SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks prospects taking part in the upcoming Rookie Faceoff have a primary objective in mind as they travel down to El Segundo — and it’s not just to build momentum for the team’s main training camp next week.
“You don’t get anything for winning that, but you want to win,” Sharks forward prospect Quentin Musty said. “And all the guys in that locker room today agree that we’re going there to win.”
The Sharks’ roster, featuring first-round picks Musty, Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Filip Bystedt and Shakir Mukhamadullin, is probably the deepest and most talented they’ve had for one of these preseason events. Winning all three games at the Toyota Performance Center, starting with Friday’s date against Utah, would be a nice way to build chemistry.
Still, evaluating where everyone’s at in their development is the main objective of the executives, coaches and scouts in attendance, as they’ll form opinions on who can potentially help the Sharks and Barracuda win games this year.
“I’m looking for habits,” Barracuda coach John McCarthy said. “I’m looking for the way they compete, and the way they approach the game in general, because it is scrambly. The rookie tournament … everybody wants to look good. Everybody comes out a million miles an hour, and there are times when the puck is a little bit of a hot potato.
“But you kind of look for the guys that have pro habits.”
Here’s a look at each player on the Sharks roster.
FORWARDS
No. 2 Will Smith: Skilled centerman figures to make the Sharks’ 23-man roster, but at 19, he will need to show he can handle the rigors of a long NHL season. He’s up to 185 pounds, which should help.
No. 12 Quentin Musty: It’s either junior hockey or the NHL for the 19-year-old Musty, who will be a player to watch after he was injured for most of his time in camp last year. But there’s also no need to rush him into the league immediately.
No. 14 Kasper Halttunen: He is bidding to be on the Barracuda’s roster this season but needs to show a more well-rounded game. Standing at 6-foot-3, weighing over 200 pounds and having a deadly shot gives him a head start.
No. 18 Filip Bystedt: The 2022 first-round pick is likely Barracuda-bound, the perfect spot for him to continue adapting to the North American game. He had seven points in eight AHL games last season.
No. 51 Collin Graf: He will compete for the last one or two forward spots available on the Sharks roster, but time in the AHL, where he would play bigger minutes, should help his development.
No. 56 Ethan Cardwell: Will likely start the season in the AHL but could earn a call-up if he continues his upward trajectory. Led Barracuda with 23 goals last season.
No. 58 Mitchell Russell: Looks to establish himself as a full-time AHL player.
No. 62 Carson Wetsch: Sharks’ 2024 third-round pick will gain valuable experience over the next two weeks before returning to WHL.
No. 71 Macklin Celebrini: Barring something unforeseen, he will be on the Sharks’ roster to start the season. Considered a co-favorite for the Calder Trophy with Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov.
No. 74 Nolan Burke: Came over as part of the deal that brought goalie Yaroslav Askarov to San Jose. He’s looking to get his career back on track after having two surgeries. Will start in minors.
Nathan Pilling (92), Julius Sumpf (94): Here on a tryout basis and will have a chance to impress this weekend before dozens of scouts from six teams.
Luke Grainger (57), Lucas Vanroboys (67), and Donavan Villeneuve-Houle (83): Are all on AHL contracts as they enter their first full years as pros, hoping to make an impact with Barracuda.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Sam Dickinson (6) takes part in practice on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
DEFENSEMEN
No. 6 Sam Dickinson: The 11th overall pick will be an intriguing player to watch at both at the Rookie Faceoff and early in camp. But unless he knocks everyone’s socks off, he will be headed back to the OHL.
No. 21 Gannon Laroque: Laroque is entering another big development year. Needs consistent reps, either in the AHL or ECHL.
No. 42 Luca Cagnoni: Wants to be in the AHL, but a Barracuda roster spot is not a certainty. He has tremendous offensive skill but will need to prove he can adequately defend at the pro level with his 5-9, 180-pound frame.
No. 60 Jérémie Bucheler: He has been signed to an AHL deal and begins his first full year as a pro. Can he stick with Barracuda all year?
No. 61 Jake Furlong: Making progress from a shoulder injury, and it appears he’ll be ready for the start of main camp on Sept. 19. Likely ticketed for AHL.
No. 77 Valtteri Pulli: Big, steady D-man is headed back to Barracuda. But it’s make-or-break time as he enters the last year of his contract.
No. 82 Artem Guryev: He will be headed back to minors, but he’ll probably stand out in some way this weekend.
No. 85 Shakir Mukhamadullin: Rangy blueliner remains one of the Sharks’ top defensive prospects. But unless injuries happen or the Sharks keep eight defensemen, he will likely need a terrific camp to be on the 23-man NHL roster.
No. 86 Braden Haché: The 6-3, Memorial Cup-winning defenseman is headed to minors after he signed an AHL deal with Barracuda in June.
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Colton Roberts (68), Nate Misskey (89): The two towering 2024 draft picks will return to the WHL.
GOALIES
No. 31 Georgi Romanov: Will return to Barracuda for a second year, likely forming a tandem with Askarov and possibly Gabriel Carriere. Looked steady in two relief appearances for the Sharks at the end of last season.
No. 33 Dawson Cowan: Went undrafted, here on a tryout basis. Will be headed back to WHL.
No. 35 Gabriel Carriere: Signed an AHL with the Barracuda in the spring. Will be a candidate to start the year in ECHL if not AHL.
