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Sharks' Melker Karlsson: No lock for Opening Night appearance

Karlsson will have to have an impressive training camp to be in the Sharks' active lineup come Opening Night, Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area reports.

Analysis:

Team Teal is crowded up front and there's a surplus of fringy forwards expected to compete for minutes in the bottom six, including, but not limited to: Tommy Wingels, Matt Nieto and Barclay Goodrow. Karlsson took a step back last season, having registered only 19 points in 65 games while watching his average ice time dip nearly two minutes per game compared to his rookie campaign in 2014-15. Still, we're guessing Sharks coach Peter DeBoer hasn't forgotten how the complementary winger recorded two goals and an assist against the Penguins in the final three games of the Stanley Cup Finals. Even if Karlsson gets off to a slow start in the 2016-17 campaign, fantasy owners should be patient as he's too good on the penalty kill to be a perpetual bench warmer.

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