NHL EDGE stats leaders for San Jose Sharks

2. Askarov’s long-range save proportion

The Sharks have been the one NHL crew final season to have 5 totally different goalies make a minimum of 5 begins (Alexandar Georgiev, Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, Yaroslav Askarov, Georgi Romanov). Askarov, the No. 11 decide within the 2020 NHL Draft, emerged from that pack and may very well be in line to get nearly all of video games this season. The 23-year-old, who was acquired from the Nashville Predators final offseason, went 4-6-2 in 13 video games (12 begins) with an .896 save proportion and three.10 goals-against common. The Sharks allowed 31.8 pictures on aim per sport final season, the second-most within the NHL behind solely the Anaheim Ducks (32.3).

Askarov’s long-range save proportion final season was good (59 pictures confronted, 59 saves); he was the one goalie within the League who confronted a minimum of 50 long-range pictures with out permitting a aim. Askarov, who was additionally above the NHL common in each high-danger save proportion (.814; common: .803) and midrange save proportion (.892; common: 887), may additionally profit from the Sharks additions this offseason in veteran defensemen Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg and Nick Leddy. San Jose misplaced 15 one-goal video games in regulation final season, 4 greater than every other crew within the League.

3. Smith’s common shot velocity

The Sharks led the League in targets (61), assists (98) and factors (159) by rookies final season. Forward Will Smith, one in every of Celebrini’s most-frequent linemates final season, additionally ranked extremely amongst rookies in targets (18; sixth), assists (27; fourth) and factors (45; fourth). Only Zack Bolduc (11 in 23 video games) had extra targets than Smith (10 in 23 video games) from Feb. 27 by means of the top of the common season. Celebrini and Smith factored on the identical aim 18 occasions, together with 10 third-period targets and 7 power-play targets.

Smith, the No. 4 decide within the 2023 NHL Draft, showcased an electrical shot in his first NHL season. He ranked among the many ahead leaders in common shot velocity (63.24 mph; 91st percentile) and high shot velocity (92.20 mph; 89th percentile), whereas his 12 targets on wrist pictures was third on the Sharks behind solely Tyler Toffoli (20) and Celebrini (17). Smith was additionally a standout within the following capturing classes:

• Midrange pictures on aim: 56 (86th percentile)

• Midrange targets: 8 (eighty fifth percentile)

• Long-range pictures on aim: 27 (ninety fifth percentile)

• Long-range targets: 2 (93rd percentile)

San Jose has probably the greatest younger cores within the League and will quickly see the NHL debuts of defenseman Sam Dickinson (No. 11 decide in 2024) and ahead Michael Misa (No. 2 decide in 2025 NHL Draft). Under Ryan Warsofsky, who at 37 years previous is the youngest head coach within the NHL, contending for a playoff spot may very well be a practical risk this season.

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