Just one day before the San Jose Sharks start their campaign to avenge last season’s disappointing first-round exit from the playoffs, the team has finalized their 23-man roster as they prepare to open at home against Philadelphia Wednesday.
With the final cuts Tuesday, the team reassigned 12 players back to the San Jose Barracuda, including winger Marcus Sörensen.
After being called up last season, the 25-year-old Swede appeared in 19 regular season games including all six playoff games. During the regular season he notched just three assists and found the net once. However, the former fourth-round pick showed some light in the short-lived playoffs, scoring one goal and notching one assist.
Head coach Peter DeBoer explained that although Sörensen was able to contribute in the playoffs and finish strong, it didn’t affect his chances of making this year’s roster:
“I thought his camp was okay. … I thought his last [preseason] game was his best by far, but it’s about a body of work … You can’t come in and play one or two good games.”
Sörensen combined for just two points (one goal, one assist) in four preseason games, with his lone goal coming in the final preseason match against the Las Vegas Golden Knights Sunday night.
DeBoer went on to say fellow winger Barclay Goodrow showed the consistency Sörensen could not. In the same amount of preseason appearances, the 24-year-old doubled Sörensen’s figures with two goals and two assists. DeBoer said:
“The guys who we kept here were the guys who were the best throughout training camp. … Goodrow came in in fantastic shape … You have to keep that meritocracy to it, otherwise you lose credibility.”
Though Sörensen was unable to make the final roster, the two-year contract he signed in July will give him plenty of opportunities to make it back to the NHL. DeBoer affirmed the possibility of this by stating the final roster is not set in stone:
“But like I told our players, ‘Because you are in this group of 23 doesn’t mean that’s a job for the season,’ that lasts through game one and then we re-evaluate daily.”
