We’re currently just 56 days away from the San Jose Sharks kicking off the 2025-26 season against the Vegas Golden Knights at the SAP Center.

As the Sharks approach their 34th season, only one player has ever worn the number 56 for the team in teal, and it happened last season.

Ethan Cardwell, a 22-year-old forward who projects to be a long-term bottom-six player, made his NHL debut on October 29 against the Los Angeles Kings. That night, he also became the only player in Sharks history to take the ice with the number 56.

On November 29, Cardwell would score his first career NHL goal when the Sharks defeated the Seattle Kraken, 8-5.

Ultimately during the 2024-25 season, Cardwell played just six games at the NHL level and spent the majority of his time with the American Hockey League’s San Jose Barracuda.

With the Barracuda, Cardwell had a pretty strong performance. He finished with 48 points, 11 of which were goals, through 63 games.

Cardwell’s time with the San Jose Sharks has just begun, and over the next few years it will certainly be interesting to watch him potentially develop into a full-time NHLer. He’s had an unconventional road to his point, so we’ll see if he continues overcoming the odds.