To watch the press conference, visit sjsharks.com

Today at 2:30 PM (PST), Owen Nolan will be given a one day contract by the San Jose Sharks so he can officially retire as a member of the team. Nolan, who has been out of the game for two years, played parts of eight seasons with San Jose, his most with any franchise.

In Nolan's tenure with San Jose, he scored 206 goals and 451 points, leaving him amongst the organization's higest scoring players of all time. Aside from his statistics, Nolan is remembered for a moments; his called shot in the All-Star Game, his goal from the center ice against Roman Turek, and his railroading of Ed Belfor, among other things, stand out as great moments in a great career.

As captain of the Sharks, Nolan came to embody the franchise and cement them in the hearts of the city. We welcome you to reflect on your memories of his time in San Jose throughout today.

According to the AHL's transactions page Justin Braun was sent down to Worcester today, joining the Sharks AHL affiliate for the first time since October 21st.

Although Braun had only posted one assist in ten games played with the big club, his play on the blueline had been the lone bright spot on an otherwise inconsistent bottom pairing. As we covered earlier this month, Braun had been driving the play in the right direction and generating scoring opportunities for his team every time he hit the ice.

A weak game against Los Angeles, along with a resurgence in play from Jason Demers as of late, could have played a role in Braun's demotion. Furthermore, recent news from David Pollak of Working The Corners indicates that goaltender Antero Niittymaki may be getting ready to practice with the team soon.

Here's DP with more:

Antero Niittymaki’s rehab progress has reached the point that goalie coach/assistant GM Wayne Thomas said this morning that Niittymaki probably will practice with his teammates tomorrow for the first time since undergoing hip surgery in September.

That was supposed to sideline Niittymaki for 12 weeks and Thomas said the netminder may even be a little bit ahead of schedule.

When he returns, the Sharks will have to figure out what to do with a pair of capable back-ups. And with more than a couple teams already dipping deep into their farm system for back-ups, I wouldn’t rule out a trade involving either Niittymaki or Thomas Greiss.

>> Working The Corners

As DP says, a trade involving either Thomas Greiss or Antero Niittymaki is a possibility considering the Sharks current situation and the need for quality backup goaltenders around the League. Matt covered this scenario earlier in the year, and we both feel that Niittymaki would be the odd man out in this situation considering Greiss' play this season as well as the fact he is signed to an affordable two year deal and is only 25 years old.

"Braun was sent down because he doesn't require waivers, but I don't expect the team to carry three goalies for long once Nittymaki is activated. It's a waste of cap space and prevents them from roster and salary flexibility," award-winning analyst and part-time male model Matt Taylor said via text. "Also, I think Shane's character on the Walking Dead is really straining the series, and I hope the writers don't back down on one of the best moments of the comic to continue his arc.*"

*For the record, I have to disagree with Matt when he says Shane's character is straining the series. The horror of the walkers has begun to pale in comparison to the darkness Shane has brought to the series; he's a complete wildcard, and therefore an extremely effective character that leaves you fearing just what he is capable of.

Before a potential trade may occur however, the Sharks will still have time to explore their options. Once Niittymaki is activated from the long-term injured reserve, San Jose would have the option of assigning Niittymaki to Worcester for a conditioning assignment. According to the CBA, conditioning assignments can last up to 14 days. At the end of that period, Nittymaki must either return to the NHL roster or be placed on waivers to remain with Worcester.

Frazer McLaren is a recent example of a player who went through a conditioning assignment in Worcester, and when James Sheppard returns, it is likely he will go through the same process as well.

The fact that the Sharks have carried eight defenseman this season and may end up carrying three goaltenders at some point is a scenario one would have found hard to envision after two years of the Worcester Shuttle. It may not be as geeky as TV series based off a comic book, but it's something that always makes me giggle whenever I think about it.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic has always been appreciated for his defensive capabilities. Over the last four seasons with the Sharks the young blueliner has been one of the most reliable defenseman on the team, logging tough minutes against opposing teams best players and playing an invaluable role on the penalty kill.

But last week Vlasic's offensive capabilities got their chance in the spotlight, as he posted one goal, six assists, and a +7 rating on his way towards receiving the NHL's second star of the week.

