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What’s next for Sharks prospects after NHL Rookie Faceoff sweep? initially appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Editor’s notice: Sheng Peng is an everyday contributor to NBC Sports activities California’s Sharks protection. You’ll be able to learn extra of his protection on San Jose Hockey Now, hearken to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and observe him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
LOS ANGELES — It’s time to look forward for the Sharks.
The Sharks’ NHL Rookie Faceoff sweep — they walloped one other staff Monday, doubling up the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 — is, in fact, thrilling. San Jose dominated the tournament, going 3-0 and outscoring opponents a mixed 16-7.
However the fruits of this labor in all probability received’t be apparent for just a few seasons but. Many of the Sharks prospects on this event aren’t near NHL-ready.
Coaching camp, nonetheless, opens Thursday for the Sharks.
Which high Rookie Faceoff prospects will begin the 2024-25 NHL season with the Sharks or Barracuda?
Listed below are our predictions, from most to least doubtless.
Celebrini needed only one game to indicate the Sharks he didn’t need to play the Rookie Faceoff anymore.
He’s solely 18, however the centerman seems to be sturdy and defensively sound sufficient to make an NHL affect instantly.
He’s additionally received No. 1 general ability.
“I believed Macklin was uber aggressive,” Sharks Rookie Faceoff coach John McCarthy stated. “I re-watched the sport [he played]. Each unfastened puck, he is inside, he is successful.”
Celebrini is breaking camp with the Sharks.
Will Smith
Smith is noticeably extra deliberate with the puck than Celebrini, however that’s not a foul factor. The No. 4 general decide of the 2023 NHL Draft has the expertise to be simply as productive as Celebrini, if no more so, within the professionals.
“I believed Will did a very nice job within the offensive zone, seeing the ice, letting performs develop, tremendous poised with the puck on the stick,” McCarthy stated.
Smith ought to break camp with the Sharks, however his off-puck play continues to be uncooked, so there can be some apparent defensive rising pains.
Ethan Cardwell
The 5-foot-11 winger retains including muscle, which McCarthy famous, with out dropping any pop in his step.
Cardwell was an affect participant on this event, although he ought to be as a 21-year-old.
His NHL debut seems to be simply across the nook, and his pace and full and direct sport make him a darkish horse to interrupt camp with the Sharks. Extra doubtless, Cardwell ought to be one of many Barracuda’s high gamers and maybe earn a late-season call-up to San Jose.
Graf made his NHL debut final yr, however the playmaking winger doubtless wants some seasoning within the AHL earlier than turning into a full-time NHL’er. His offensive sport means that he must have a top-nine position to succeed, which can make it tougher for him to determine himself within the Sharks’ lineup proper now.
Like Cardwell, the 21-year-old Graf was anticipated to excel on this tourney, and he did.
He’s anticipated to supply with the Barracuda this season.
Filip Bystedt
The 6-foot-4 middle continues to be getting used to the North American sport, so it’s laborious to see him breaking camp with the Sharks. As an alternative, the 2022 first-round decide is predicted to flourish in a middle-six position with the Cuda.
Bystedt had a strong weekend and showcased San Jose’s middle depth on this event, as he went from third-line middle (when Celebrini and Smith performed on Friday) to second-line middle (when Smith performed on Sunday) to first-line middle (when neither Celebrini nor Smith performed).
Luca Cagnoni
The Sharks had the selection to both assign Cagnoni again to the WHL for his overage season or make him a professional.
It seems to be like he’s going professional: San Jose Hockey Now realized on Monday that the Sharks imagine that he’s prepared.
It’s going to be an enormous step for the 5-foot-9 offensive defenseman to go from the WHL to AHL, so count on a wholesome adjustment interval.
Sadly, as a result of Musty is youthful than Cagnoni, the Sharks don’t have the selection to maintain him within the OHL or promote him to the AHL or NHL.
So it’s NHL or bust for the 19-year-old Sudbury Wolves star.
My guess, if the Sharks had their alternative, they’d assign the 6-foot-2 offensive dynamo to the Barracuda so he can iron out his sport away from the puck.
However his NHL-competitive dimension and power do make him a darkish horse candidate to interrupt camp with the Sharks.
Musty scored a hat trick on Sunday, which actually didn’t damage his case. I wouldn’t count on something near that kind of offensive manufacturing to translate instantly to even NHL preseason, but when it does, the Sharks could have a call on their palms.
My guess, he goes again to the OHL.
Kasper Halttunen
Alongside the identical traces as Musty, Halttunen is a dynamic OHL offensive winger who’s nonetheless seeking to enhance his two-way play.
In contrast to Musty, the Finn with an enormous shot is eligible to go the AHL instantly. However he doesn’t skate fairly in addition to Musty and might need extra to work on throughout, too.
Monday’s Rookie Faceoff efficiency, the place he took three admittedly “silly penalties,” underscore that.
Not singling out Halttunen, however McCarthy famous, “All younger gamers need to study the identical issues, proper? It is much less hack, whack … stick on puck is the way in which to go. You are going to stall much more gamers that method, whether or not it is on a forecheck or a observe.”
Sam Dickinson
Like Musty, it’s both NHL or bust for the star London Knights blueliner.
Whereas Dickinson’s 6-foot-4 body and skating already might match within the NHL, the 2024 11th-overall decide nonetheless has so much to study concerning the effective artwork of defending on the highest degree.
The 18-year-old Dickinson was dominating at instances right here, which is what you count on to see from such a excessive decide. However contemplating how robust it’s to interrupt in to the NHL as a defenseman, it’s laborious to see the Sharks making an attempt him there this season.
Nolan Burke
Artem Guryev
Gannon Laroque
Valtteri Pulli
Georgi Romanov
Mitchell Russell
These prospects all are signed to the Sharks and hoping to have breakout seasons with the Barracuda.
Burke opened some eyes with a powerful Rookie Faceoff, supporting his case that he performed damage final yr within the Nashville Predators group. He was consigned principally to the ECHL final season.
Guryev didn’t play within the Rookie Faceoff, however San Jose Hockey Now has heard that he’s wholesome — he’s simply resting his shoulder for the start of foremost coaching camp on Thursday. Guryev’s season was reduce brief final yr due to shoulder surgical procedure.
Laroque, due to accidents, has performed simply 22 video games during the last two years; 4 with the Victoria Royals, 9 with the Wichita Thunder and 9 with the Barracuda. Laroque experiences that he’s the healthiest he has been in three years, going again to his breakout 2021-22 marketing campaign.
Jeremie Bucheler
Gabriel Carriere
Luke Grainger
Braden Hache
Lucas Vanroboys
Donovan Villeneuve-Houle
These prospects all are signed to the Barracuda and making an attempt to earn NHL contracts.
McCarthy praised all of the Sharks on this event, however he did single out Grainger, Hache, and Vanroboys for reward.
Nathan Misskey
Colton Roberts
Carson Wetsch
These prospects all are anticipated to be assigned again to their junior golf equipment.
Dawson Cowan
Nathan Pilling
Julius Sumpf
These tryouts, finest guess, won’t be signed by the Sharks.
