The San Jose Sharks‘ four-day Rookie Faceoff occasion begins at this time, and many of the consideration will probably be on a handful of gamers. Prime prospects Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Shakir Mukhamadullin will make San Jose a central a part of the showcase. However the Sharks produce other prospects collaborating with storylines of their very own. Listed below are 4 Sharks who received’t draw many of the focus in the course of the event however will probably be value keeping track of once they take the ice.
Filip Bystedt
In direction of the tip of the 2023-24 season, ahead Filip Bystedt bought his first style of North American hockey and dealt with it properly, posting seven factors in simply eight video games as a member of the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. His numbers marked a powerful finish to his marketing campaign, which was notably vital since he was not practically as productive throughout his season with Linkoping HC in Sweden. He’ll seemingly spend all or most of 2024-25 with the Barracuda, and the Rookie Faceoff is the right place to start out on the fitting notice.
The Sharks at present challenge Bystedt to be a middle-six ahead, and he acknowledged in a current interview that he needs to turn into a whole offensive participant, engaged on his puck management, capturing and creation. Each he and the crew knew that he wasn’t going to be an instantaneous NHL contributor when he was drafted twenty seventh general in 2022, however his arrival in San Jose signifies that now’s the time to start progressing towards that standing.
Ethan Cardwell
As soon as one in every of San Jose’s strongest prospects, ahead Ethan Cardwell posted good numbers in junior earlier than persevering with his run by scoring 23 targets in his first season with the Barracuda in 2023-24. Nonetheless, because the Sharks added to their prospect pool, he fell off the radar, and most listings of the crew’s greatest younger gamers not embody him. On the Rookie Faceoff, the 2021 fourth-round choose could have an opportunity to remind everybody of the ability that earned him a number of awards, together with Sharks Prospect of the Yr in 2023 and Barracuda Rookie of the Yr in 2024.
Associated: Sharks’ Ethan Cardwell Optimistic Heading into Rookie Faceoff
Cardwell is a powerful skater who makes use of his motion to create offensive alternatives for himself and others and combines intelligence with aggression to function an efficient defender. However because the Sharks proceed to construct up one of many NHL’s strongest prospect teams — highlighted by forwards — Cardwell might want to discover methods to face out, a job that’s now a lot harder than it was lower than two years in the past. An excellent efficiency on the Faceoff, the place he’ll play alongside lots of these exact same forwards, could have a really optimistic impression on his profession.
Kasper Halttunen
Smith could have been the marquee choose of the Sharks’ 2023 Draft, however administration made loads of different fascinating decisions with the remainder of their choices. Second-rounder Kasper Halttunen averaged greater than some extent per recreation final season as a member of the London Knights and stepped up in the course of the playoffs. He participated within the Rookie Faceoff final season, however now that the Finnish ahead has a yr of North American junior hockey underneath his belt, this yr’s showcase will probably be a superb check of how his expertise may finally translate to the NHL.
Halttunen is an efficient skater regardless of his giant body and an elite shooter who excels on the ability play, however he wants important improvement in the remainder of his offensive recreation. This weekend’s event will give the Sharks a greater sense of the place he stands when it comes to his development and the way to greatest focus his improvement in a means that may permit him to finally attain the large leagues.
Luca Cagnoni
One other 2023 Draft alternative, fourth-round defenseman Luca Cagnoni, is the latest Shark on this record, having signed his entry-level contract in Could. He obtained some consideration as a powerful choose when he was chosen and nonetheless is, posting 90 factors in 65 video games as a member of the Portland Winterhawks in 2023-24. San Jose views him as a blueliner who can contribute on each side of the ice regardless of being a lot smaller than many of the defensemen they’ve been trying so as to add just lately. Now that he’s formally part of the group, the Rookie Faceoff will assist to find out precisely the place he may belong on the Sharks’ blue line.
At 5-foot-9, Cagnoni doesn’t match the mildew of many of the group’s different younger defensemen, however that doesn’t imply he can’t have a job. He undoubtedly provides the mandatory abilities. San Jose’s long-term plans for protection are nonetheless being decided, and Cagnoni can use the Faceoff to show that he deserves to be a part of them.
Sharks Gamers Acquire Completely different Advantages from Rookie Faceoff
Like all of the rookie showcases across the NHL, the Rookie Faceoff holds totally different meanings for various gamers. For Celebrini and Smith, it’s a time to skate with a few of their future teammates, keep in form, and get their first style of NHL motion with way more to return. However for a lot of others, such because the 4 gamers mentioned right here, the occasion serves a really totally different goal. They’ll be competing for roster spots, for an opportunity to impress coaches, and for a chance to seek out their place inside the group. The Sharks’ high prospects could garner many of the protection, however there’s quite a bit to have a look at deeper down the roster as properly.
