Justin Braun News

If there's one area in which the Sharks are set for the forseeable future, regardless of how some of their more important players age, it's on the blueline.

Their $8.7 million worth of cap room is the seventh least in the NHL , and their roster size as of July 1 - the day free agency begins - will be the fourth-smallest in the league, as only 14 Sharks will remain under contract.

Signed late in free agency after being bought out by the New Jersey Devils , Colin White was supposed to succeed where so many other depth defensemen had failed for the Sharks since the lockout.

After a 2010-11 season in which he led the Sharks defense in both relative and on-ice Corsi, even-strength +/- per 60 minutes and finished just behind Dan Boyle in even-strength points per 60 a lot was expected of Jason Demers coming into this year.

Jan 31, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Colton Gillies skates with the puck in front of San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi and defenseman Justin Braun during the first period at HP Pavilion.

A knee injury will keep Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic out of Team Canada's remaining games in the international world championship competition under way in Helsinki and Stockholm.