Sharks’ AHL affiliate could be without key players for start of playoffs
SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks are optimistic that their AHL affiliate, the Barracuda, will have some key players back for the start of the Calder Cup playoffs next week.
Forwards Thomas Bordeleau, Zack Ostapchuk, and defenseman Jack Thompson, three players who have all made an impact in the AHL this season, are all injured and were unavailable to play in the Sharks’ season finale on Wednesday at home against the Edmonton Oilers.
Bordeleau, Thompson, and Ostapchuk were injured during the Sharks’ game on Sunday in Calgary against the Flames. Thompson (upper-body) and Ostapchuk (lower-body) left the game in the third period. It’s believed Bordeleau (upper body) was injured early in the game, although he continued to take a regular shift and finished with 10:38 in ice time.
Bordeleau was recalled from the AHL on Saturday, Ostapchuk was added to the Sharks roster on March 14, and Thompson has been in the NHL since March 31.
As of Wednesday, all three were considered day-to-day, and Thompson was on the ice in the morning. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said it was too soon to say whether any of them might have to miss the start of the AHL postseason early next week, “but we’re pretty optimistic.”
This season, Thompson has 14 points in 27 AHL games, and Bordeleau has 38 points in 59 games. Before he was acquired from the Ottawa Senators at the NHL trade deadline last month, Ostapchuk, with Belleville, had 11 points in 15 games this season and 28 points in 69 games with the team last season.
The Barracuda clinched a spot in the playoffs last weekend and entered this week tied with Calgary for fifth place in the AHL’s Pacific Division.
San Jose and Calgary each have 79 points. They will play each other at the Saddledome on Friday and Saturday to determine which team will have the higher seed for the postseason. The team that finishes fifth will likely have an opening-round best-of-three series against Coachella Valley in Palm Desert.
The Sharks are hoping the Barracuda can go on a lengthy playoff run to give some of their younger prospects valuable playoff experience at the pro level. The Barracuda have not competed in the postseason since 2021, when the AHL only held playoff rounds in the Pacific Division. The Sharks have not made the playoffs since 2019.
The Sharks also sent defenseman Luca Cagnoni back to the Barracuda on Tuesday and placed Lucas Carlsson on waivers on Wednesday.
Cagnoni assisted on Macklin Celebrini’s goal in the Sharks’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
With 49 points in 62 games with the Barracuda this season, Cagnoni was named to the 2024-25 AHL All-Rookie Team, as voted on by coaches, players, and media from each of the league’s 32 member cities.
Cagnoni leads all Barracuda skaters in power-play points (32) and ranks in the top five in both power-play goals (10) and assists (22). Among AHL defensemen, Cagnoni, before Wednesday’s games, ranked in the top six in goals (14), assists (35), and points (49).
NHL teams have until Thursday morning to claim Carlsson, who has one year left on his two-year, $1.6 million contract he signed with the Sharks last July.
Carlsson, 27, will play for the Sharks on Wednesday night, marking his 13th game with the team since he was recalled from the Barracuda on March 21. Per the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHLPA, if a player on an emergency recall plays in more than nine games, he has to go through waivers to return to the AHL.
But Carlsson, who has 23 points in 44 games with the Barracuda this season, is expected to clear waivers.
Gushchin will play his second straight game with the Sharks on Wednesday night before he is returned to the AHL.
Gushchin made the Sharks’ roster out of training camp this year and had one point in 10 games before he was returned to the AHL. With the Barracuda this season, Gushchin is second on the team with 27 goals and third with 48 points.