The San Jose Sharks have a long list of rookies on their roster this season. The future in San Jose is bright, based on the young rookies they have playing. The kids have proved themselves to be clear assets and strong players in this rebuild.
Sharks Rookies Have A Great Night As They Face Chicago For The Last Time This Season.
The rookies had a great game in their 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The team played a physical game. Will Smith and Collin Graf were the top two players for the team. The two rookies had the best offensive game for the Sharks. It makes sense, they opened up the goal scoring for San Jose right away.
NHL GameScore Impact Card for San Jose Sharks on 2025-03-13: pic.twitter.com/vufyWNOc1P
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Smith and Graf scored early in the first period, putting the Sharks in the lead. Macklin Celebrini had the primary assist on Smith’s goal. Graf redeemed the team in the second period after Chicago scored, giving the Sharks a two-goal lead.
Smith has played in 59 games for San Jose. He scored 13 goals and 22 assists throughout his first season. He had a slow start to the season, but as of late, he has been a top player on the ice.
Graf has played 23 games this season for the Sharks. He has four goals and five assists this season. Two of those points came from their game against the Blackhawks. This would be the first time in his NHL career that he had a multi-goal night. Graf received the first star of the game for his overall performance.
Sharks Rookies Have Dominated The Last Seven Games
Throughout the seven games, the Sharks won three of them. Not for lack of trying. San Jose has become the first team to have their rookies account for seven or more consecutive team goals. They are the first team to reach this since the 2015-2016 Arizona Coyotes.
Graf has put up five points in the last seven games with 11 shots on goal. Playing alongside veterans and gaining the experience needed to develop has helped Graf find his confidence in being a skilled player. His time on the ice has jumped drastically; he started at 11:39 and is now averaging 20 minutes.
Smith has extended his multi-point streaks of five or more games this season. He has become the second Sharks player in franchise history to hit this milestone, the first being Captain Logan Couture. Smith has scored four goals in the last seven games and has recorded five assists, with 20 shots on goal.
Can best friends have twin telepathy?! pic.twitter.com/yXFkuRsg1p
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Celebrini is the top points leader for the Sharks. In the last seven games, the rookie has two goals and five assists. He has 29 shots on goal. The top rookie has led an impressive game this season, only playing in 55 games due to an earlier injury. The Calder Cup contender is proving he has what it takes to win, even if his team doesn’t.
Newly acquired Patrick Giles has only played in three games with San Jose. He has one goal and six shots on goal. The rookie never put up points in his 12 games with the Florida Panthers before the trade. With more development, playing alongside skilled veterans and receiving more ice time, his game will improve.
Shakir Mukhamadullin has become a well-rounded player for San Jose. His performance during powerplays and his offensive game have improved as of late. The defensemen has five points in the last seven games with six shots on goal. His average ice time has improved from 19 minutes to almost 23 minutes.
The San Jose Sharks Have A Bright Future Ahead Of Them.
The Sharks are sitting 32nd in the league and are only four points behind the Blackhawks. If San Jose remains in the last spot for the remainder of the season, there is a high chance they could get another lottery pick. Along with their recently acquired draft picks that they picked up during trades, the chances are promising.
Main Photo: Mark Kupbens- Imagn Images
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