By Mary Walsh

The Sharks announced that Jamie Baker will fill the open spot next to Randy Hahn on the television broadcast. Bret Hedican will step in to Baker’s spot next to Dan Rusanowsky on the radio broadcasts. The moves are consistent with the team’s minimalist approach to this off-season. Baker and Hedican are both familiar faces and voices to Sharks fans, their presence will not be a surprise to anyone. What might surprise viewers will be that, if they have a chance to catch an Edmonton Oilers broadcast, they will see Drew Remenda there. The announcements close out a quiet summer for the Sharks, if you ignore the ruckus over the John Scott signing. There is still time for the Sharks to do something surprising, but with September here, fans can look forward to preseasons games starting on September 23.

One of the stated goals of the San Jose Sharks this season is to allow their younger players to take a greater leadership than previously. That may be easier than it sounds, since the Sharks are younger than they have been in a long time. On the current roster, they only have seven skaters over 30, six forwards and one defenseman. They only have one player over 35, defenseman Scott Hannan. That looks promising when compared to the last two Stanley Cup champions, who had seven skaters over 30 (Los Angeles in 2013-14) and eight 30-somethings (Chicago in 2012-13) respectively. Giving youth a chance is certainly the trend in the NHL, though someone should tell that to the New Jersey Devils. They have nine forwards over 30, three over 35, and four defensemen over 30, with two over 35. Age might be a theme in stories about Sharks-Devils games this season.

Three Sharks prospects moved on this summer. Forward John McCarthy signed a one year contract with the St Louis Blues. 28 year old McCarthy was drafted in the seventh round by the Sharks in 2006 and played 87 games with San Jose over four seasons. The bulk of those games were played in the 2010-11 and 2013-14 seasons, in which he scored 3 goals and 3 points. He played five seasons with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks, serving as captain for one season and earning 133 points. He joins fellow Sharks alum Benn Ferriero, who also signed a one year contract with the St. Louis organization.

Defenseman Sena Acolatse signed a one year contract with the Calgary Flames. Acolatse played 156 games with the Worcester Sharks over three seasons. 23 year old Acolatse had 17 goals, 42 assists points and 217 penalty minutes with Worcester. He was the first Bay Area prospect signed by the Sharks. Ex-Shark Devin Setoguchi also signed a one-year contract for the upcoming season with Calgary.

Defenseman Nick Petrecki signed a one year AHL deal with the Rochester Americans. The 25 year old played five seasons with the Worcester Sharks, earning 46 points. He was ranked second in franchise history for penalty minutes (531) (Frazer McLaren had 577) and first in games played with 277. He was drafted in the first round in 2007 by the Sharks and played one game with San Jose in 2012-13. He joined the Rochester Americans at the end of last season, played 14 games with them and five playoff games.

Tracking other ex-Sharks, goaltender Evgeni Nabakov will be with the Tampa Bay Lightning this season. Thomas Greiss has signed a one year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Dany Heatley will be seen often by Sharks fans, now as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. TJ Galiardi swapped places with Devin Setoguchi, moving from Calgary to Winnipeg. Manny Malthotra signed a one year contract with Montreal, and Daniel Winnik signed with Toronto.