Sheng Peng
IRVINE, Calif. — This is what Mike Grier is trying to build at the NHL level.
Down 4-0 to the Los Angeles Kings after 20 minutes, the uber-talented Sharks never felt out of it, and they weren’t, roaring back to win 8-5.
Collin Graf scored twice, while Kasper Halttunen, Filip Bystedt, Sam Dickinson, Michael Misa, Mattias Havelid, and Carson Wetsch also lit the lamp. 2024 No. 11 pick Dickinson and 2025 No. 2 pick Misa each had three assists too, so both had four-point showings.
“Anyone you think of who’s a really good player with the puck, [they don’t] rush themselves,” Graf said of Misa. “They’re very patient. They don’t get rushed by the defense. They’re in control of the game at their own pace, and he has that for sure.”
The Sharks felt inevitable this afternoon, a wagon, as they attacked wave after wave in the last 40.
After being outshot 13-7 in the opening frame, San Jose turned the tide 27-14 shots.
My joke? September is playoff time for the San Jose Sharks.
This is San Jose’s second-straight Rookie Faceoff sweep, and their seventh Rookie Faceoff win in their last eight, dating back to 2023.
But the makings are there, between Misa and Dickinson and Quentin Musty and Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith and William Eklund and Yaroslav Askarov, that the Sharks are playing into June sooner than later.
Graf and head coach John McCarthy spoke on how Haoxi (Simon) Wang’s fight with Kaleb Lawrence galvanized the Sharks. 2022 second-pick Havelid and 2024 third-rounder Wetsch shared what they’ve been improving in their games this summer.
Haoxi (Simon) Wang
The San Jose Sharks were down 4-0 when 6-foot-6 Wang got into an unusual fight with 6-foot-7 Kaleb Lawrence midway through the second period.
It’s not hockey code to keep punching when your opponent is down, and Wang was ejected.
Regardless, that fight got the Sharks going, and they scored the next six goals.
“Wanger’s fight was awesome,” Graf said. “That got the bench fired up, for sure. Whatever the score was then, we definitely took control after that.”
“It was a little bit quiet before that, but I honestly do think Wang’s fight got things going a little bit, which was great,” McCarthy said. “I’m proud of him. That was great for him to do that.”
But then, Wang came back into the game.
According to McCarthy, the referees thought it was an automatic expulsion, throwing punches when your opponent is down. Apparently, it’s not, and the officials rescinded the ejection, though Wang had already showered and changed.
Carson Wetsch
Winger Carson Wetsch spent last season with the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL, playing 68 games for 33 goals and 19 assists.
This year, he’ll be with the Kelowna Rockets for his D+1 season.
“Kelowna is going to be a great spot to get development and we’re hosting the Memorial Cup, so it’s going to be awesome to play hockey all the way till the end of May,” Wetsch said. “So just trying to learn as much as I can from the coaches there and development staff there, as well as the feedback here, I think it’s really going to take my game to the next level.”
San Jose Barracuda coach John McCarthy liked Wetsch’s body of work at the Rookie Faceoff, where the forward got involved in multiple fights standing up for his teammates on Friday and scored an empty netter on Saturday.
“Hard on pucks, gets to the net, got that empty netter there. Playing the right way, finishing his checks. He’s that style of player, North-South type of guy,” McCarthy said Saturday.
San Jose Sharks management and McCarthy are looking for consistency in playing that style of game, Wetsch said. And he believes he showed that at the Rookie Faceoff, laying hits and working hard.
As for what he’s been focusing on this summer?
“I just worked on my speed and my explosiveness, was a huge thing, getting off the walls, and then obviously just getting stronger. That’s the biggest thing, just going to the gym and put as much work in as possible.”
Wetsch said efforts in the gym were pretty successful.
“I think I did very well. I cut some body fat, and I feel pretty shredded right now,” he laughed.
Macklin Celebrini’s childhood friend, Wetsch is hoping to develop into a power forward who can protect Celebrini, agitate the opposition, and add some scoring too.
(From Felicia Keller)
Mattias Havelid
Mattias Havelid is ready for North American hockey.
“I’ve taken my time back in Sweden; I played pro hockey over there and I felt that this season was time for me to take this step,” the 5-foot-10 defenseman said at the Golden State Rookie Faceoff.
Havelid, the Sharks’ 45th-overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, has spent the last four seasons primarily in the SHL. Last season, he had a rough start offensively with Linköping HC and was loaned to Djurgårdens IF of the Allsvenskan. In 18 games in the second-division, the 21-year-old put up two goals and 14 points in 18 games.
What did the Sharks tell him to work on ahead of his North American debut?
“Basically every part [of my game,]” Havelid shared. “Defensively, always a big thing over here. The game is faster, tougher. You’ve got to be stronger [on] things in your own end. My offensive game, I’m an offensive defenseman, so those things as well. Keep on working on those. But, the defense more.”
Physically, he wanted to get stronger ahead of this season.
“I feel like I have,” he said. “It’s a big turnaround as well for me to play on the small rink… I’ve tried to get those habits a bit, but [it’s] gonna take some time. But in the end, it’s gonna be good.”
At the Golden State Rookie Faceoff, Havelid potted a goal in each game and was paired with Sam Dickinson at times. He also earned time on both special teams units.
“I thought [Havelid] was good,” coach John McCarthy said. “I thought he killed some plays. Had the goal there at the end, got involved offensively.”
What’s friend and 2022 first-rounder Filip Bystedt tell Havelid about the North American game?
“A lot of plays are on the boards here,” Havelid shared. “I got taught that back home by my dad and a couple of coaches: the puck is on the boards a lot. [You’ve] got to be strong there. The game is tougher, people like to hit more here, and everything’s much closer.”
(From Josh Frojelin)