on the season, but the Sharks lose 6-2 to the Winnipeg Jets. 

Team Teal got on the board just 20 seconds in on Erik Karlsson’s 24th goal and 99th point of the season. Logan Couture recorded his 700th career point with an assist on this first goal, while Jacob Peterson recorded the other assist. Great start to this one, but it wasn’t long before the Jets would score the next two goals via Pierre-Luc Dubois and Adam Lowry. Late in the first period, the Jets would take a two-goal lead after Kyle Connor tipped in a shot by former Shark Dylan DeMelo. 

Things picked back up in the third period, as the Jets would score just 16 seconds into the final frame via Mason Appleton to extend their lead to three. A few minutes later would come the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Erik Karlsson would score his second goal of the game and his 25th goal and 100th point of the season, which made it a 4-2 game in favor of Winnipeg. EK65 is officially the sixth defenseman in NHL history to register 100 points in a season, with Tomas Hertl collecting the lone assist on that milestone goal. An incredible season by Karlsson made even more special. However, the Jets would finish this one off scoring two more goals via Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele. 

James Reimer made 27 saves in his second consecutive start in net. In addition, Tristen Robins made his NHL debut for the Sharks against the Jets, while Nikolai Knyzhov was back in the lineup after being recently brought up from the Barracuda. 

For awhile now, we were all wondering if and when Erik Karlsson would reach the 100-point plateau before season’s end, and he finally did tonight, taking a humongous weight off of his shoulders and capping off a historic season for the Sharks defenseman. Overall, this huge milestone was all that mattered in this game. Next up, the Sharks travel to Calgary to face the Flames in their next-to-last game of the season on Wednesday at 7 pm PT, which will be nationally televised on TNT. 

Sources: Sharks Audio Network, NHL App 

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store  

Sharks 2022-23 Game 79 Recap: Oilers 6, Sharks 1 (4/8/23)

 The Sharks fall 6-1 to the Edmonton Oilers in their final home game of the 2022-23 season. 

To no surprise, the Oilers’ high-powered offense was too much for this Sharks team to handle. Edmonton’s scoring barrage began early in the first period via Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Soon after, the Sharks would score their only goal of the game via Tomas Hertl’s 22nd of the season, with Jacob Peterson getting the lone assist on that goal. The Oilers regained the lead late in the first period on Connor McDavid’s first goal of the game. 

Edmonton didn’t stop there, as they would score two goals in each of the second and third periods. Zach Hyman and Derek Ryan would score in the second frame, while Philip Bromberg and Connor McDavid scored in the final frame. McDavid now becomes the sixth player in NHL history with at least 60 goals and 150 points in a season with his two goals and assist in this one. 

James Reimer was given the start in the Sharks’ home finale, recording a total of 29 saves in the lopsided affair. In addition, Marc-Eduoard Vlasic exited the game after the first period after sustaining an upper-body injury. 

On a side note, since it was the Sharks’ last home game of the season, team awards were handed out, with the most notable awards being the Player of the Year going to Erik Karlsson, the Media Good Guy going to Logan Couture, and the Rookie of the Year going to William Eklund. 

Team Teal hits the road to Western Canada for its last three games of the campaign, starting in Winnipeg against the Jets on Monday at 4 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App, Curtis Pashelka via Twitter 

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store  

Sharks 2022-23 Game 78 Recap: Avalanche 6, Sharks 2 (4/6/23)

 The second consecutive meeting between the Sharks and Avalanche was more lopsided than the first, as the Avs took down the Sharks 6-2 in the Sharks’ next-to-last home game of the season. 

Team Teal opened the scoring late in the first period on Erik Karlsson’s 23rd goal and 97th point of the season, with assists from Kevin Labanc and Jacob Peterson. EK65 is now the seventh defenseman in NHL history and the first since Phil Housley in the 1992-93 season to reach 97 points in a season. Soon after, the Avalanche tied it at one on Mikko Rantanen’s 50th goal of the season. 

The Avs exploded for four goals in the second period, including two from Mikko Rantanen to complete his sixth career hat trick and one each from Nathan MacKinnon and Ben Meyers. The Sharks were able to salvage one more in the second period via Steven Lorentz from Erik Karlsson and Jacob MacDonald. This puts Karlsson’s point total at 98 this season and gives MacDonald a career-long three-game point streak. Colorado then added one more goal in the third period via Ben Meyers’ second goal of the game to cap this one off. 

