Deep Blue Sea: Vegas players only sign autographs for kids

The most successful expansion team of all time is getting a little too much attention. While the club has made themselves incredibly accessible — a good marketing decision for a nontraditional market — the Vegas Golden Knights are now facing some challenges because of that accessibility.

Namely, that they’re overwhelmed by fans at their practices looking for autographs.

In the interest of safety, they have instituted a new policy that ultimately aims at limiting adult autograph dealers by only allowing kids under the age of 14 to collect autographs at the designated area outside of the practice facility.

“What I saw, honestly, I saw adults at times pushing kids out of the way, and that’s just not how we’re wired,” Knights president Kerry Bubolz said. “On the exterior of the building we had to change that process, too. Guys were stopping, as they always do, and it was creating a safety hazard. We saw kids running into the street and we just couldn’t have an incident like that take place so we had to change that process as well.”

You can read more about that below. First, here’s your Sharks news and notes:

• San Jose Sharks: Thornton’s Injury Could Make or Break Season
  The San Jose Sharks will be without Joe Thornton after he suffered a knee injury, which means the current players must step up to fill the void.
• In First Game Without Thornton, Sharks Turn Back the Clock on Top Line - NBC Bay Area
  The Sharks will learn how long the experiment needs to last before Thursday's tilt against the Rangers, and get a better idea of just how long turning back the clock can last after.
• Sharks lose first game without Thornton, fall to Rangers | NBCS Bay Area
  The Sharks played without Joe Thornton for the first time all season, and dropped their second straight in the process.
• Sharks aren't depending on Joe Thornton's return this season
  The Sharks aren't looking ahead to Joe Thornton's potential return in March.
• San Jose Sharks fall 6-5 to New York Rangers
  The Sharks generated the kind of quality offensive chances they were looking for Thursday night in their first game of the season without Joe Thornton. Their problem, though, was preventing those same golden opportunities in their own end of the rink.
• NHL: Sharks' Joe Thornton has knee surgery, out indefinitely
  Thornton had an MRI on his right knee Wednesday, and underwent additional medical evaluation Thursday afternoon

And here’s what’s happening around the league:

• Vegas Golden Knights ban adults from asking players for autographs - SBNation.com
  Only kids age 14 or younger will be allowed to ask for autographs under a new team policy.
• Raw Charge’s Guide to the 2018 NHL All-Star Game - Raw Charge
  A rundown of all of the activities taking place across the Tampa Bay area this weekend.
• P.K. Subban’s ‘The Daily Show’ visit highlighted the NHL’s biggest philanthropist - SBNation.com
  There’s nobody in hockey like P.K.
• 7 NHL coaches pick Vegas Golden Knights to reach Stanley Cup Final in midseason poll - SBNation.com
  Almost a quarter of NHL coaches have hopped aboard the Vegas bandwagon.
• Las Vegas sports books keep losing money on the Golden Knights - SBNation.com
  Local fans have been winning big alongside their NHL franchise this season.
• Philadelphia Flyers pull their goaltender on a power play, and score! - SBNation.com
  You don’t see this very often!
• Brian Boyle will attend All-Star Game for the Devils in lieu of Taylor Hall - SBNation.com
  Boyle returned to play hockey in November after receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer.
• Controversial goalie interference call nearly costs Edmonton Oilers a win - SBNation.com
  And captain Connor McDavid had something to say about it.
• NHL All-Star Weekend Looks Like Silly Alternative To Olympics
  These are frivolous skills competitions and 3-on-3 tournaments involving players who would much rather be in South Korea, performing in real hockey games alongside their countrymen.
• Inconsistent goalie interference challenges a frustration for NHL coaches - Sportsnet.ca
  Whenever a NHL coach spins the roulette wheel with a challenge on goaltender interference, Ken Hitchcock is just as uncertain as his colleagues about how it’s going to turn out.
• NHL's Top 12 UFAs of 2018: Latest rumours, reports - Sportsnet.ca
  With the NHL's trade deadline a month away, we round up the latest rumours and reports on the biggest names of 2018's class of unrestricted free agents.
• P.K. Subban's defense for Predators worthy of NHL All-Star recognition
  P.K. Subban's defense has been underemphasized throughout his NHL career but accentuated by how the Predators have used him.
• Sometimes NHL refs interfere with common sense | Toronto Star
  The controversy over goaltender interference calls/non-calls is at a fever pitch, the greyest of grey areas in hockey’s rulebook, Dave Feschuk writes.