SAN JOSE – Veteran ahead Andrew Poturalski led the AHL with 73 factors and was named the league’s most beneficial participant this season as he helped lead the San Jose Barracuda, the Sharks’ high minor league affiliate, to its first Calder Cup playoff look in six years.
Regardless of that, Poturalski solely performed three video games with the Sharks, all from Feb. 4 to eight, and that was virtually out of necessity. Forwards Alexander Wennberg, Nikolai Kovalenko, Nico Sturm, and Klim Kostin had been all injured on the time, and the Sharks had simply traded middle Mikael Granlund to the Dallas Stars, so Poturalski was promoted and performed his first NHL video games since Nov. 2023.
Proper after the Sharks started their 4 Nations Face-Off break on Feb. 9, although, Poturalski was proper again within the minors, by no means to return.
“I would have loved to get a few more games in a row there and really start to get adjusted,” Poturalski stated Friday at Tech CU Enviornment because the Barracuda held exit conferences. “That is my ninth 12 months. You play 9 years within the AHL, it’s an adjustment to go the NHL.
“I want that opportunity to show that I can play at that level, and I feel like it should be for me to decide, and nobody else. I just want to keep working to prove that I can play there.”
Now Poturalski, 31, regardless of being underneath contract with the staff for an additional season, has to surprise when, or if, he’ll get one other shot at taking part in within the NHL, and whether or not that chance will include the youthful Sharks.
“I can’t say enough good things about my time here with the Cuda,” Poturalski stated. “The employees gave me a chance to succeed, and I had plenty of good teammates to play with and assist me out and do nicely, and we had a fairly good group. It was plenty of enjoyable to return to the rink.
“But in the same breath, I’m still chasing the NHL, and it was a little frustrating on that standpoint to not get a full chance with the Sharks. I guess I kind of get it, but I don’t agree with it. I’m getting older, but I don’t feel my play has slowed down.”
Poturalski may not be the largest participant (5-foot-10, 185 kilos) or the quickest skater, however his ability, shot, craftiness, and hockey IQ have been sufficient to supply 493 factors in 527 AHL regular-season video games and 73 factors in 81 profession AHL playoff video games.
He was a significant a part of Calder Cup-winning groups in 2019 and 2022, the latter of which got here with the Chicago Wolves underneath the present Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky.
A part of the explanation why Poturalski signed a two-year take care of the rebuilding Sharks final July was his relationship with Warsofsky and the sensation he would get extra of an opportunity to play on a staff that’s nonetheless in a transitional part.
When Poturalski was first recalled in February, he was allowed to middle the second line with Fabian Zetterlund and Will Smith.
“I don’t know if he’s ever gotten this type of opportunity,” Warsofsky stated then. “I think he deserves this opportunity.”
He hadn’t. In six earlier NHL video games – 4 with the Carolina Hurricanes and two with the Seattle Kraken — Poturalski averaged lower than 10 minutes of ice time. In his three video games with the Sharks, Poturalski had one help and averaged 14:27 in ice time.
Nonetheless, it solely went to this point. When the Sharks received wholesome once more, they recalled different Barracuda gamers, ones they signed or drafted, after they wanted reinforcements.
Poturalski suffered a torn left MCL in a Barracuda recreation towards Abbotsford on March 28 and didn’t play once more. Nevertheless, he was nearing a return when San Jose was eradicated from the playoffs on Wednesday.
“I still think I have something to prove, and I’ve never fully gotten a chance in the NHL,” Poturalski stated, “and I think that just kind of eats at me a little bit and motivates me to keep going.”
Experiences in Russia have instructed that Poturalski has already agreed to hitch Avangard Omsk of the KHL. However Poturalski stated he hasn’t formally determined the place he’ll play subsequent season.
If that’s the case, then Poturalski and the Sharks might terminate his NHL contract. However Barracuda basic supervisor Joe Will stated he and Poturalski haven’t mentioned such a transfer.
“Andrew’s the ultimate pro,” Will stated. “We have a relationship where we talk about things very openly. He looks at it, ‘What else can I do? I’m the regular season MVP.’ He’s been to four Calder Cup finals, winning two of them. He’s been the Calder Cup MVP in the American League and he’s just got a handful of games in the NHL.”
Even when he does go away the Sharks group, Poturalski has been all the pieces the Barracuda hoped he’d be by way of professionalism, manufacturing, and management. No matter points he had with the Sharks, he didn’t present his frustration or let it have an effect on his preparation as he continued to pursue his NHL dream.
“I’ve been pretty upfront in talking to either our coaches or staff and management here throughout the year that that’s what I’m chasing,” Poturalski stated. “I felt like I’ve accomplished a lot in the AHL, but I still haven’t proved anything in the NHL. That’s what drives me, and I’m too competitive to just be content with being an AHL veteran, and I want more. That’s what drives me to keep going every day, and show up to the rink and be motivated. So I think they know where I stand.”
