SAN JOSE – Ahead Danil Gushchin is the San Jose Barracuda’s all-time main scorer and, after three seasons with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, is lastly getting an opportunity to compete within the Calder Cup playoffs.
However Gushchin’s future within the Sharks’ group is unclear. Like a number of of his teammates, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Russian-born winger is a pending restricted free agent, and the Sharks must determine whether or not to challenge these gamers in contract years qualifying gives to retain their NHL rights.
Gushchin had one level in 12 video games this season with the Sharks, who’ve prioritized including some measurement to the group. Gushchin desires to play within the NHL, however hasn’t been in a position to maintain onto a spot with the Sharks.
If nothing works out in North America, a return to Russia to play within the KHL additionally seems to be an choice for Gushchin.
“For sure, I want to play in NHL, right? It’s my dream (since I was) a younger kid, so hopefully that’s going to work for me,” stated Gushchin, including later, “I’ll talk with my agent, my family, and decide where the best (place is for) me and my career.”
Proper now, Gushchin’s focus is on this week. After lacking the playoffs the final two years, the Barracuda completed sixth within the AHL’s Pacific Division and can face the third-place Ontario Reign in a best-of-three first-round sequence that begins Thursday in Los Angeles.
Gushchin, a third-round draft alternative by the Sharks in 2020, is the Barracuda’s all-time main scorer with 150 factors in 182 AHL video games. He spent the primary month of the season with the Sharks however nonetheless scored a career-high 28 targets for the Barracuda and was third on the workforce with 51 factors in 56 video games.
“If you look at (Gushchin’s) goals per games played, it’s pretty high,” stated Barracuda coach John McCarthy, the workforce’s earlier all-time main scorer with 138 factors. “Obviously, he didn’t play all of the games for us. But a threat on the flank, on the power play, a threat 5-on-5, dynamic with the puck on his stick. Just an elite offensive producer at the AHL level.”
Different Barracuda gamers who’re pending RFAs embody forwards Carl Berglund, Thomas Bordeleau, and Brandon Coe, defenseman Jack Thompson, and goalies Gabriel Carriere and Georgi Romanov. Colin White, Walker Duehr, Scott Sabourin, Pavol Regenda, and defenseman and workforce captain Jimmy Schuldt are set to change into unrestricted free brokers.
Thompson sustained an upper-body damage earlier this month with the Sharks, however he and ahead Zack Ostapchuk (decrease physique) have been formally returned to the AHL on Tuesday.
Bordeleau, although, is taken into account day-to-day with an upper-body damage, and the AHL’s main scorer, Andrew Poturalski, is week-to-week with a lower-body illness. These gamers mixed for 111 factors this season, and their potential absences on this sequence would put extra strain on the 23-year-old Gushchin to provide, one thing he’s carried out all through his time in San Jose, the place he’s change into extra comfy.
“He’s a guy that’s kind of come out of his shell a little bit,” McCarthy stated of Gushchin. “Obviously, English isn’t his first language, but his English is strong, and I’ve seen a new side of him this year. He’s letting his personality out, and it’s good to see.”
“Great city, great weather,” Gushchin stated of San Jose. “Good friends here, especially the Russian boys. I like all of them.”
McCarthy’s first season because the Barracuda’s coach in 2022-23 was additionally the primary full 12 months of professional hockey for Gushchin, Bordeleau, and Coe. Additionally making their professional debuts that season have been ahead Anthony Vincent and defenseman Ethan Frisch.
The Barracuda completed eighth within the AHL’s Pacific Division in 2022-23 and tenth in 2023-24. Now with a deeper and extra skilled lineup, the Barracuda hopes to go on a protracted playoff run, with Gushchin enjoying a important position.
“Exciting moment for sure, not just for me, for the team, too,” Gushchin stated. “Just need to do our best and win hockey games.”
NEW SIGNING: The Barracuda on Tuesday introduced the signing by College of Denver goalie Matt Davis to an AHL contract by means of the 2025–26 season. Davis, 23, simply accomplished his last season in Denver, the place, in 40 video games, he had a 29-10-1 document with a 2.07 goals-against common and a .924 save share. He helped the Pioneers with two nationwide titles, together with one final 12 months, and an look on this 12 months’s Frozen 4.
SHARKS COACHES ADDED: Sharks goalie coach Thomas Speer and video coach Nick Gialdini have been formally added to Crew USA’s employees beneath head coach Ryan Warsofsky for subsequent month’s IIHF World Championships in Sweden and Denmark. Each held the identical position on the 2023 World Championships beneath then-Sharks coach David Quinn. Gialdini is a San Jose native.
Calder Cup playoffs, first-round schedule
Ontario Reign vs. San Jose Barracuda (all video games streaming on flohockey.television and the Sharks Audio Community).
Recreation 1: Thursday, San Jose vs. Ontario, 7 p.m, Crypto.com Area, Los Angeles
^Recreation 2: Saturday, San Jose vs. Ontario, 6 p.m., Crypto.com Area, Los Angeles
*Recreation 3: April 28, San Jose at Ontario, 7 p.m., Toyota Area
*if obligatory
^San Jose designated as “home” workforce for final change
Initially Revealed: April 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM PDT
