Post by Leafs_Pam on May 20, 2003 19:24:46 GMT -5
www.sj-sharks.com/sharks/news/20030520-1053468221.htm
While the NHL prepares for the Stanley Cup Finals, the Sharks are doing their part to return to the postseason party. New Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson, has been meeting with his hockey staff in preparation for the upcoming draft and impending free agent period.
The Sharks know that every player in the organization is important, whether they are in Cleveland or San Jose, and that is why they currently have five prospects in town for physical testing. The five prospects are Brad Boyes, Tom Preissing, Craig Valette, Doug Murray and Grant Stevenson. None of the prospects have attended a Sharks training camp in the past.
Boyes, 21, is a former first round pick by Toronto who was a central figure in the Nolan deal last spring. Preissing, 24, who was a first team All-American for Colorado College last season, and Stevenson, 22, who was a second team All-American for Minnesota St., were signed as free agents this summer. Valette, 20, is a free agent signee from Portland where he was there second leading scorer and Murray is the Sharks eighth round draft pick from 1999 that anchored Cornell's defense to a Frozen Four appearance this spring.
"We just took some base tests to see where they are at," said Sharks Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Mac Read. "They all have programs that they are on, but now we can individualize them and check their progress during the summer."
Whether it was the standard medicals or the strength and agility testing, all the tests are the same that Sharks players go through at training camp in September. This just provides the team and the individuals a chance to see where they are and where they should be from a conditioning standpoint.
"It gives them an idea of what our expectations are," said Read.
Outside of some youth trips to Disneyland, this is the first trip to California for most of the group, who will return back to their summer homes tomorrow.
The unseasonably warm weather in the Bay Area was definitely noticeable when the players were testing on the San Jose State University track across the street from Logitech Ice.
"It was pretty hot out there," said Valette who will be returning to Saskatoon to train.
Boyes will be going to Los Angeles where his agent sets up an off-season conditioning program for his athletes.
"For a month I'll be down there," said Boyes. "Then I'll go home to Toronto for a couple of weeks and then in July I'll go back to Los Angeles for another month."
Time will tell if an improved offseason conditioning program will help any of the five prospects make the Sharks roster this fall.
While the NHL prepares for the Stanley Cup Finals, the Sharks are doing their part to return to the postseason party. New Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson, has been meeting with his hockey staff in preparation for the upcoming draft and impending free agent period.
The Sharks know that every player in the organization is important, whether they are in Cleveland or San Jose, and that is why they currently have five prospects in town for physical testing. The five prospects are Brad Boyes, Tom Preissing, Craig Valette, Doug Murray and Grant Stevenson. None of the prospects have attended a Sharks training camp in the past.
Boyes, 21, is a former first round pick by Toronto who was a central figure in the Nolan deal last spring. Preissing, 24, who was a first team All-American for Colorado College last season, and Stevenson, 22, who was a second team All-American for Minnesota St., were signed as free agents this summer. Valette, 20, is a free agent signee from Portland where he was there second leading scorer and Murray is the Sharks eighth round draft pick from 1999 that anchored Cornell's defense to a Frozen Four appearance this spring.
"We just took some base tests to see where they are at," said Sharks Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Mac Read. "They all have programs that they are on, but now we can individualize them and check their progress during the summer."
Whether it was the standard medicals or the strength and agility testing, all the tests are the same that Sharks players go through at training camp in September. This just provides the team and the individuals a chance to see where they are and where they should be from a conditioning standpoint.
"It gives them an idea of what our expectations are," said Read.
Outside of some youth trips to Disneyland, this is the first trip to California for most of the group, who will return back to their summer homes tomorrow.
The unseasonably warm weather in the Bay Area was definitely noticeable when the players were testing on the San Jose State University track across the street from Logitech Ice.
"It was pretty hot out there," said Valette who will be returning to Saskatoon to train.
Boyes will be going to Los Angeles where his agent sets up an off-season conditioning program for his athletes.
"For a month I'll be down there," said Boyes. "Then I'll go home to Toronto for a couple of weeks and then in July I'll go back to Los Angeles for another month."
Time will tell if an improved offseason conditioning program will help any of the five prospects make the Sharks roster this fall.
I hope the kid does well. He may think that playing in SJ is a neg. thing right now but i'm willing to bet he'll be glad very soon. Our team seems to be headed for a soap-opera show even bigger than we've been used to and his career should get a nicely balanced beginning far away from the nut-house we've all come to love. And i'm sure Alyn will be a huge help along the way.
(even if we would prefer him to be on the Leafs 
).