Anonymous NHL scout predicts L...

Don’t count out Leon Gawanke from making the San Jose Sharks' opening day roster. San Jose Hockey Now recently spoke with an NHL scout from outside the San Jose organization who expects the AHL lifer to start the season with the Sharks. Gawanke can score 30 points in the NHL this year, he said. While that’s not a number to crow about, it could lead Sharks defensemen in the coming campaign. Last season, after the recently traded Erik Karlsson’s league-leading 101 points, the next Sharks blueliner Matt Benning followed with 24. Without Karlsson, it’s an open field for a Shark to add some offensive punch from the blueline. If the 24-year-old rookie can hit 30 points and help out on the power play in his NHL debut, the Sharks probably will be pleased with the Artemi Kniazev-for-Gawanke swap they made earlier this summer with the Winnipeg Jets.