Here's the full release from the NHL:

Vlasic tied for the League scoring lead last week with seven points (one goal, six assists) and posted a +7 rating as the Sharks (12-5-1) won three consecutive games and took the Pacific Division lead. Vlasic recorded the first four-point game in his six-year NHL career, tallying the game-winning goal, three assists and a career-high +5 rating in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Nov. 17.

He closed the week with three assists and a +2 rating in a 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche Nov. 20. The 24-year-old Montreal native improved his team-leading plus-minus rating to +11 and increased his season points total to 11 (two goals, nine assists), on pace to easily surpass his career high of 36 points set in 2008-09.

Considering Vlasic has been in the League for six seasons for the Sharks it's easy to forget that classifying him as a veteran defenseman, while technically correct, doesn't exactly take into account just how young and just how effective he has been with the organization since joining the team full-time in 2006.

After being drafted in 2005 via a pick the Sharks obtained when they traded Miika Kiprusoff to the Calgary Flames, Vlasic returned to the QMHL to complete his Junior career. He proceeded to made the team out of camp as a 19 year old defenseman in 2006, where he logged the second highest amount of ice time on the blueline (averaging 22:11 per game) and finished first on the team in +/-.

It was at that point it became evident what a bright future Vlasic had; despite some minor struggles in his sophomore campaign, Vlasic has made strides every single year he's been with the club. Both Ron Wilson and Todd McLellan have trusted him immensely, evidenced by the fact Vlasic has logged at least the second highest amount of even strength ice time on the blueline during the last five seasons, and his advanced metrics have always proven that trust was well-placed and well-deserved.

Vlasic's positional play has always been exceptional, but his physical play has ramped up in recent years and made him even more of a presence in his own end. Vlasic began to make strides in this department after a fight with Daniel Briere on November 20, 2009-- it's certainly anecdotal evidence, but something that pops out at you when you reflect on his career with the Sharks.

We're certainly hoping this week of offensive acumen could jumpstart Vlasic into the forty point range this season, a plateau he hasn't sniffed since posting 36 points in 08-09. Maybe we'll look back on this week as the moment where Vlasic transitioned from one of the best defensive defenseman in the League to one of the best two-way defenseman in the League or maybe we won't-- whatever the case may be, Vlasic's play this season in the defensive end has been business as usual.

Garnishing it with a this type of offensive play just makes the dish taste all the more succulent.

With Sharks training camp officially set to get underway at 9:00 AM, hockey season is finally beginning to creep up around the corner like a mugging you've been eagerly anticipating. After a whirlwind offseason for the organization, this training camp should be one of the more exciting ones in recent memory.

To recap-- Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Scott Nichol, Jamal Mayers, Kyle Wellwood, Ian White, Niclas Wallin, Kent Huskins, and Ben Eager are out, while Brent Burns, Michael Handzus, Martin Havlat, Andrew Murray, and Brad Winchester (tryout) are in. Coupled with the massive amounts of prospects who will be fighting for a third and fourth line role, and it's safe to say there are going to be some very interesting battles develop over the course of the next two weeks.

Not all will be up in the air however. The Sharks top six of Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau, Martin Havlat, Logan Couture, and Ryane Clowe is essentially set, and the blueline heads into camp as the best in team history. Brent Burns, Dan Boyle, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Douglas Murray, Jason Demers, and Colin White round out the expected starters, while Jim Vandermeer is expected to fill in at the seven hole in case of injury. A strong camp from one of the prospects could change this projected lineup of course, but a player such as Justin Braun may have to wait until the inevitable injuries occur in order to get his shot with the big club.

So with the primary positions decided, and some interesting battles ready to take place on the third line here is one of those nifty top five lists that, along with serving as a great way to attract page hits, should cover the biggest questions we have going into the 2011 Sharks Training Camp.

