Fadi Lahlouh

San Jose Sharks Sign College Free Agent Brinson Pasichnuk

A Burlingame, California-based business executive, Fadi Lahlouh is president of the marketing and graphic arts company Lahlouh, Inc. When he isn’t working, Fadi Lahlouh enjoys following Bay Area professional sports teams. He counts the San Jose Sharks as his favorite National Hockey League (NHL) team.

The 2019-20 NHL season is suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but teams are still permitted to sign undrafted college free agents. On March 30, the Sharks bolstered their prospect depth by agreeing to an entry-level contract with defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk. The news was first reported by Arizona State University, where the 22-year-old Canadian spent the past four seasons.

This past season, Pasichnuk scored 11 goals and added 26 assists for 37 points in 36 games. He had 107 points in 136 games through four seasons at Arizona State. He spent the two previous seasons with the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, and was named Most Outstanding Defenseman during the 2015-16 season.

Although he wasn’t selected in the NHL Draft, he attended development camps hosted by the Sharks, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, and Arizona Coyotes between 2016 and 2019. It’s believed upwards of 20 NHL teams were interested in signing Pasichnuk.

Sharks Fire Head Coach and Three Assistants

One of three brothers who have owned the print and graphic arts company Lahlouh, Inc., since 1981, Fadi Lahlouh specializes in product and business development, as well as product architecture and engineering. When he isn’t working, Fadi Lahlouh enjoys following Bay Area sports teams like the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Mired in a five-game losing streak with a disappointing overall record of 15-16-2, the Sharks fired head coach Peter DeBoer on December 11. Assistant coaches Johan Hedberg, Dave Barr, and Steve Spott were also relieved of their coaching duties. Former assistant Bob Boughner will serve as head coach on an interim basis, while Evgeni Nabokov, Mike Ricci, and Roy Sommer were all named to his coaching staff.

DeBoer has been with the Sharks for the past four seasons and has led the team to varying degrees of success. The Sharks made the playoffs in each of those four seasons, and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson felt the team needed a new voice in the locker room to help turn its season around.

A 51-year-old native of Ontario, Canada, DeBoer concludes his coaching tenure in San Jose with a record of 198-129-34. Through 855 games as a coach in the NHL, he has a record of 415-329-111 for a .550 winning percentage.

Warriors Face Significant Threat in Revamped Lakers and Clippers

One of three brothers who heads the digital printing firm Lahlouh, Inc., Fadi Lahlouh is an established presence in the San Mateo, California entrepreneurial community. An avid sports fan, Fadi Lahlouh follows Bay Area teams such as the San Francisco 49ers, San Jose Sharks, and Golden State Warriors.

Currently led by Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors have dominated the Western Conference over the past five years, reaching the finals each season and taking home three championships. However, a number of factors have coincided to create a sense of vulnerability, including Kevin Durant moving to the Brooklyn Nets, Shaun Livingston retiring, and the trading of Andre Iguodala. Offensive powerhouse Klay Thompson is still benched indefinitely due to a knee injury involving a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

As reported in The New York Times, teams in Southern California have at the same time taken steps to bolster their squads, with the Lakers’ LeBron James poised to establish leadership following a season-ending 2018 groin injury. Having traded for All Star veteran Anthony Davis, the team also brought in proven talents Jared Dudley and Danny Green, while giving up a number of young prospects.

The Los Angeles Clippers are also vying for dominance, with offensive and defensive masterminds Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joining the team in the offseason. Unlike the Lakers, the Clippers did not achieve their current position by trading away a significant amount of their existing talent They have a solid core that includes Patrick Beverley, Landry Shamet, and Montrezl Harrell. This is a battle-tested team that forced the Warriors into game six of round one of the playoffs last year.

With two California teams on the upsurge, the Warriors still have one undeniable advantage – four proven All Stars who have taken the team to championship victory in the past.