SAN JOSE – William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau returned to the Bay Space from Europe over the weekend, desperate to proceed their first full seasons within the San Jose Sharks group.
Their itinerary for this week is a bit totally different than they initially hoped, although.
As an alternative of preparing for the Sharks’ residence opener Friday towards Brent Burns and the Carolina Hurricanes, they’re boarding a flight to Des Moines for a two-game set towards the Iowa Wild this Friday and Saturday.
“I’ve by no means been,” the Swedish-born Eklund mentioned of the Hawkeye state with a wry smile.
Eklund and Bordeleau, thought-about the Sharks’ prime two prospects, made the journey abroad with the NHL staff at the start of the month and spent some high quality time with all concerned.
However in an indication of what was to come back, each gamers and defenseman Nick Cicek needed to watch the Sharks’ exhibition sport final Tuesday in Berlin and the 2 common season video games Friday and Saturday in Prague.
Sunday, Eklund and Bordeleau have been reassigned to the Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate. On Monday, they have been with the staff at Tech CU Area.
“It wasn’t a punishment or something,” Bordeleau, 20, mentioned. “Clearly now we have a whole lot of older gamers on the (Sharks). It’s a deep staff. So I simply wish to get some ice time, play, and simply do my factor and attempt to get higher as a lot as I can.
“The time will come. I’m not nervous about that.”
Had this been final season’s coaching camp, there’s an excellent probability Bordeleau and Eklund, drafted in 2020 and 2021, respectively, could be preparing for the Hurricanes. They’d possible make a constructive contribution, as properly.
However a part of basic supervisor Mike Grier’s total imaginative and prescient for the group is to not rush younger gamers to the NHL and to allow them to develop, so after they do get known as up, they've a greater probability of staying there for a very long time.
So after Bordeleau and Eklund, who turns 20 on Wednesday, obtained a style of the NHL final season, there are some things that must occur for them to make their approach again as much as the large membership.
“I feel they must be dominant at our degree,” Barracuda coach John McCarthy mentioned.
McCarthy pointed to 2 of the Sharks’ finest gamers over the 20 years, Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture, who averaged over a degree per sport within the AHL in lower than one full season earlier than they have been every recalled to the NHL and by no means despatched again.
“To not gauge anybody’s sport by factors, however usually when you’re doing that, you’re dominating each sport,” mentioned McCarthy, who added that the group, proper now, sees Eklund as a winger.
“So contributing on the scoresheet each evening however having that base of their sport the place they’re caring for pucks, working again above pucks, taking part in strong defensively, caring for their very own finish whereas including that offensive aptitude that they’re identified for is how they’re going to get to the NHL.”
Sharks coach David Quinn has talked about how most younger gamers must discover ways to work away from the puck as a result of in the event that they’re not placing up factors, how else can they assist the staff win video games?
“You’ve obtained to be good off the puck, too, not simply with the puck,” Eklund mentioned. “Each small element within the sport goes to matter if you wish to make it within the NHL.”
For now, Bordeleau and Eklund will get ample taking part in staff with a Barracuda staff that seems to be a lot improved over final season’s unit that completed with a dreadful 20-42-4-2 file and had the worst factors share within the AHL (.338).
Of the 26 gamers that have been on the Barracuda roster as of Monday, 15 had NHL expertise. That features forwards Scott Reedy and Jasper Weatherby, and defensemen Ryan Merkley, Artemi Kniazev, and Santeri Hatakka.
“We have been speaking about the way it’s such a enjoyable crew right here with a whole lot of younger guys and a whole lot of buddies that we’ve made in camps,” Bordeleau mentioned about Eklund. “It’s enjoyable to get all of the younger bucks again collectively, simply having an excellent time, on and off the ice. Simply doing our factor.”
After the journey to Iowa this week, the Barracuda begin a five-game homestand subsequent week, with their first common season video games at Tech CU Area on Oct. 22 and 23 towards the Henderson Silver Knights.
As a lot as they’d wish to be at SAP Heart, Eklund and Bordeleau will proceed their professional careers on the new 4,100-seat area proper subsequent to the Sharks’ apply facility. For now, they perceive that’s simply a part of the journey.
“I simply wish to maintain going, maintain doing what I’m doing,” Eklund mentioned. “Taking part in a whole lot of minutes. Simply attempt to get higher day-after-day.”