Sharks Preview: Kelly Hrudey Autographed Card

(team and product links go to sponsored Amazon products, player links go to related pages on my blog, news links go to source pages)

This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.

Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being set to start in less than a week, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.

Key Exits: William Eklund (LW), John Klingberg (D), Nick Leddy (D), Mario Ferraro (D), Ryan Reaves (RW), Vincent Desharnais (D), Philipp Kurashev (C), Shakir Mukhamadullin (D), Pavol Regenda (LW), Laurent Brossoit (G)

Key Arrivals: Michael Kesselring (D), Jacob Trouba (D), Darnell Nurse (D), Mason Marchment (LW), Eric Comrie (G), Alex Barré-Boulet (C), Brett Leason (RW)

Top prospects: Ivar Stenberg (LW, 18), Michael Misa (C, 19), Keaton Verhoeff (D, 18), Quentin Musty (LW, 21), Joshua Ravensbergen (G, 19), Igor Chernyshov (LW, 20), Filip Bystedt (C, 22)

That is a lot of turnover on the blue line, and they will be much harder to play against with this d-corps, although Ferraro's offense and overall quality will be missed.

What makes their odds look good:
The San Jose Sharks took a huge step on Macklin Celebrini's back and will do so again this season; the revamped defense and internal improvement will propel the team into the playoffs, and their elite prospects will ensure the Stanley Cup contention window will last for a long time. And should they get to an iffy start, it seems like GM Mike Greer will make moves to correct course.

Question marks:
Is Yaroslav Askarov ready to take the pole position in net? Can Misa and Will Smith play at least 70 games to give Celebrini help up front?

Outlook:
Development is not linear, but a weak Pacific division should have the Sharks behind the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers, above the rebuilding Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, with more hopeful upside than the veteran Los Angeles Kings and Seattle Kraken, and thus fighting the Anaheim Ducks for a playoff spot - and Anaheim didn't exactly get better during the offseason, as the Philadelphia Flyers' offer sheet to Leo Carlsson disrupted their salary structure and forced them to sacrifice key contributors, while San Jose made significant upgrades to their blue line.

Prediction:
3rd in the Pacific Division.

Kelly Hrudey is an accomplished retired NHL goaltender and broadcaster who appeared in 677 regular-season and 85 playoff games over 15 seasons with the New York Islanders, Kings and Sharks (reaching the Cup Final with both the Isles and Kings).

More recently, he had been a colour commentator for the Flames as well as part of the regular national commentators team for Rogers / Sportsnet's broadcast of Hockey Night In Canada, but his contract was not renewed for the upcoming season. He is now a free agent.

Sometimes cards are great because they have a unique design, great pictures, weird angles... and sometimes it's just the opposite. This is the latter:

That is card #60 from Donruss' 1996-97 Elite set, which doesn't scan well - the background is aluminium foil, mostly silver, with teal up top behind his name, but it's the picture that gets me every time: we're so used to seeing goalies facing forward, either in their waiting stance or making a save, with either a very clear view of their face or mask. This one shows him in his base position, facing the shot, but sideways from the camera with his catching glove hiding his mask. It is the worst possible angle of him except if he'd been from behind, from behind the net. He signed it in black sharpie 15 years ago or so, when he was in town for a HNIC broadcast.