It was one of those weekends when the Sharks’ prospect pipeline kept handing out milestones.
At the NHL level, Ivar Stenberg was already beyond this update, having picked up his first NHL point. But below him, San Jose’s prospects were piling up firsts across college hockey and the AHL.
The biggest headline came from Ryan Lin, the Sharks’ 21st overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He scored his first collegiate goal for the University of Denver, ripping a one-timer from the faceoff circle to put the Pioneers up 1-0 against the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
A couple of hours later, another Sharks defense prospect joined the fun. Haoxi (Simon) Wang made a toe-drag move around a defender at the blue line and then beat the University of Alaska, Fairbanks with a wrist shot from the point to give Boston University a 1-0 lead in the third period.
The firsts kept coming once the San Jose Barracuda got going.
On opening night for the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, Andre Gasseau and Eric Pohlkamp each picked up their first AHL regular-season points on Ethan Cardwell’s goal. The league later changed the assists after the team posted it, but both prospects still came away with that early-season milestone.
Then in the Barracuda’s second game of the season against the San Diego Gulls, Leo Sahlin Wallenius logged his first AHL assist on Filip Bystedt’s goal late in the first period. Not long after, Gasseau added another box to the checklist by scoring his first professional goal and cutting the deficit to one.
For San Jose’s prospect group, it was a weekend packed with debuts, breakthroughs and markers along the way. The next step is seeing who keeps building on them.
In Other News...
Sharks Are Winning But One Early Concern Is Hard To Ignore
The Sharks kept their perfect start intact with a wild 5-4 overtime win over the Kings at SAP Center, and the energy around the building fit the way this one unfolded. San Jose had to answer plenty of pressure along the way, but it still found enough offense to keep pace in a game that swung back and forth before ending in extra time.
There was plenty to like for a club that is 2-0-0 out of the gate, though one early concern is already hard to dismiss. Even with the scoring coming through in big moments, the Sharks needed a heavy workload in net and were forced to lean on Yaroslav Askarov for 31 saves to get over the line, a reminder that the teams winning start has not been built on easy nights. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Face An Early Test With One Key Lineup Question Looming
The Sharks are back at SAP Center for the second game of their opening homestand, and there is already a little bit of early-season uncertainty to sort through. After opening with an overtime win against the Florida Panthers, San Jose has some positive momentum, but the first night also exposed a few things that need tightening up, including discipline, faceoffs and overall consistency against a tougher standard.
Now comes the Los Angeles Kings, along with the kind of lineup watch that can shape a game plan right up to puck drop. Projected lineups for both clubs include several players listed as game-time decisions, and one of the more notable questions is on the Kings side, where Jacob Trouba is dealing with an illness. If he is unable to go, it would keep the lineup picture in flux as the Sharks try to handle another division test at home. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Just Sent A Clear Signal About Patrick Giles Roster Spot
The Sharks have made a clear roster move with Patrick Giles, waiving the winger as they continue sorting out the edges of the lineup. Giles, 26, arrived with some NHL experience after starting his pro career in the Florida Panthers organization and spending time with the Charlotte Checkers before landing in San Jose and earning a two-year extension.
His latest stint with the Sharks had been complicated by an upper-body injury, and now his future path runs through waivers before he can head back to the AHL. For a player who has had to carve out every step of his career as an undrafted signing, it is another reminder that roster security in San Jose can change quickly once the numbers start to tighten. [Read more 🡒]