Deep Blue Sea: ISO Fourth Line Center, apparently

Before the Sharks take on the Colorado Avalanche tonight, let’s look at some Sharks news from around the web:

• NHL: Six people facing pressure in second half
  With nine goals, Pavelski might not reach 20 goals for the first time in a full 82-game season since 2007-08.
• NHL Power Rankings 2018: Penguins, Sharks, & Predators Surge In NHL Top 10 Teams
  In addition to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sporting News reports that the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators have also jumped up a bit among the top 10 teams.
• San Jose Sharks are shopping for a fourth-line center
  The Mercury News has learned from sources that the Sharks are actively shopping for a center to plug the glaring hole in the middle of their bottom line.
• Sharks' radio announcer Dan Rusanowsky to call 2000th game
  Dan Rusanowsky will call his 2000th Sharks game on the radio Tuesday.
• Sharks' Martin Jones rebounds from poor start, beats Kings
  The Sharks are 10-2-3 against the Pacific Division this season.
• Sharks' Boedker is catching fire after benching from DeBoer
  Mikkel Boedker has a three-game scoring streak since he joined Chris Tierney and Joonas Donskoi's line.

And here’s some extra blood in the water from around the league:

• Avalanche rookie J.T. Compher nearing return from injury
  The red-hot Avalanche will likely get one of its top young forwards back in the lineup Thursday against the San Jose Sharks.
• NHL - Quiz - Postgame awards hats, garments for different teams
  Sometimes it's a hat. Sometimes it's a jacket. Other times, it's a fighter pilot helmet, like the Jets have used. Which is to say that these things can get weird. Here are 10 of the most unique awards in use this season.
• North and South Korea announce they will form a joint Olympic team in the 2018 Winter Olympics - SBNation.com
  This is the first time the countries will compete together as one.
• Here are all the custom jerseys for the NHL’s 2017-18 outdoor games - SBNation.com
  The Capitals have released their jersey for their March game at the United States Naval Academy.
• Transcript: Domingue on his rough start this season, “Honestly, I almost quit hockey” - Raw Charge
  Transcribed for accessibility. Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Louis Domingue talks about his tumultuous season, almost quitting hockey, and finding a place in the Bolts organization.
• Scotty Bowman says he thinks Corey Crawford has post-concussion syndrome - Second City Hockey
  The Corey Crawford saga takes another turn.
• Some NHL teams hide injury information, but it might be hurting players - Chicago Tribune
  The hockey culture is steeped in the tradition of hiding injuries. Mostly, it’s a protective measure against targeting, real or imagined.

Finally, this one deserves a little extra attention. Sign the petition to induct Wille O’ree into the Hockey Hall of Fame. From the petition:

On January 18, 1958, Mr. Willie O’ree made his debut with the Boston Bruins, breaking the color barrier as the first Black player in the history of the NHL. His incredible achievement has influenced and paved the way for a score of players and fans of color, including Grant Fuhr, the first Black member inducted into the Hall, who thanked Mr. O’ree during his acceptance speech.

In the years since, Mr. O’ree has become one of the League’s strongest advocates for diversity, holding the title of Director of Youth Development for the NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force since 1998. Under his leadership, the program has grown to introduce more than 40,000 children of various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds to the game of hockey with the guiding principle that Hockey is For Everyone. His efforts and mentorship have led to the creation of more than 30 youth hockey programs for low-income families and countless scores of new hockey fans from non-traditional hockey markets.

On the 60th anniversary of his monumental feat, we ask that the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and the NHL finally acknowledge Mr. O’ree’s awe-inspiring contributions to hockey.

The hashtag #WillieforHHOF will track the petition’s progress and allow fans to speak up about why his inclusion is important. Please take a second of your day to get this man the recognition he deserves.

Feel free to discuss any of these topics or things we might not have covered in the comments below. There’ll be plenty of space to discuss the upcoming game later today.