A SEASON IN REVIEW: 2018-19 SAN JOSE BARRACUDA
Apr 29, 2019
The Barracuda saw their season come to an end on Wednesday after suffering a 5-2 loss against the San Diego Gulls, falling in their best-of-five series three-games-to-one. The Barracuda finished the regular season with 85 points (39-22-3-4 = .625%), the second most in franchise history, finishing second in the Pacific Division. With the playoff berth, San Jose became the only team in the division’s four-year history to reach the playoffs in all four seasons.
Home Cooking: The Barracuda wrapped up the regular season T-first in the Pacific Division in home points (46) and first in wins (22). In addition, San Jose finished with a +26 goal differential at home, the fourth best home goal differential in the Western Conference.
Hey Now, You’re an All-Star: The Barracuda were well represented at the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic in Springfield, Mass. San Jose sent rookie goaltender Josef Korenar, defenseman Jake Middleton, forward Francis Perron, and Head Coach Roy Sommer to Springfield, the most among any organization.
Youth Movement: The Barracuda iced 22 rookies in 2018-19, the most in the American Hockey League. San Jose finished the regular season as the AHL’s sixth youngest team (25.46) and the second youngest in the Pacific Division.
Sommer-Time: On February 1, Barracuda Head Coach Roy Sommer became the first coach in the 83-year-history of the AHL to reach 750 career wins when the Barracuda upended the Stockton Heat, 6-4, at the Stockton Arena. Sommer who just concluded his AHL record 21st season as a head coach is 764-653-48-79-73 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL) all-time in his career.
Killing it: The Barracuda finished up the regular season ranked ninth (82.4) in the AHL on the penalty kill.
True That: San Jose forward Alex True concluded his stellar sophomore regular-season just one goal shy and three points shy of Barracuda single-season watermarks in both categories. The Denmark native set a new franchise record with six game-winning goals. True finished the regular season first on the Barracuda in points (55), first in goals (24), second in assists (31) and third in shots (142).
Mac Attack: John McCarthy, San Jose’s all-time leader in games played (257), points (134), goals (58), assists (76), power-play goals (16) and short-handed goals (5), just concluded his 10th pro season and reached 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) for the fifth time. McCarthy wore the C as the Barracuda’s captain for the third consecutive season. McCarthy played in his 500th AHL game on October 26th at San Antonio, his 500th AHL game within the Sharks minor league system on January 11th against Ontario, and his 600th pro game against Bakersfield on January 11th.
Trade Winds: On February 25, the Sharks traded prospect Linus Karlsson in exchange for Vancouver prospect Jonathan Dahlen, making Dahlen the first son of a former Shark to join the organization. Ulf Dahlen played for the Sharks from 1994-to-1997.
Big Fish: Five different skaters split time between the Sharks and Barracuda in 2018-19 (F – Lukas Radil, F – Rourke Chartier, F – Antti Suomela, F – Dylan Gambrell, D – Jake Middleton).
Veteran Boost: The Barracuda added 12-year-veteran T.J. Hensick on loan from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye in mid-February. In 23 games, Hensick totaled 20 points (six goals, 14 assists), a plus-two rating and two power-play goals. Hensick finished second among Barracuda skaters in points-per-game (.87), only behind rookie Dylan Gambrell.
Gambo Good: During the regular season, among AHL rookies, Dylan Gambrell finished T-10th in the league in points (45), T-fifth in goals (20), T-13th in shots (147) and ninth in points-per-game (.88).
Frank the Tank: Acquired in the Erik Karlsson trade on September 13, Francis Perron put a career year together in his first season with the Barracuda. Perron set new career watermarks in points (47), goals (18), assists (29), plus/minus (+10), power-play goals (7), game-winning goals (3) and shots (123). Perron finished second on the Barracuda in points and third in goals.
Dynamic Dezy: Nick DeSimone’s 14 goals during the regular season tied him with Tim Heed for the most in a single season for a Barracuda d-man. Among all AHL defensemen during the regular season, DeSimone finished T-seventh in points (46), T-sixth in goals, T-12th in assists (32), T-ninth in power-play goals (5) and T-11th in shots (154).
Real Deal Viel: Among AHL rookies, Jeffrey Viel finished second in major penalties (8) and T-third in penalty minutes (94).
Joe the Wall: Rookie netminder Josef Korenar finished T-12th in the AHL in wins (23), 12th in goals-against average (2.54), 16th in save percentage (.911) and T-fourth in shutouts (4).