San Francisco Sports Today

San Francisco Sports News Continuously Updated

Deep Blue Sea: Dubnyk retires

by

Devan Dubnyk #40 of the San Jose Sharks waits for a review in the second period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on March 17, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sharks 5-4.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Plus The Great 8 sets an NHL record, the Sens are for sale and more in today’s news and notes.

The road to the San Jose Sharks rebuilding the goaltending pipeline was full of unexpected choices, and I can’t blame you if you also forgot that Devan Dubnyk played 17 games for the team in 2021. The 36-year-old announced his retirement from playing professional hockey on Oct. 29.

A first-round draft selection (14th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in 2004, Dubnyk’s playing career was full of ups and downs. Once incorporated into the Oilers’ line-up in 2009, he was quickly tasked with starting duties and provided solid play in net. A single season of struggle however, saw him briefly shipped to the Nashville Predators in 2014.

He signed with the Arizona Coyotes as a free agent that off-season, posting a 9-5-2 record and .918 save percentage (SV%) in 19 games on a team that finished seventh in the Pacific. The bounceback allowed for the Coyotes to scoop a third-round draft pick from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for the netminder.

His career saw a resurgence in St. Paul, where at times, he was part of a three-goaltender merry-go-round on the inconsistent Wild. He posted career numbers in the 39 games he played with the Wild to close out the rest of that season, including a 27-9-2 record, .936 SV% and 1.78 goals-against average. Unfortunately, the good times wouldn’t last and Dubnyk’s final year with the club showcased some of his worst hockey.

In Oct. 2020, the Sharks acquired the goaltender and a second-round draft pick, sending a seventh-round draft pick back to Minnesota, who retained half of Dubnyk’s salary. The then 11-year NHL veteran was a stopgap solution for the team’s goaltending troubles and was ultimately dealt to the Colorado Avalanche at the Trade Deadline, as they shored up for a playoff run.

When his contract was up at the end of the season, he did not sign with another NHL team. Last season, Dubnyk was briefly signed to a professional tryout agreement with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, appearing in four games for the club.

HIs 12-year career includes winning a Masterton Trophy (2015), three NHL All-Star Game appearances (2016, 2017, 2019), one ECHL All-Star appearance (2007), being a Vezina finalist (2015), winning a Spengler Cup (2012) and winning a Gold Medal at the 2006 World Juniors Championship.

Dubnyk is now an analyst for NHL Network.

News & Notes

  • San Jose Sharks’ third period collapse leads to another frustrating loss [The Mercury News]
  • Sharks Dominate, But Lose in Shootout Again [San Jose Hockey Now]
  • Adam Henrique rescues Ducks in shootout victory over Sharks [Los Angeles Times]
  • Each NHL team’s biggest concern a month into the 2022-23 season, from ‘everything’ to ‘too good to tank’ [The Athletic]
  • NHL Power Rankings: Shuffling all over, plus one guy we like on every team [The Athletic]

Blood in the Water

  • Alex Ovechkin sets NHL record for most goals with one team [ESPN]
  • The NHL’s Ottawa Senators Are Officially For Sale [Forbes]
  • Senators announce process of selling team has begun [NHL.com]
  • Wells makes NHL debut [ECHL]
  • No. 1 Michigan hockey blanked in Big Ten opener [MLive]
  • Everything in Retrospect: Revisiting The Eichel-Tuch Trade, One Year Later [Die By The Blade]
  • Carter Hart is singlehandedly making the Flyers appear competitive [Broad Street Hockey]

Recaps & Scores

Click on a team name to find a recap on their SB Nation site!

On the Schedule