AHL: Swimming With Worcester Sharks

The steady stream of promising prospects continues to flow for the San Jose Sharks, as their AHL affiliate boast talented kids at each position. McKeen's correspondent Max Giese has notes on several Worcester Sharks including goaltender Thomas Greiss, 2004 first-rounder Lukas Kaspar, Dan Spang, Derek Joslin and Reilly Armstrong.

Thomas Greiss (SJ), G, Worcester Sharks

The future in goal for the San Jose Sharks, Greiss is the next in line of their star-caliber goaltenders to come up through the pipeline .. has all the athletic tools to be a true No. 1 goalie in the NHL .. his dexterity, flexibility, and reactionary quickness are all phenomenal .. legs are thick and powerful, as they propel his remarkable lateral ability .. he simply flies back and forth in his crease with scary ease .. anticipates the play very well, as his ability to foresee the pass and then promptly slide over to the other side of the net before making an athletic save is special .. capable of highlight-reel saves, as he possesses extraordinarily quick legs and an athletic glove hand that he can rob the opposition with .. very calm and poised between the pipes - does not rattle easy .. needs to improve on the small things such as his puck handling skills, getting set for every shot, and could use a subtle improvement to his rebound control .. earned an NHL roster spot out of camp however, the Sharks made the correct decision to let him get a heavy workload this season in the AHL instead of riding the pine behind Nabokov.

Lukas Kaspar (SJ), LW, Worcester Sharks

San Jose Sharks first round selection in the 2004 draft was rewarded for his improved defensive play with a three-game cup of tea in the NHL in November .. remains an offensive enigma, as he possesses the skill to be a game breaker however, he tends to disappear for long stretches of the game and his flashes of ability are too far in between .. wide-based skater with a low center of gravity .. moves with superb fluidity and strength for a big man .. owns a big, thick frame that he uses well for positioning, although he is devoid of a physical edge .. possesses great hands, creativity, and a blistering slapshot but he neglects to use these gifts to be a consistent offensive threat, as he seems contempt to just be a steady player instead of a difference maker .. has molded himself into a mature two-way player that can kill penalties .. NHL ready but permanent future is likely that of a third liner.

Dan Spang (SJ), D, Worcester Sharks

San Jose's second round selection in the 2002 Entry Draft is a skilled and mobile offensive defenseman .. owns the skill set of a forward with quick hands and the ability to weave past the opposition through the neutral zone .. likes to jump, which at times is a double-edged sword, as his best attribute is his ability to rush the puck up the ice however, he is also guilty of horrid turnovers in front of his own net or on the bluelines .. sees the ice well and can generate offense with his aggressive rink-wide passing game from the point or his own end .. superb lateral skater with very good all-access mobility .. works the point well and owns a quick wristshot that finds its way on net consistently .. must improve on his defensive game to make the NHL, as he relies too much on his skating, is guilty of tactical errors and plays a frantic defensive game that consistently has him out of position .. still a legit prospect, although he must begin to improve his defensive play.

Derek Joslin (SJ), D, Worcester Sharks

Poised and steady puck moving defenseman that has built off a strong training camp with a rock solid first half .. methodical puck moving defenseman that does not do anything flashy but he paces the game properly and makes a smart first pass every time .. work the point well and averages several shots a game, as he utilizes stick fakes and his lateral range to open up shooting lanes .. has long legs but he keeps his strides short and quick, as he turns fluidly but lacks a third gear .. relies on his good stickwork and savvy angling ability to defend and will need to continue to add strength, as he can struggle to contain larger forwards around his net .. on an upward development curve, although the Sharks have no reason to rush him.

Riley Armstrong (SJ), RW, Worcester Sharks

The younger brother of Pittsburgh Penguins Colby Armstrong is a spark plug with a hard shot .. hyper skater with a non-stop motor and decent quickness in all directions .. owns a heavy shooting arsenal but he scores most of his goals through sheer hard work, as he does not see the ice well or have the poise to be a point producer .. small but fearless player that likes to jumpstart his teammates with his spirited play .. battles hard along the boards and pinballs his way through traffic .. needs to fully commit himself to the defensive side of the puck to have a shot making the NHL on a fourth line basis and must continue to ensure that he is playing at full throttle every shift.