 Kaapo Kahkonen made 15 saves on 19 shots before getting pulled late in the second period, while James Reimer made ten saves on 12 shots in relief of Kahkonen. The only significant lineup change in this game compared to Tuesday was the addition of Adam Raska after he was recently called up from the Barracuda. 

In other news, it was announced yesterday that the Sharks would face the LA Kings in a preseason game on October 5 in Salt Lake City as part of the Frozen Fury exhibition series. 

Overall, Erik Karlsson has made history once again, but the Avalanche were too much for the Sharks to handle, sweeping the season series in unsurprising fashion. Next up, the Sharks face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon at 1 pm PT in their final home game of the season. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App 

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store  

Sharks 2022-23 Game 77 Recap: Avalanche 4, Sharks 3 (OT) (4/4/23)

 The Sharks put up a great effort against the defending Cup Champions, but their three-game win streak was snapped as the Colorado Avalanche win 4-3 in overtime. This would also allow the Avalanche to clinch a playoff spot. 

The Avalanche jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Jack Johnson and Evan Rodrigues. Team Teal got on the board in the second period on Kevin Labanc’s 14th goal of the season. Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson assisted on this first goal, with Karlsson’s point total this season now at 96. The Avs got their two-goal lead back before the end of the middle frame via Nathan MacKinnon. In addition, Tomas Hertl left the game and didn't return due to an upper-body injury, and is considered day-to-day.

Early in the third period, the Sharks came back further, starting with Jacob Peterson's second goal of the year from Danil Gushchin and Logan Couture followed by Kevin Labanc's second goal of the game from Noah Gregor and Jacob MacDonald to even it up at three to ultimately force bonus hockey. However, the Avalanche would have the last laugh in the extra period as Nathan MacKinnon would score his second goal of the game to earn the extra point and end the game. 

Kaapo Kahkonen recorded 38 saves in his 100th NHL game. In addition, Evgeny Svechnikov made his return to the lineup while Kyle Criscuolo was sent back down to the Barracuda. 

Overall, it was a great game that the Sharks certainly made interesting, but they have fallen back to earth a bit and still remain in the race for Connor Bedard. These two teams face off again at the same place and time as this one on Thursday.

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App 

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store  

Sharks 2022-23 Game 76 Recap: Sharks 7, Coyotes 2 (4/1/23)

 The Sharks have extended their win streak to three in huge fashion as they take down the Arizona Coyotes 7-2 in Tempe.

 What an unbelievable performance by this Sharks team, especially from a few recent call-ups and a depth forward. Team Teal struck first and fast a minute-and-a-half into the start of this game on Noah Gregor’s first goal of the game. Nico Sturm recorded the lone assist on this first goal in his 200th NHL game. Later on in the first period, Jacob Peterson scored his first goal in teal to extend the Sharks' lead to two, with assists from Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson. San Jose then follows that up with Kyle Criscuolo's first NHL goal in his Sharks debut to make it a three-goal lead. Before the end of the first period, the Coyotes were able to get on the board via J.J. Moser on the power play to cut their deficit to two. 

The Sharks weren't done yet, as another important feat was accomplished in the second period, specifically Danil Guschin's first NHL goal in his NHL debut. Erik Karlsson picked up his second assist of the night, while Jacob MacDonald was credited with the secondary assist. San Jose's offense remained explosive heading into the third quarter, with Nico Sturm connecting with Noah Gregor again for the latter's second goal of the game. Logan Couture scored a few minutes after Noah Gregor's second goal of the night with assists from Hertl and EK65 to make it a 6-1 game, while Noah Gregor completed his first career hat trick around the 15-minute mark of the final frame for the Sharks' biggest lead of the night at six goals. Kevin Labanc and Erik Karlsson assisted on Gregor's third goal of the game, which now brings EK65's point total to 95 this season. Arizona salvaged one more goal late in the third period via Milos Kelemen, but this last goal had no impact on the end result of this contest. 

Kaapo Kahkonen was excellent in net, recording 29 saves on 31 shots against.

In other news, shortly after William Eklund was sent down to the Barracuda, he injured his shoulder during a game. He recently had surgery done on the injured shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. Unfortunate for the Sharks' top prospect, but at the same time, the Sharks' decision to send him back down to the Cuda is looking more and more like a smart move. 

I was in total awe and shock with how this game went down. Neither of these teams will be making the playoffs this year, but that was one of the best and most impressive offensive outputs by the Sharks in a long time. Team Teal is looking to extend their win streak to four when they return home on Tuesday for the first of two consecutive games against the Colorado Avalanche at 7:30 pm PT. 

Sources: San Jose Sharks via Instagram, NHL App 

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store