Zack Ostapchuk has gone from an intriguing size-and-grit project to a player who looks locked into a fourth-line job with the Sharks.
A year ago, the picture was fuzzy. He had the frame, he had the edge, but it was tough to know exactly how much he could offer San Jose beyond the basics.
This past season answered more of those questions. Ostapchuk carved out a role, stayed in the lineup, and finished with 59 games played.
The offense was light - 7 points, with 4 goals and 3 assists - but his value showed up in the less glamorous parts of the job.
That’s the lane he’s in, and he seems to understand it. Ostapchuk, listed as a center who can also play left wing, is 6-foot-4, 212 pounds and 23 years old.
He was born May 29, 2003, was drafted in 2021 by the Ottawa Senators with the 39th overall pick, and shoots left. For 2026-27, he’s competing for a fourth-line spot with the Sharks.
The numbers back up the idea that he earned his ice time through utility rather than flash. He averaged 10:06 per game last season, and his goals above replacement percentile, according to Evolving-Hockey, was 41.0%. That put him near the bottom of the Sharks’ forwards who played at least 100 minutes, ahead of only Ryan Reaves, Ty Dellandrea and Barclay Goodrow.
Still, the job description for a fourth-liner is pretty clear, and Ostapchuk checked several boxes. His even-strength defense was 1.9, while his expected even-strength defense was 2.8, according to Evolving-Hockey.
He delivered 140 hits, which ranked second on the team, and finished with 45 PIMs after getting involved in fights and taking penalties. He took 14 penalties last season - 10 minors, 3 majors and 1 misconduct - but also drew 16, giving him a net positive.
He also held his own in the faceoff circle. Ostapchuk won 51.64% of his draws, going 236-221, which was second-best on the team among players with at least 400 faceoffs.
The offense remains the area that needs the most work. His even-strength production has improved each year since he entered the league, but it is still a negative on his stat line.
If he’s going to be more than just a useful bottom-six piece, he’ll need to find more goals this season. A lot of his minutes last year came with Barclay Goodrow and Ryan Reaves, two veterans who bring different things but not much punch offensively.
More than 198 of Ostapchuk’s 518 even-strength minutes were spent with that pair.
He also logged a significant stretch with Goodrow and Adam Gaudette. That trio was on the ice together for 168 even-strength minutes and posted a 50% goals for percentage. Other linemates included Pavol Regenda and Ty Dellandrea.
There’s also the contract situation, which points to where the Sharks see him fitting. Ostapchuk signed a four-year deal over the summer with a $2.35 million cap hit. With Goodrow and Gaudette’s contracts set to expire at the end of this season, the move suggests Mike Grier and company view Ostapchuk as the answer for that fourth-line spot.
Last season, he kept that job even after Dellandrea returned from injury, and it looks like it’s his place to lose heading into this year. Barring an injury, he should be on the opening night roster.
The highlights from his season fit the role, too: plenty of pushback, no hesitation, and a willingness to stand in the middle of the mess. He didn’t score a ton, but he did have a goal against the Washington Capitals.
2026 Top 25 Under 25 countdown … so far
- Leo Sahlin Wallenius
- Cam Lund
- Ethan Cardwell
- Nolan Allan
- Haoxi Wang
- Cole McKinney
- Carson Wetsch
- Mattias Havelid
- Christian Kirsch
Honorable Mentions: Joey Muldowney, Teddy Mutryn, Andre Gasseau, Brady Knowling and Alexander Karmanov
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