Calen Addison Is Excited For His New Opportunity With Sharks

The San Jose Sharks acquired Calen Addison yesterday, and the defenseman will make his team debut tonight.

The San Jose Sharks traded for Calen Addison to help with team defense. The 23-year-old is a puck-moving defenseman and has the potential to provide a significant hole in the Sharks roster.

At 23, Addison still has the potential to grow his game. Addison met with THN for the first time today and talked about being in San Jose.

"[A] fresh start. Fresh opportunity," Addison said. "[The Sharks are] a good, skilled young team. [I] couldn't have been more excited to be traded here. It's awesome."

Addison's offensive potential has been easy to see during his time with the Minnesota Wild. Due to where the team is at in terms of contending, his opportunity to shine in top minutes never came to fruition. 

Addison is projected to play alongside Mario Ferraro on the Sharks' top defense pair. Addison also skated at the point of the top powerplay unit today.

"Anytime you're given an opportunity, it's awesome. You got to take advantage of this opportunity," Addison said. "So for me, it's just working hard, showing up every day, [and] showing the coaches and my teammates that I'm here to play and here to work hard."

Sharks head coach David Quinn said that when he put the lines together, Addison and Ferraro was just how things shook out. Quinn did explain how much Addison will help the team's powerplay.

"When you get a guy like [Addison], it allows everyone else to play in position," Quinn said. "We've got a lot of good powerplay players, but they've been out of position. It's like putting the band together, right? We've been having the piano guy try to play the trombone, and so on and so forth."

Addison told THN that he feels wanted right away within the Sharks organization.

"I love it," Addison said about playing a top role. "It makes you feel wanted. It makes you feel good about yourself [and] makes you confident."

The Sharks will give Addison all the opportunities to become a top defenseman. GM Mike Grier said he would only make a deal if it were to help short and long-term.

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