Photo by Andreea Cardani/San Jose Barracuda)
As the Sharks and Barracuda Flounder, Danil Gushchin Shining in San Jose
It's rough waters in San Jose. The Sharks sit at the bottom of the NHL ocean with a woeful seven points in 17 games, with a putrid -47 GF/GA differential, and only 26 goals scored in the entire 2023-24 season.
The Sharks - more often than not - cannot buy a goal this season - last night's 5-1 win over St. Louis notwithstanding - and the same is often true with their A-affiliate Barracuda.
Through 11 games the Barracuda hold a sub-500 win percentage and a 3-5-3 overall record with a more robust 37 goals opposite 43 against for a team, much like their NHL brethren, who have had struggles in goal scoring and goaltending simultaneously.
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Though between both NHL and AHL squads who have looked very much the part of prey over predator in this young season, 21-year-old Russian prospect Danil Gushchin has been a breath of fresh air.
Gushchin, the 76th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, leads the Barracuda in points with four goals and 13 points through 11 games.
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In his season debut with the Sharks on Tuesday (he previously suited up for two games in the NHL in 2022-23, scoring a goal and an assist), Gushchin logged 16:21 of ice time on the second line opposite Mikael Granlund and Luke Kunin.
Gushchin added two shots and potted an assist off of Kunin's third-period goal, with Hockey News San Jose Site Editor Max Miller reporting that coach David Quinn was pleased with the play from his call-up.
"He does good things with the puck and he's a smart player," said Quinn post-game. "He's competitive. I thought he did a lot of good things tonight."
In his second game with the Sharks on Thursday, Gushchin logged 13:33 of ice time, contributing one shot on goal with three blocks in the contest.
Gushchin scored 41 goals and 71 points for the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL in the 2021-22 season. He suited up for the Barracuda for three games that same year before a full-on move to the AHL in 2022-23 where he produced 22 goals and 45 points in 67 games.
