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SAN JOSE – Raffi Torres has still not had surgery to re-repair the ACL in his right knee, general manager Doug Wilson told CSNCalifornia.com over the weekend.
Torres, who suffered multiple infections in his repaired knee after the 2014 playoffs, is expected to have surgery later this month. The forward played in just five regular season games in 2013-14 after hurting the knee last September in a preseason game, and although he appeared in all seven playoff games against Los Angeles, Torres said he was “skating around pretty much on one leg.”
[RELATED: Sharks' Torres out long-term again]
Torres is still expected to miss half of the 2014-15 regular season, but that sounds optimistic when considering his timeline from last season. After he had surgery on September 26 last year, Torres didn’t make his season debut until Feb. 27, after the NHL’s Olympic break. He played in five of the first six games after the break, but then missed the final 14 games with what the team would only describe as “soreness.”
His injury history is an extensive one when it comes to his right knee. Torres first tore the ACL on Dec. 15, 2007, and missed 11 months after a setback following that original surgery, too.
Torres, who turns 33 on Oct. 8, is in the second of a three-year contract with the Sharks that carries a $2 million salary cap hit.
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Looking for a dark horse candidate to make the opening roster? How about Daniil Tarasov, a 23-year-old Russian native that had 31 points in 47 games with Worcester last season.
Tarasov impressed during last year’s early camp scrimmages, forcing a turnover and scoring a goal, setting up Dan Boyle for a marker, and getting involved physically with Al Stalock and Matt Tennyson. The Sharks like his attitude, too, as he didn’t pout when reassigned to ECHL San Francisco during the 2012-13 season.
Multiple injuries including a wonky groin limited Tarasov’s time last season, but three months into the regular season, veteran AHL reporter Bill Ballou called Tarasov “easily [Worcester’s] best offensive player.” Keep an eye on him.
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The Sharks won’t be inviting anyone to training camp on a tryout basis, Wilson confirmed.
They’ve had mixed results with such tryouts in the past. Brad Winchester made the team in 2011, while Anthony Stewart was cut before opening night last fall.
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Finally, there are no concerns regarding Tomas Hertl's health as he heads into training camp. The 20-year-old Hertl tweaked his right knee during prospect camp in July, the same knee that was torn up by Dustin Brown's questionable hit in December.
