ANAHEIM, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks have signed PTO defenseman Scott Harrington to an NHL contract. What does that imply for the Sharks’ defensive corps?
A supply tells San Jose Hockey Now that it’s a one-year, two-way contract price $750,000 within the NHL and $350,000 within the AHL.
Harrington has been cast defensively for the Sharks within the preseason, impressing head trainer David Quinn. In my viewings of him, I ponder about his puck-moving, however which may be mitigated via his new coaching camp defensive spouse, Erik Karlsson.
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Harrington takes where of Markus Nutivaara via Karlsson’s facet. Nutivaara is regarded as daily with a lower-body damage associated with a hip ailment closing yr that sidelined him for maximum of closing season.
Quinn stated Nutivaara’s lower-body damage is expounded to the problem he had closing season when he ignored 81 of 82 common season video games and the entire Florida Panthers’ two-round playoff run.
Nutivaara performed in closing Sunday’s preseason sport at house in opposition to Los Angeles however didn’t really feel wholesome the next day and has stayed off the ice this week.
“It’s been a tough go for him,” Quinn informed The Mercury News of Nutivaara. “He’s battling and doing everything he can, and hopefully he feels better [by Saturday].”
Saturday is a key date for the San Jose Sharks, as that’s after they’ll have to chop their roster down from about 48 to 27 for their season-opening highway travel to Berlin and Prague.
Nutivaara appears like a longshot to make the travel, however every other supply informed SJHN that the Finnish defender is in point of fact daily, and to some extent, simply coping with anticipated put on and tear after lacking such a lot time. He may just really feel higher the following day or sign up for the staff later within the travel.
That could be a rosy view, we’ll see. The Sharks mission to wish the entire assist that they may be able to get on protection.
So what does Harrington convey to the Sharks?
The 29-year-old defenseman involves San Jose by the use of the Columbus Blue Jackets group, the place he spent the closing six seasons.
With 210 video games of NHL revel in underneath his belt, Harrington does supply an skilled possibility. However, we’ll see about his NHL sea-worthiness at the moment. He gave the impression in simply seven contests with the Blue Jackets closing yr.
“Veteran defender, on the back-nine of his career,” an NHL scout informed SJHN two weeks in the past. “Plays a pretty competitive game. Not going to provide much offense but can defend and PK. Low-level depth option, trending into more of an AHL vet presence.”
Scout on What Scott Harrington Offers Sharks
An NHL government concurred lately: “Steady defensive guy. Little offense. One pass out of zone type. But smart and reliable at the AHL level. No. 7-8 D at very best.”
If Nutivaara misses Europe, and Harrington replaces him, that is how the San Jose Sharks defensive corps is having a look at the moment:
Harrington-Karlsson
Marc-Edouard Vlasic-Mario Ferraro
Radim Simek-Matt Benning
In this state of affairs, Jaycob Megna or Ryan Merkley seem to be your most-likely applicants for No. 7 defenseman.