Halttunen Credits Sharks Scout Kallio, Svoboda Bear Hugged by Whitelaw

NASHVILLE — The San Jose Sharks began the day with one pick in the second and third rounds, then added another.

Kasper Halttunen was the first pick for the Sharks on Day 2. Sharks selected Halttunen at No. 36, adding a right-shot sniper from Finland’s HIFK. Halttunen spoke with San Jose Hockey Now shortly afterwards:

Kaspar Halttunen on his emotions after being drafted:
I can’t put into words you know it’s an incredible feeling you know, I’ve dreamed of it and now to share this moment with my family and you know, it’s…it’s unbelievable.

Halttunen on speaking with the Sharks front office and European Scout Tomi Kallio before the draft:  

Yeah, you know, especially with Finnish scout (Tomi Kallio). I talk with him the most, and they say that they liked me a lot.

Halttunen on some of the Sharks players that he has watched growing up:

You know, Timo Meier and, of course, Erik Karlsson are awesome players and actually Erik Karlsson played in Jokerit at Helsinki (during the 2012-2013 lockout) … and I watched a couple [of his] games, when I was there, and it was so cool.

Halttunen on what type of player the Sharks are getting with him:

Very hungry goal-scorer and hungry winner, I want to win and I will make sure that I will put everything to the table to win the Stanley Cup with the Sharks.

Halttunen on his favorite players growing up:

As I said there wasn’t like, just one guy I would watch but Rantanen and Laine. Love to watch them.

Halttunen on who he models his game after:

Mikko Rantanen and Patrik Laine. Simple. Yeah, yeah.

Halttunen on his strengths as a player:
I think that it’s one of my strengths…that you know I can win battles on the boards and be effective you know, can try to get the puck to the net from there and you know, big body, stuff like that.

Halttunen on his play at the U18s:

Yeah, you know, it was it was a big tournament. I waited for that tournament like almost a year and being a captain is a huge honor and we had a great team and great guys on it. I wanted to give my best and we fell a little short but it was a great, great experience.

Halttunen on his coach, Ville Peltonen, a former Sharks draft pick and player: 

You know, last year when he coached me, I respect him a lot, the career he had and he’s an awesome guy and unbelievable coach and wants to help, especially the young guys.

Brandon Svoboda

Brandon Svoboda from the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL was selected No. 71 by the San Jose Sharks after a trade up with Carolina for picks No. 94 and 100.

Svoboda on his emotions after being drafted:

Yeah, I don’t even know what I’m feeling, words can’t even describe it, I’m just so excited to share this moment with my family and friends that came along and I’m just so excited to be a part of the Sharks organization.

Svoboda on what he brings to the Sharks as a player:

Yeah, I’m a 200-foot centerman that plays the right way. I have a strong shot. I love to compete and I love to win.

Svoboda on going to Boston University in the future:
Yeah, obviously Boston is a pretty high end school. They put a lot of guys the NHL…yeah I couldn’t be couldn’t be more excited.

Brandon Svoboda gets a huge hug from William Whitelaw.

Svoboda will be going back to Youngstown next season. pic.twitter.com/PXdjA0DOM1

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) June 29, 2023

Svoboda on him and his teammates getting drafted:
Yeah, I just think it shows how great of an organization Youngstown is and how much work we put in every single day and obviously it pays off to win the Clark Cup and then getting drafted by high-class organization.

Svoboda on his pre-draft interview process with Mike Grier, a BU alumnus:

It was really special obviously being a guy from BU and he was there as well. Obviously, it’s just unbelievable meetings at the combine, really special and I just felt like San Jose, it was just an unbelievable organization. Like I said earlier, I can’t wait to get started.

Svoboda on who he models his game after:
Alex Tuch is a big one for me all the way, he’s got the size and stature to beat defenders and take the puck to the net. He’s offensively gifted, really responsible in the D zone and he loves to compete and he’s got an edge to him.

Svoboda on who his favorite player was growing up:

For me? It was Sidney Crosby obviously being a hometown kid from Pittsburgh. Growing up and playing in the Learn To Play Hockey program with him, getting a bunch of free gear from head to toe. So just watching him the way he leads off the ice, he is just an incredible dude an unbelievable player on the ice.

Svoboda on where he will be playing next year:
Going to play one more year in Youngstown and then go off Boston after.

Svoboda on how well he knows former San Jose Sharks draft picks Reese Laubach and Michael Fisher from Youngstown:
Yeah, obviously Michael Fisher, we were on the same team and won a Clark cup together. He’s great, him and Reese Laubach, we were pretty close as well. Obviously sad he got traded away, but I can’t wait to get to work with him [at development camp].