Preview/Lines #77: Peterson ‘Pleasant Surprise’ for Quinn

The San Jose Sharks are trying out a lot of players right now that weren’t with the team to start the season.

Such is life for a rebuilding squad that’s four years and running out of the playoffs.

There are more celebrated prospects like Thomas Bordeleau and Danil Gushchin and Henry Thrun, all who want to compete for NHL jobs next year.

And there are the unheralded, like Jacob Peterson, acquired from the Dallas Stars at the Trade Deadline for Scott Reedy.

“He’s been a pleasant surprise,” San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn told San Jose Hockey Now yesterday.

Peterson has a goal and three assists in just five games with the Sharks.

Peterson scores his first Sharks goal 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jRNSuWhApN

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 2, 2023

Peterson and Reedy were both 2017 draft picks who needed a change of scenery. Peterson could only get into one game with the Dallas Stars this season after 65 NHL games in his rookie season in 2021-22. Reedy couldn’t earn a promotion this year after 35 NHL games in his rookie campaign last season.

“It’s just they had a lot of players in Dallas. So it was hard to get a spot there,” Peterson acknowledged about why it was tougher for him to crack the Central Division-leading Stars line-up.

Both Peterson and Reedy were pending RFAs, and it’s SJHN’s understanding that the Stars weren’t likely to qualify Peterson anyway.

“I’ve really liked his game,” Quinn said. “He’s smart. He’s coachable, he’s got some skill. He’s done a good job.”

Peterson has played mostly with star center Tomas Hertl and has been part of the Sharks’ top power play unit in the absence of Alexander Barabanov.

GREGOR! Just as the power play expired 😏 pic.twitter.com/NE3PZyMUvI

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) March 29, 2023

“It was a good opportunity for me,” the 23-year-old Swedish winger noted. “It’s a good organization that I just heard good things about.”

So could Peterson be part of the San Jose Sharks’ plans next season?

One thing he’ll have to improve is his pace.

“He and I have talked about that. Everything’s got to be a little bit faster,” Quinn shared. “I think he’s doing a better job with it. He’s still a young kid. Only his second year here.”

San Jose Sharks (22-39-15)

PROJECTED lines for the #SJSharks.

Gushchin has been recalled.
Benning and Svechnikov are back.
MacDonald will slide to forward.
Kahkonen starts in net. pic.twitter.com/yNoThjbug4

— Locked on Sharks (@LockedOnSharks) April 4, 2023

Colorado Avalanche (45-24-6)

Check out Colorado Hockey Now for the latest Colorado Avalanche lines!

Where To Watch

The San Jose Sharks will take on the Colorado Avalanche at 7:30 PM PST at SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.