1. What effect will injuries have on camp this season? As the esteemed David Pollak of Working The Corners has been reporting, the Sharks will be dealing with their fair share of injuries this week and next. Antero Niitymaki is expected to miss at least 12 weeks with recurring pain problems, putting him on the shelf for the beginning of the season. In his stead will be Thomas Greiss, who served a backup role under Evgeni Nabokov during 07-08 (until the acquisition of Brian Boucher) and 09-10. If Greiss plays well to start the year, and Niittymaki's return falls around Stalock's return from injury, it could present an interesting dilemma for Sharks GM Doug Wilson later in the year.

On the minor injury front, Martin Havlat is still recovering from offseason surgery and Antti Niemi underwent a minor procedure that will cause him to miss the start of training camp. Both players are expected to be in the lineup on opening night.

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According to a tweet from TSN's Bob McKenzie, Brad Winchester will be headed to Sharks camp on a pro tryout. The 30 year old left winger has played in 323 NHL games throughout his career, with the majority of those coming with the St. Louis Blues. Last season he was acquired by the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline for a third round pick, where he played in a checking line role.

The 6'5, 228 pound winger should bring size and grit to a Sharks bottom line that is looking to be tougher to play against going into the season. Although Winchester is primarily considered an enforcer, racking up well over a PIM per game average over the last three seasons, he does possess some scoring pop as well. In 2008-2009 he potted 13 goals with the Blues, and in 2010-2011, Winchester scored 10 goals in stints with the Blues and Ducks.

According to an interview with Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson a few moments ago here in Penticton, Winchester is expected to come in and compete for a bottom line role with many prospects. Asked whether or not Winchester will compete primarily with Sharks prospect Frazer McLaren for the enforcer role, Wilson explained he sees both Winchester and McLaren as more dynamic players.

"There are some spots that will be up for competition in camp, whether it be with our own young players or a guy like Brad who has had a lot of experience in this League," Wilson said. "We don't see him as fitting in one specific role [enforcer]. I don't think he's a one-dimensional player, and I don't think Frazer is either. I think both Brad and Frazer will be looking at many roles available for us on the third and fourth line."

Wilson also doesn't see the bottom six serving a solely defensive role next season, explaining that they will be expected to be scoring threats despite the fact Pavelski will not be centering the third line next year and Kyle Wellwood was not retained.

"I think that we have a lot of different ingredients to pick and choose from, things that Todd can work with depending on who we're playing against and how our team is playing at that moment in time," Wilson said. "You look at the skill sets of Jamie McGinn, John McCarthy, Tommy Wingels, Benn Ferriero, Brandon Mashinter, Frazer McLaren and Andrew Desjardins, all of them can play different types of games. Obviously penalty killing is important, but we expect some scoring from those third and fourth lines."

Sharks training camp begins this Friday, where players will take part in team meetings and physicals. The first day of official practice will be on Saturday.

How does one build a following of fans before playing a single shift for his NHL team? New San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns is showing just how it's done. 

If you're following Burns on Twitter, you know that he loves riding a bike and goes riding on a regular basis in the summer. It is certainly one big advantage of being traded to San Jose Sharks - Northern California is one of the most bike friendly areas in the world, with plenty of trails and the weather that allows bikers to ride all year around. Brent Burns is biking to get ready for the season, "to shed a couple more pounds" as he told the bikers this morning. New hockey seasons starts next Friday with the training camp. 

Last night Brent Burns made a last minute decision to invite the fans on Twitter to join him for a ride from Los Gatos up to Saratoga on Highway 9: 

Eight bikers showed this morning up to join him. Few more, including myself, came by without a bike to say hello. Brent Burns was at the spot early, and ready go. 

Ever since arriving to San Jose, Brent Burns embraced all that's good about the area. He's riding his bike on all the great trails, he took a tour of the Specialized factory in Morgan Hill, he went to Napa, and he's been eating at all the good restaurants South Bay has to offer. And he no doubt has the most entertaining Twitter feed on the Sharks. 

NHL players are known to be very down to earth and approachable when compared to other pro athletes playing in the States. But inviting fans to join a bike ride is taking it to a whole new level. Our respect for the new Shark Brent Burns continues to grow, even before he played a single game or scored his first goal. It's no wonder the fans in Minnesota hated seeing him traded. 

