Sheng Peng
Quentin Musty is about to make his pro debut.
The San Jose Sharks’ 2023 first-round pick, after a prolific career with the Sudbury Wolves, joined the Barracuda for practice on Tuesday.
He probably won’t play on Wednesday at the Coachella Valley Firebirds but should debut this weekend at Tech CU Arena versus the Ontario Reign. He’s also eligible to suit up for the AHL playoffs.
“From what I’ve seen in rookie tournament and watching his film, I think he can help us,” head coach John McCarthy, whose Barracuda are in the middle of a playoff push, said. “The common things that guys coming from junior have to work on is playing in straight lines, stopping, starting. He can produce offense for us. It’s going to be the right offense. It’s going to be staying on the right side of the puck. And then when there’s a time, he’s got speed, he’s got a gap he likes, he’s got numbers, we want him to make a play.”
Musty was excited to start his pro career, but also sad to leave Sudbury, where he piled on 270 points in just 189 OHL games over four seasons.
It’s all pro hockey now for Musty, who will turn 20 on Jul. 6. The 6-foot-2 winger talked about his October trade request from the Wolves, where he improved most this year in Sudbury, his late-season injury, and watching Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith this season with the San Jose Sharks.
“Those guys, you can see they’re ready,” Musty said, “but I have a lot of work to do if I want to make that jump.”
Quentin Musty, on his feelings this morning, coming into Barracuda facility:
Yeah, it was good. The weather’s obviously a lot better here, so it’s fun to be here. Some of those guys, I’ve never met, so I’m just getting acclimated and getting closer to them in a short period of time—going on the road trip and stuff. My first day here, it’s been fun, good practice. I’m excited.
Musty, on his emotions leaving Sudbury:
It was definitely pretty emotional leaving there. Like you said, I was just a kid when I got there, and now I’m here. Being there for four years and all those teammates there, it’s sad leaving, but it obviously goes out the window when you get here. You’re more excited, and the feeling of leaving kind of goes away. It was definitely a little hard leaving, and losing in that fashion last year was definitely tough, but I’m just excited to turn the page and be here.
Musty, on biggest thing that he learned this year with the Wolves:
The coaches there were great the whole year with me. They’re just trying to get me better and get me ready for the pro game—they were very keen on the defense [side] of things. I got the opportunity to kill some penalties this year and get some big minutes in towards the end of close games and stuff like that. It really helped my game and made me more confident in the defensive zone, and hopefully that can translate over to here.
Musty, on lowering his penalty minutes this year:
Like you said, I was dealing with some injuries, so I only played about 33 games here. Some of those games, I wasn’t feeling 100 percent and some of my physical play wasn’t there for those games. Definitely didn’t take a lot of stupid penalties this year—usually, those penalty minutes come from my physical play, and I wasn’t able to do a ton of that this year. Definitely a lot more discipline than the years prior, and something that they were helping me with in Sudbury as well.
Musty, on his late-season injury:
It was just upper body—wasn’t too bad, I ended up coming back in Game Two of the playoffs. I feel good now, I feel 100 percent.
Musty, on his early-season trade request:
I love that city, and like I said, I kind of grew up there, but I figured it’d be my last year in the league. There’s still some chance that I go back next year, but I just wanted to win in my last year, and it didn’t look like we could have done that with the roster at the beginning of the year, but once they told me they were going to make some moves, I was more than happy to stay and more than happy to be a big part of that team. We all tried our hardest there and just didn’t get the result.
Musty, on San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier’s message to him during the time of his trade request:
Nothing, really. I mean, it’s more between me and my agent and Sudbury. It was nothing too serious. Once everything was figured out, I had a great year and a great time there.
Musty, on how much he’s watched the San Jose Sharks this year:
It’s where I’m drafted, obviously, so you want to try and get a hold of some of the things that you know they’re doing. They’re also fun to watch—they got young guys coming up, and they’ve been fun to watch this year. It’s been a tough year for them, but I think they’re making a lot of strides and it’s looking up for them.
Musty, on watching peers like Celebrini and Smith succeed in the NHL:
It’s been fun to watch. Obviously, it’s different for me, I’m playing in the OHL, but just to see what they’re doing in their first year in the NHL, it’s pretty special to watch. Those are two guys that I know I’m going to have fun watching for the rest of my career. They’ve already made a lot of strides this year, and it’s exciting to see what the future holds for those guys.
Musty, on keeping touch with other Sharks prospects throughout the season:
Throughout the year, a little bit—just talking back and forth, asking how they’re going. I try to stay out of their way, let them stay focused. Same goes for them, because, you know, we weren’t playing together, we’re on different teams. There was a little texting back and forth, but nothing much, letting them focus. This was a big year for them, so it’s good to see the way it’s going for them.
Musty, on his excitement to join a rising power like the San Jose Sharks:
Those guys, you can see they’re ready, but I have a lot of work to do if I want to make that jump. It’ll be a fun summer and I’ll keep working hard, and hopefully I’m ready for next year.
Musty, on the difference between OHL and AHL practices:
It’s a little different. They’re leaving for a road trip today or tomorrow, so it’s a grueling practice. Everything’s just a little more crisp—you’ve got guys who have been playing in this league for a long time, and a lot of skilled guys that are younger coming up. It’s just a crisp and smooth practice.
Musty, on when he will make his pro debut:
I think we’re aiming for this weekend. It’ll be fun when it comes. Hopefully, everything goes well—it’s a playoff race here too. I just got here, but it’s important for me to try and help this team win.
Musty, on joining the Barracuda on their flight to Coachella Valley today:
I’ll be traveling—nice to be in a plane and not a bus. I still have to get used to the flying. I didn’t fly much as a kid, and it’s a little scary for me—just getting used to that, the exposure to it will help me, but I’m not a fan of it. Those [bus rides] are the best, though. I’m going to miss that, for sure. Everything here is going to be a learning experience for me—around the rink, flying—everything will take some getting used to, but it’s exciting.
Musty, on if his family will be here for his pro debut:
I don’t know if my parents will be up, my girlfriend might be up. No matter what, it doesn’t change much for me. I don’t feel a lot of outside pressure when people are here. Hopefully everything goes well with my debut, and if my family can make it, that’d be great.
Special thanks to Maddie Dutra for her help transcribing.