Sharks to leave Arizona this weekend, but may return for ‘home’ opener — at least
NHL: San Jose Sharks' plans to return to Santa Clara County later this month are still in doubt
The San Jose Sharks will finally get to leave Arizona this weekend after they finish their two-game, season-opening series with the Arizona Coyotes. But unless something changes back home, the Sharks’ charter plane could be returning to the Grand Canyon State near the end of the month.
With just over two weeks left before their scheduled home opener, the Sharks still have no clear idea whether they’ll be able to return to San Jose and play games at SAP Center in early February.
The Sharks were again in contact with Santa Clara County officials Tuesday, but a county spokesperson said Friday there is no update on the NHL team’s situation. A Sharks spokesman said this week the team has had discussions with local officials for months and will continue to be in touch.
The Sharks have been in Arizona since December because of Santa Clara County’s ban on professional and collegiate contact sports, which figures to remain in effect as long as the Bay Area’s regional stay-at-home order is in place.
The Sharks, who opened their season with a 4-3 shootout win over Arizona on Thursday, play the Coyotes again Saturday afternoon at Gila River Arena in Glendale. The Sharks fly out Sunday, then stay on the road for 12 more days, playing two games each against the St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche from Monday to Jan. 28.
The Sharks’ first scheduled home games are against the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 1 and Feb. 3. However, a region’s stay-at-home order, under California regulations, will remain in place as long as ICU bed availability is under 15 percent.
According to data on the state’s COVID-19 website, the Bay Area’s ICU bed availability on Friday was 4.7 percent. Thursday, Santa Clara County became the first in the Bay Area to record 1,000 lives lost to the coronavirus.
If the vagabond Sharks are unable to play games at SAP Center early next month, they, from all indications, would return to Glendale to play those two games vs. the Golden Knights. However, nothing has been made official.
“I think there’s a couple different plans out there, but I think (returning to Arizona) is definitely one of them.” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said Wednesday. “I couldn’t even tell you what the other ones are because I don’t even know.”
After their two scheduled games with Vegas, the Sharks fly to Southern California to face the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 5-6 and the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 9 and 11. That buys them a little more time to come home at that point in case they can’t be in San Jose for the Vegas series.
“It’s tough just not knowing,” Sharks goalie Martin Jones said this week. “We obviously want to be at home with our families and it’s just a tough situation. Hopefully we can get back home soon, but just one of those things we’re just going have to deal with.
“It can be a good thing, especially early in the season to bring everybody together and get on the road as a team. But just one of the things we’re just going to have to work through.”
Several Sharks players have been in Arizona since before Christmas. Boughner thought the Sharks had a good training camp and had liked the way his team has adapted to their environment, but added this week that everyone is eager to return to the South Bay.
“Once we get back from (the road trip) and we start playing some home games, I think that’s when it’s going to be a little bit of a challenge,” Boughner said when asked about their uncertain future. “But the players right now have been very positive. We’ve had a great setup here. The hotel and the rink. it’s been first class. So no one feels that they’ve been deprived of anything.
“But I’m sure the guys are going to start missing their families and kids, and want to get back to San Jose when we get back from the road trip.”