Having seen how Burns interacts with his fans after Captain's Ice, what he does in the community with his support of the troops, and how he is full of life just in general, there's no doubt he'll become a fan favorite in San Jose in no time.

And that's how it's done.  

A few years ago, it was clear who the Sharks were building around. Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Evgeni Nabokov and Dan Boyle were the core, the vital organs of the San Jose franchise.

That, however, seems to be changing.

Don't take this the wrong way. Aside from Nabokov, whose time with the Sharks is gone, I've just named three players on whom the Sharks success next season hinges upon. Joe Thornton remains the captain and likely scoring leader, Patrick Marleau has become a dependable source for thirty to forty goals a season, and Dan Boyle is the foundation of the team's now formidable blue line.

However, when you look at the Sharks roster, you begin to see that these players aren't as young as they once were. And while they still have some serviceable years ahead of them, the elite "core" may not be as exclusive as it once was.

All you have to do is look at some of the Sharks recent signings. After trading for Brent Burns, a young all-star defenseman, and signing him to a long-term contract, the team extended the burgeoning Logan Couture for two years beyond the upcoming season. Marc-Edouard Vlasic is inked for the next two years as well, as is Jason Demers. 

Just one of those players is over 25 (Burns, who is 26). Add to that group of youngsters Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe, who are 27 and 28 respectively, and you have yourself a decent building block. 

That's something the Sharks will need in the future.

Thornton, Marleau and Boyle still have some good seasons in them, and if the Sharks are going to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in team history, these players will have to be a big part of that. They won't be around forever, though. 

Luckily, even as general manager Doug Wilson has played fast and loose with his first round draft picks (only two first rounders [Couture and Nick Petrecki] selected by San Jose since 2000 remain with the team), he's built a roster that will remain competitive even as Thornton and his crew enter the twilight of their careers. 

It may not yet be a changing of the guard, but the replacements are definitely in waiting.

Many Sharks fans, impressed with Kyle Wellwood's creative play making and chemistry with Torrey Mitchell and Joe Pavelski, have been holding out hope that San Jose will extend a contract to the journeyman forward.

It seems like Kyle Wellwood himself is doing the same.

According to Andy Strickland of True Hockey, Kyle Wellwood has recieved interest from both the Winnepeg Jets and the Columbus Blue Jackets but hasn't signed yet with either team. Instead, Wellwood remains determined to land a spot with the team he helped take to the Western Conference Finals last season. The Sharks have apparently told Wellwood that they would extend a camp try-out, but would do so without the security of a guaranteed spot or contract.

It's a risky move for Wellwood; he played a similar type of waiting game last offseason and ended up playing in Russia to start the season. Luckily, he was released by his KHL club and was signed by the St. Louis Blues, who then lost him on re-entry waivers to the Sharks.

Credit to Wellwood, who played admirably for San Jose in his return to the NHL after what was effectively half of a season away from the league. Wellwood scored thirteen points in thirty-five regular season games and added seven points in the team's eighteen playoff contests. His advanced statistics were also quite impressive, as we pointed out earlier in the offseason.

However, there are some significant roadblocks to Wellwood's return to San Jose. First, the need for Wellwood is lessened now that the Sharks have moved Pavelski into the top six forward group. Because of this, the Sharks third line will take on a much smaller role when it comes to offensive production, instead focusing on the defensive aspects of the game. Wellwood's size and skill-set don't mesh well with that type of assignment.

Second, the Sharks already have a slew of players who will be competing for four spots on the third and fourth lines, likely at a lower price. Jamie McGinn, James Sheppard, Cam MacIntyre, Benn Ferriero, Andrew Desjardins and Andrew Murray all have their eyes on a roster spot. The Sharks may not want to add Wellwood to the already crowded fold.

Lastly, as Stickland points out in his article, the Sharks are just one contract away from the 50 player maximum, meaning that Wellwood would take that last spot. If Doug Wilson wants to make any other move before the start of the season, signing Wellwood would reduce his wiggle-room.

Kyle Wellwood is a good hockey player, one who definitely deserves a chance somewhere in the NHL. Unfortunately for him, that somewhere may not be San Jose.

Hopefully, his dedication to the team won't leave him homeless for the second straight offseason.