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Kostin, Desharnais Talk ‘Older Brother’ Friendship

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Klim Kostin was taking a nap before he heard the news.



“When I woke up, I [saw] a message from [Vincent Desharnais],” Kostin recalled. “He just sent me [a] heart. I was like, ‘What’s up, dude?’ And then he was like, ‘Check Instagram.’ I saw that the trade happened.”

The San Jose Sharks acquired Vincent Desharnais from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2028 fifth-round pick ahead of the Mar. 7 Trade Deadline. Desharnais is a 6-f0ot-7 defenseman who defends hard and looks out for his teammates.

Desharnais, 28, looked out for Kostin, three years his junior, when both were part of the Edmonton Oilers and Bakersfield Condors in 2022-23.

“[He offered] to go get groceries with me. Helped me find a spot to live. If I needed a ride from the airport back home, he [was] always there for me,” the Russian native recalled.

Kostin was a first-round pick with the St. Louis Blues in 2017, but credited Desharnais as “probably the first guy that actually was [an] older brother for me.” Kostin said when he was younger, he hung out with younger players.

“You learn to help each other out,” Desharnais said. “When I met him, he didn’t know a lot of guys. So, we started going to dinner together and started getting closer.”

Kostin called Desharnais a leader that “always takes care of young guys.”

Desharnais described 6-foot-4 Kostin as a “teddy bear,” who you need to get to know better to understand.

“He’s very generous,” Desharnais said. “Every time we go to lunch, or grab a bite to eat, he always wants to pay for it. I’m like, ‘Dude, we can share’ He wants to treat the people that he likes.”

Desharnais added: “He’s a clown. He likes to have a good time and likes to joke around. He’s got a hard shell, so you’ve got to crack that shell. Once you crack that shell, then he’s gonna open up.”

No doubt, if Desharnais needs anything with the San Jose Sharks, Kostin has got him: “Just want to pay him back. If he needs anything here, I’m ready to help.”

Hopefully, having a familiar face around can lead to both having success the rest of this season.

Desharnais has another season left on his contract, a two-year, $4 million deal signed last summer, but Kostin will become a restricted free agent this summer.

Kostin has just one goal and eight points in 31 games this season, but he’s got the talent for more, a lot more.

“He’s a great kid. He cares so much, wants to win. I think he’s got extreme potential to be one of the better players in this league, as far as a power forward,” San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “You’re looking at a guy that’s big, he’s got skill, he can skate, he’s physical, he takes time and space away from people, he creates space for his linemates.”

Hopefully, the reunion with one of his good friends can propel him to a strong finish.

“That’s why we love this sport, that’s why we love hockey. It’s all about those little things. To be like a family, I think it’s really important,” Kostin said.

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