Sharks Development Camp Day 3: Cardwell and Laubach

Ethan Cardwell and Reese Laubach are at San Jose Sharks development camp and have been working hard.

Cardwell was drafted in the fourth round in 2021 and has earned his entry-level contract.

Cardwell is a hard-working player who should be with the San Jose Barracuda next season.

Although this is a small drill, Cardwell has added more size to his game. There was a noticeable difference in his build when he spoke to the media.

"I've put a lot of time into my training," Cardwell said. "Just trying to bulk up and prepare myself for my first pro year. [I'm] obviously gonna be playing against bigger bodies, so I want to give myself the best chance possible to succeed."

In this clip, we see Cardwell display smooth skating and good hands. He also shows his ability to beat a defender on the outside and get to the front of the net.

"Anytime you get the chance to step on the ice and play a game in front of eyeballs, you want to impress, right," Cardwell said about tonight's scrimmage. "So just going out there playing my game, just playing confident and doing the best I can to play a pro hockey game tonight."

Cardwell had 90 points (43 goals, 47 assists) for the OHL's Barrie Colts last season. His offensive ability is good, but his all-around game got him his ELC.

"He had a good year in Barrie last year. Then he got the contract," Barracuda head coach John McCarthy said. "We're excited to have him. He's a guy that can kind of play some different roles for you. Play up and down the lineup. So it will be good to get him in camp and see what he has."

Laubach was the San Jose Sharks' seventh-round draft pick in 2022. 

As a San Jose native, Laubach feels at home skating at Sharks Ice. Laubach is headed to Penn State next season, where his development will continue.

"It's pretty awesome to have these new rinks," Laubach said. "The game keeps growing around here, so it's good for the state and good for the sport for sure."

Laubach is a wildcard when it comes to chances to go pro. Not many seventh-round picks make it to the NHL but given that he is headed to the NCAA, his game has a better chance of going to the next level.

The other part of development camp Laubach is cherishing is being coached by Sharks legend Patrick Marleau.

"It's awesome. I mean, you grow up watching a guy like that. Him, Pavelski, and Thornton, and then to be on the ice with guys like that, it's pretty surreal, pretty unbelievable. So it's a dream for a kid from San Jose," Laubach said.

Both Cardwell and Laubach are developing nicely, and it will be interesting to see them play during tonight's prospect scrimmage. Laubach said he will have a lot of family in attendance.