The San Jose Sharks are giving center Jack Studnicka another look in the NHL, and the young forward feels ready for it.
The San Jose Sharks are giving center Jack Studnicka another look in the NHL, and the young forward feels ready for it.
The San Jose Sharks are giving center Jack Studnicka another look in the NHL, and the young forward feels ready for it.
"Even looking back on the nine games, it was such a whirlwind. It happened so fast that I really didn't have time to adjust, but that's no excuse," Studnicka told reporters yesterday. "But I definitely feel more comfortable now, systems and organizational-wise, and I'm so excited for another opportunity."
Studnicka played nine games with San Jose after he was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks. He hasn't played in the NHL since January 4th against the Winnipeg Jets.
The 25-year-old has not scored a point with the Sharks this season but was productive in the AHL, scoring 14 points in 27 games.
"That's something I'm really keen on down there. It's something I took a lot of pride in. The main focus of my game was trying to be defensively sound and that starts with the penalty kill," Studnicka said. "Me and Ricci have been working a lot on faceoffs. Hopefully, I can put a good showing together because it's, again, at the top of the list of things I take pride in."
With his NHL career seemingly in question, Studnicka is ready to do what it takes to be effective.
"I wasn't an overly physical guy coming up the ranks but kind of came to a crossroads in my career and realized that's what guys do to play in the big leagues," he said. "They change their game, and physicality is definitely something that I'm trying to work on, and hopefully, I can bring this time around."
Sharks head coach David Quinn is happy to have another center in the NHL, but he's also ready to see what Studnicka can bring.
"He and I have talked about the point he is at in his career and what the pro game has taught him what he's going to be. He's a guy that's smart, he can kill a penalty, he's got good puck skills, but he understood when he went down what he was going to have to do and be really good at in order to put himself in a position to get called back up," Quinn said. "He battled some injuries [and] probably would have been up sooner if he didn't get hurt. We're excited to have him up here."
Like Studnicka, Quinn feels he is at a critical point in his NHL career.
"Just embracing what he's gonna be at this level. Most players in this league go through that," Quinn said. "They've been scorers all their life and then when they get to this level, not that you don't want to score, but they're going to be things that shift in and shift out, you're going to have to do in order to be a successful player in this league. That's kind of what he's kind of figuring out as he goes along throughout his career."
Studnicka was on a line with Filip Zadina and Thomas Bordeleau at practice yesterday, but that could change with William Eklund being absent.
Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
Devin Cooley Is The NHL's Version Of Tommy DeVito
Sharks Prospect Enters NCAA Transfer Portal
Sharks Call Up Centerman From Barracuda As Final Recall
Tomas Hertl Skates With Golden Knights For The First Time
- undefined
