Cardwell Getting Stronger, Young Talks ASU Transfer, Furlong’s Close Relationship With Sbisa

Who’s the next guest on Ethan Cardwell’s “Showbound” podcast?

“I was talking to Will Smith yesterday, so I’ll probably get him on there,” Cardwell said on the last day of San Jose Sharks development camp.

Cardwell also discussed how much muscle that he’s added heading into his first pro season. Alex Young gave an in-depth explanation on his transfer from Colgate to Arizona State plus the latest on his ELC talks. Jake Furlong discussed his frequent contact with San Jose Sharks development coach Luca Sbisa and his impressive season with the Halifax Mooseheads.

Ethan Cardwell

Cardwell on his first development camp with a San Jose Sharks contract:

It’s definitely nice. But, it doesn’t change any way I go about things. Just try to be a pro here and really develop my game for next year. Build on the season that I had, try to become a better player this week, and use all the tools that they’re giving us to develop out here.

Sharks Sign Cardwell, Guryev

Cardwell on if the overage year of junior hockey was the right decision:

Definitely. It puts you in all situations. You’re penalty killing, you’re playing power play, you’re playing five-on-five. You’re playing those big minutes to prepare you for this. It was nice. It gives you that free, extra year of development to go back and be able to play your game, play a lot of minutes, and really develop as a player before you make that jump. I think it was a great call by them to send me back there. I think it worked out for the best, and like you said, [I’m] just working towards becoming a good player at this level and I think playing a lot helps that.

I told Cardwell that in the best way possible, he looks wider now as opposed to last September. Says he’s added about 6-7 pounds of muscle

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) July 6, 2023

Cardwell on his expectations at NHL training camp in September:

It’s gonna be a grind. You’re signed now, so you go there with intent to earn a job. You want to go in there and put your best foot forward every day and compete for that job on the ice. It’s not just a walk through and learning anymore: It’s ‘go time’ now. For me, using all my experience in the past two camps before this, applying that, will go a long way for me. Like I said, just working as hard as I can every time I’m out there.

Alex Young

Young on his transfer to Arizona State University:

It was a very tough decision, leaving Colgate after being there for three years and winning the ECAC championship this season. But, our head coach [Don Vaughan] retired and he’s been at the school for 30 years. He was just somebody that really knew how to talk to the team and talk to the players. Losing him and feeling uncertainty moving forward. Losing many key players, my older brother leaving the team as well. I just felt like maybe a bit of a change was needed and a little bit of certainty going forward.

When I decided ultimately to enter the transfer portal, I found out about my assistant coach Dana Borges, who was also being hired to go over to Arizona State, and that made a decision a little bit easier. Combined with that, the package of what they have at Arizona State, the program they’ve built up, and the direction they’re moving. I thought it was a really solid choice for me and my development going forward.

Young on any discussions for an entry-level contract between him and San Jose:

Nothing really, bits and pieces here and there, but nothing really solid yet. I’m sure I’ll hear some more information towards the end of this camp in regards to that. But, all I’ve heard so far is that they’re really happy with my development and they’ve been pleased with how I’ve been producing a college so far. I’m happy with that and looking forward to producing again next year and hopefully getting a chance at an entry-level contract after next season.

Young on the improvements the San Jose Sharks want him to make:

Tons of things to work on, really. I mean, who doesn’t have a lot of stuff to work on. But a few things as in foot speed: quickness, acceleration off of a dead stop. Then just defensive awareness overall and being more of a responsible player in our own zone. Two big things.

Jake Furlong

Furlong on the San Jose Sharks’ opinion of his season.

I’ve been receiving lot of positives. I felt good and I thought I’d get some positive remarks. Working with Luca Sbisa has been awesome. He knows a lot about Hopkins and same with Todd [Marchant] who handles all the player development. It’s been pretty positive

Furlong on the improvements he made this season:

Just physicality, in general. For me to play in the NHL, I gotta be a play killer. I gotta be a defenseman that’s defense-first. I can join the play a little bit, but I just really focused on defending, killing plays, and being hard to play against.

Furlong on his video work with Luca Sbisa:

It’s been great. I think he gets a little annoyed when I text him after every game about it, but he’s been good with it. (laughs) I asked him to pretty much watch every game. He sends me a 15-minute clip and I’ll just go through it. Watch, send it to my D coach in Halifax, and we’ll go through it together, just trying to pick apart some of that.

Furlong, on how often he gets video feedback from Sbisa:

I think like once a week is probably a fair estimate.