Deep Blue Sea: Gushchin does the Michigan

Things might suck for the San Jose Sharks right now, but at least they did the 2020 NHL Draft right — right? It’s not the best of comforts, but the team has a handful of prospects worth getting excited over, showing that maybe things won’t be bad in Bay Area hockey forever.

Two Sharks forwards from the 2020 draft are playing in my neck of the woods. First, there’s Thomas Bordeleau, a second-round pick who has five goals and 13 assists for the University of Michigan Wolverines. The freshman is leading the team in assists and tied for points leader with another rookie, Kent Johnson. Bordeleau is still working out his game, but for Michigan, a team that’s struggled with their stars routinely leaving after one or two years, he’s been a surprise.

Then there’s Daniil Gushchin, playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL, where’s scoring 1.46 points per game. This is his third year in the league, though he’s on loan until the OHL begins their season (it was slated to begin today, but has been on indefinite hold since the end of December). He’s currently fourth in the league with 38 points in 26 games and eighth in points per game.

Oh yeah, and he did The Michigan (don’t you dare call it a lacrosse goal) on Sunday. It was pretty sick:

Danil Gushchin (#66) pulled off “the Michigan” on Sunday! Here is the highlight! #GETJACKD pic.twitter.com/x83g9IP3Ki

— Muskegon Lumberjacks (@MuskegonJacks) January 25, 2021

News & Notes

• Sharks Monthly Prospect Check-In [The Hockey Writers]
• What Your Team Is Thankful For: San Jose Sharks [Pro Hockey Rumors]
• Nikolai Knyzhov’s ‘crazy road’ leads to breakthrough season with Sharks [The Athletic]
• Perhaps running out of chances, Dylan Gambrell seizes latest opportunity [The Mercury News]
• Ryan Donato discusses why he and Minnesota Wild parted ways [The Mercury News]
• Three problems the San Jose Sharks will look to fix this week [The Mercury News]
• Sharks hold first home practice since COVID-19 restrictions lifted [NHL.com]/

Blood in the Water

• The NWHL COVID shutdown is another reminder of how risky sports are right now [USA Today]
• Transcript: NWHL media availability on the suspension of the 2021 season [The Ice Garden]
• Zdeno Chara’s hockey sticks sent to New Jersey man’s house [ESPN]
• Doug Armstrong named GM of 2022 Canadian Olympic team [NBC Sports]
• Minnesota Wild postpone games through Tuesday [ESPN]
• Duncan Keith’s viral Corsi joke raises interesting point about value of NHL’s proxy stats [Chicago Sun Times]
• Why the NHL should change its scoring system [NBC Sports Philadelphia]
• Rangers will be 1st NHL team to host PWHPA game [TheScore]
• Most NHL teams using 2 goalies to get through pandemic play [NBC Sports]
• 2021 NHL Awards Watch: The way-too-early rundown of Hart, Norris, Calder, Vezina and the rest [ESPN+]/

Scores & Recaps

• Detroit Red Wings 1, Tampa Bay Lightning 5
• Boston Bruins 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT)/

Click on a team name to find a recap on their SB Nation site!

On the Schedule

• Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens, 4 PT/7 ET on TSN2, RDS, TSN5, RDS
• Vancouver Canucks at Toronto Maple Leafs, 4 PT/7 ET on TSN4, SNP
• Nashville Predators at Florida Panthers, 4 PT/7 ET on FS-F, FS-TN
• Washington Capitals at New York Rangers, 4 PT/7 ET on NHLN, MSG, NBCSWA
• Dallas Stars at Columbus Blue Jackets, 4 PT/7 ET on ESPN+, SNE, SNO, FS-O, FS-SW
• Carolina Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks, 5 PT/8 ET on NBCSCH, FS-CR
• Arizona Coyotes at St. Louis Blues, 5 PT/8 ET on FS-MW, FS-A
• Calgary Flames at Winnipeg Jets, 5 PT/8 ET on TSN3, SNW/