SAN JOSE – In a little under two weeks, Scott Harrington went from being just another defenseman trying to crack the San Jose Sharks roster to one that was paired with a two-time Norris Trophy winner.
Harrington, in Sharks’ camp on a Professional Tryout after six years in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, skated with Erik Karlsson in one of the team’s two practice groups Thursday after defenseman Markus Nutivaara stayed off the ice with a lower-body injury.
Harrington will likely play with Karlsson in a preseason game Friday, as the Sharks have split-squad games in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights and in Anaheim against the Ducks.
There’s a possibility Harrington, 29, sticks around past Friday, too.
Although the Sharks are set to trim their roster to around 27 players Saturday before their flight to Berlin, Germany, they could be in need of another experienced left-shot blueliner if Nutivaara, who started camp as Karlsson’s partner, can’t return soon.
Harrington with his steady, no-nonsense style, could fit the bill.
“I’d say I’m someone who’s reliable defensively, good first pass, breaks the puck out well,” said Harrington, who has 38 points in 210 NHL games, as he began his career with one-year stops in Pittsburgh and Toronto. “Somebody who can jump up and support the play when there’s an opportunity.”
Harrington has played in two preseason games so far. On Sunday at home against Los Angeles, Harrington had 17:28 of ice time, including 4:35 shorthanded.
“I liked his intentions. I like what he brought to the table,” Sharks coach David Quinn said of Harrington earlier this week. “Obviously, there’s an opportunity here in this organization. We brought him here for a reason, and he’s got an opportunity to take advantage of it to make our team.”
Here’s how the Sharks’ roster shapes up with the second week of training camp winding down.
FORWARDS
LOCKS (12): Alexander Barabanov, Nick Bonino, Logan Couture, Noah Gregor, Tomas Hertl, Luke Kunin, Kevin Labanc, Oskar Lindblom, Steven Lorentz, Timo Meier, Matt Nieto, Nico Sturm.
TRENDING UP (5): Thomas Bordeleau, Jonah Gadjovich, Scott Reedy, Tristen Robins, Evgeny Svechnikov.
STATUS QUO (10): Andrew Agozzino, William Eklund, Danil Gushchin, Luke Johnson, Adam Raska, C.J. Suess, Jeffrey Viel, Max Veronneau, Jasper Weatherby.
OVERVIEW: There remains some competition for the final few roster spots as some interesting twists have taken place.
Barabanov and Lindblom are injured and although they’re both considered day-to-day, Quinn on Thursday wouldn’t totally dismiss the notion that either player or Nutivaara would be unable to fly with the team to Germany on Saturday. That could open the door for another forward or two to at least be a part of the traveling party.
With the Sharks deep at center, Quinn also said he would be open to moving Bordeleau to the wing. Bordeleau had traditionally played in the middle, but this might be the best opportunity for him to crack the NHL roster out of camp.
“Good hockey players can play anywhere,” Quinn said. “A lot of wingers in the National Hockey League have been lifelong centers, so it wouldn’t be a surprise, and certainly, and if he’s playing well enough to make it, we’ll put them on the wing.
“I’ve got no problem with putting him on the wing. If he’s a good enough player, he can adapt.”
Gadjovich has had a strong camp so far and Svechnikov scored a power-play goal Wednesday against Los Angeles to help his cause. Both have made the case to be on the plane to Berlin. If Bordeleau is moved to the wing, where does that leave Eklund?
DEFENSEMEN
LOCKS (6): Matt Benning, Mario Ferraro, Erik Karlsson, Markus Nutivaara, Radim Simek, Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
TRENDING UP (2): Scott Harrington, Jaycob Megna.
FADING OUT (5): Artem Guryev, Ryan Merkley, Nick Cicek, Santeri Hatakka, Artemi Kniazev.
OVERVIEW: The Sharks’ defense corps was also hit with an injury this week as Nutivaara missed Thursday’s practice with a lower-body ailment. He’s considered day-to-day for now, but the Sharks can ill afford to have another defenseman miss much time considering Brent Burns is in Carolina and Nikolai Knyzhov will be out for at least another four or five months.
If Nutivaara has to go on injured reserve – and that remains unclear – it could open the door for Harrington to sign a contract with the team and start the year in the NHL.
Megna is a known quantity to Quinn and it would be a surprise to not see him make the trip to Europe. Merkley hasn’t done enough to stand out so far.
GOALIES
LOCKS (2): Kaapo Kahkonen, James Reimer.
TRENDING UP (1): Aaron Dell.
FADING OUT (3): Zachary Emond, Eetu Makiniemi, Strauss Mann.
OVERVIEW: The Sharks have received solid goaltending throughout the preseason. Kahkonen made 43 saves Sunday against L.A. and could be in net for the Oct. 7 opener against Nashville in Prague with Reimer as the backup. Dell appears to be in line to be the third goalie on the trip.
Makiniemi returned from his undisclosed injury earlier this week.