NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Lindholm signs six yr deal with Flames for $29.1 mil; Panthers Tkachuk is ready for camp; plus more NHL news

The Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm (28) skates up against the Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) at ASU in Tempe AZ on Wed Feb 20, 2023. Lindholm signed a six year deal with the Flames worth $21.9 million (AP file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm signed a brand new six year contract worth $29.1 million worth $4.85 million per season. Linholm had made it pretty clear that he wanted to stay on with the Flames and got his wish. Linholm had 325 points, 139 goals, and 186 assists in 369 games with Calgary over five years.

#2 The Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk said he’s ready for the Panthers camp. Tkachuk suffered a fractured sternum during the first period of game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Las Vegas Knights on June 8th. Tkachuk said he’s feeling fine and is ready to start the pre season. Len, how important is it to have Tkachuk back.

#3 Tomas Tatar signed a one year deal with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday for undisclosed amount. Tatar formerly played for the New Jersey Devils last season having 48 points, 20 goals, 28 assists, and was a plus 41 in 82 games for New Jersey.

#4 Len, the Edmonton Oilers first line players Evander Kane, Connor McDavid, and Connor Brown looks like they’ll be a strong line going into the season for the Oilers. The Oilers second line Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl, and Zack Hyman. They’re identical to the first line how do you see the Oilers strengths going into the season with these players.

#5 Len, talk about the line of William Eklund, Anthony Duclair, and goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen how each of these players can be a difference maker in the San Jose Sharks season?

Join Len Shapiro Thursdays for the NHL podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Sharks put hopes on Hoffman, Duclair and Blackwood for 23-24 season

Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti (91) turns after scoring a goal against New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, in Newark, N.J. MacKenzie who plays goalie for San Jose is preparing for the pre season (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers:

#1 Troy there’s no doubt that the SJ Sharks have a lot stacked against them from making the playoffs this season. They struggled even when they had Erik Karlsson now they can expect to struggle even more without him.

#2 Last season the Sharks had goaltenders James Reimer and Kaapo Kahkonen and they had a rough seasons.

#3 The Sharks in their save percentage had .881 and that was 2% less than the rest of the league where the average was .899 and they need to bring that up

#4 For Kahkonen he needs to be able to stop the shot and have the kind of season he had in the early part of last year. MacKenzie Blackwood needs to execute the kind of performance that got him to the NHL in the first place.

#5 The loss of Timo Meier last season hurts the team and the Sharks are looking at Anthony Duclair and Mike Hoffman to help out in some crucial scoring.

Troy Ewers is a San Jose Sharks reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Reviewing this week’s trades and how it benefits Sharks

Anthony Bitetto joins the San Jose Sharks in a deal that Nick Merkley to the New York Rangers. Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will said Bitetto will strengthen the Sharks blue line (photo from New York Rangers Twitter)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Mary Lisa let’s take a look at some of the moves that the San Jose Sharks made this week before the trade deadline they traded defenseman Jake Middleton to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and a 2022 fifth-round draft pick. The Sharks are looking to strengthen their position in goal do you see Kahkonen getting many starts out of the gate.

#2 Forward Nick Merkley went to the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Anthony Bitteto. Merkley was a mainstay for the Sharks AHL club the Barracuda developed and came up to the Sharks for Merkley to get the Rangers attention and join them Merkley did some impressive work on the ice.

#3 The Sharks sent forward Andrew Cogliano to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2024 fifth round draft pick. San Jose also traded goaltender Alexei Melnichuk to the Tampa Bay Lightning for center Antoine Morand.

#4 There is no secret that the Sharks are excited about obtaining Kahkonen, “Kaapo is a quick, athletic goaltender who has shown the ability to win consistently at every level he has played,” San Jose assistant general manager Joe Will said. 

#5 Anthony Bitteto is a plus as he joins the Sharks, Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will said that Bitteto gives the Sharks physical, additional depth on San Jose’s blueline. Bitteto has played in 39 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL with 15 points, four goals and 11 asissts.

Join Mary Lisa for the SJ Sharks podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com