Preview/Lines #69: Pending UFA Megna Wants to Come Back

Jaycob Megna is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but if he has any say, he’ll be sticking around with the San Jose Sharks for a while longer. Once again, it’s the culture around how the Sharks organization treats its players.

“I didn’t have any opportunities going into last year and had to come here on an [AHL] deal. They were true to their word,” said Megna on the opportunity he has been given in San Jose. “[The Sharks] gave me an opportunity to show them what I can do and get an NHL deal this year, and now being able to turn [that] into NHL games and being up here and playing regularly.”

While his path to being an NHL regular has taken a bit longer than he would have liked, Megna has maintained a work ethic that has made him impossible to overlook.

“It’s not always easy to keep going when you feel like you’ve gotten kicked down the mountain. But it’s something that I’m proud of. I take a lot of pride in coming to the rink every day and just getting better.”

Megna is a perfect example of how if you don’t give up and continue to put in the work, you can reach the peaks in this sport. An Anaheim Ducks’ seventh-round pick in 2012, Megna has bounced between the AHL and the NHL since 2016-17. At 31 games and counting with the San Jose Sharks this year, he’s set a career-high for NHL games in a season, surpassed his 28 with the Ducks in 2018-19.

“I’m 29. But you know, I haven’t even played a full NHL season and I feel like I’m definitely better now than I was at the beginning of the year. I got better last year and I’m still adding to my game and improving. It’s something that you don’t know if it’s going to happen or not, but you can’t control that part. You can only control what you’re doing every day.”

Now, that’s the kind of example you want younger generations to see.

While he would like to stay in San Jose, Megna is not focusing on a new contract right now. He just wants to finish the season on a high note. Luckily for him, that’s exactly what will likely earn him the next few years in this league.

“I’m just kind of focusing on the rest of the season in these last 14 games, and just doing what I can to be out there every night.”

SAN JOSE SHARKS (29-31-8)

Jonah Gadjovich and Ryan Merkley slot back into the lineup for tonight. pic.twitter.com/AMTv6lNSEb

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 5, 2022

EDMONTON OILERS (40-25-4)

Per the Daily Faceoff, this is how the Oilers are projected to line up tonight:

Kane – McDavid – Puljujarvi

Hyman – Draisaitl – Yamamoto

Brassard – Nugent-Hopkins – Kassian

Foegele – McLeod – Ryan

Nurse – Ceci

Keith – Bouchard

Kulak – Barrie

Smith, Koskinen

WHERE TO WATCH

Puck drop between the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks is at 7:30 PM PT at SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.