Josh Frojelin
Mattias Havelid was playing his best before he got hurt.
The San Jose Sharks’ 2022 second-rounder had not played since Mar. 15, a season-ending lower-body injury because the Barracuda season ended last week in Henderson. In his rookie AHL campaign, Havelid had five goals and 15 points in 44 games. Before his injury, Havelid had three goals and six points in his last 14 appearances.
How did the 22-year-old feel about his introduction to North American hockey? How’s he transitioning to life in the Bay Area? How’s the 5-foot-9 right-hander getting better this summer? How are William and Victor Eklund different?
Havelid, on his rookie AHL season:
I think, overall, I’m pretty happy with it. I knew coming into the season [there would be] a lot of new things. Smaller rink, different style of hockey here, so I knew it would take some time to adjust. But I feel like I, over time, adjusted well. I feel like I played my hockey more and more the later the season went on, before I was injured. So overall, I’m pretty happy.
Havelid, on the biggest adjustment this season:
[It’s] just a tighter space. You need to be a little bit quicker with your thinking and with your puck decisions. And it’s more physical here, of course, so you need to be able to handle that as well. And I think I’ve done that pretty [well].
Havelid, on if he was playing better second half of the season:
I think so. I think I had something good going for me there before [the injury]. I really had something to build on. Unfortunately, I got injured, so it is what it is, but I would say last half of the season, after Christmas, I’m happy with.
Havelid, on what was better in his second half:
Playing my game more and more. My game is: escape with the puck, transitions, good first passes, be involved in the offense. Play with confidence; I think that’s the biggest thing, and I think I did that in the second half.
Havelid, on his time in San Jose:
I’ve liked it. Outside [it’s] been a great city to be in, to live in. Filip Bystedt has helped me around a bit. He was here last year, so he’s helped me, and it’s been helpful to have him around. But overall, I’ve loved it. It’s been real fun…
We live very close to each other, walking distance between us, so that’s also been nice. We’ve been hanging out a lot off the ice.
Havelid, on his offseason plan:
Overall, it’s just to get stronger. Of course, I’m in that age that I have to get stronger, build some more muscle, build a steady base for myself to handle the bigger guys. But in my game, I’d probably say I want to work on my shot a bit from up top to maybe score more, create more chances up there. Quick release. Overall, I’d say, get stronger and a better shot.
Havelid, on handling larger players:
I’d say I’m pretty happy with how I’ve handled it. I think I’m not the biggest guy, but I’m still have a pretty steady base. I’m pretty strong as I am. So I feel like I’ve handled it pretty well. But of course, I’m the smaller guy, so I maybe need to adjust a few things, how I handle it.
I maybe can’t go and run over people all the time, or box them out if they’re standing there. It’s just not going to happen for me. So I have to be a bit smarter thinking about it before I approach someone, how to approach, some techniques, and all that. But that’s stuff that I’m working on a daily basis with [Louis Mass]. I feel like I’ve had good progress in that too.
Havelid, on training with Bystedt while back in Sweden:
On ice I do, not off ice, but we train. We live very close to each other back home too. So, we hang out a lot at home.
Havelid, on the Sharks’ Swedish group:
I’ve talked to Wennberg a couple of times. Not many, I just said hi. But [Eklund], I’ve talked to a bit. We hung out in Sweden this summer. He came on to our home town.
He asked if we [Havelid and Bystedt] wanted to go for dinner. But I’d say probably [Eklund]… He’s probably the one guy I have the most connection with. I got to know [Eklund’s] little brother last year when I played with him in Djurgården. I have a good connection with him.
Havelid, on the Eklund brothers’ personalities:
I’d say they’re pretty different. I’d say, from my understanding, I think Victor is more of an all over the place guy. He’s very funny, jokes around a lot. You see him, you hear him, but he’s very funny. I haven’t had that much time with [William,] but my understanding is he’s a little more quiet.