'If They Got Something Out Of That, I'm Really Proud': Mikael Granlund Proud Of The Impact He Made On The Sharks Locker Room
When he returned to the SAP Center on Saturday, former San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund recognized the impact of his on-ice and off-ice experiences in San Jose.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images - 'If They Got Something Out Of That, I'm Really Proud': Mikael Granlund Proud Of The Impact He Made On The Sharks Locker RoomWhen he returned to the SAP Center on Saturday, former San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund recognized the impact of his on-ice and off-ice experiences in San Jose.
In 121 games for Team Teal, Granlund put up 105 points (27 goals, 78 assists) and left a wealth of knowledge for the young players in the locker room.
"You're just trying to do your thing out there. It's not your first thought. You just want to play good hockey, but at the same time, the way I worked and the way I wanted to help some of the younger guys, I'm glad if it meant something for them, and they got something out of that," Granlund told reporters. "That was something I really wanted to do as an older player. To give a little bit of an example, maybe how you need to work and handle yourself in this league to become a better player. So if they got something out of that, I'm really proud of that."
Granlund quickly became a leader on the team and was named an alternate captain after the 23-24 NHL Trade Deadline. He kept that title this season, and his relationships with players like William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund won't be forgotten.
"I think the biggest thing is you got to be willing to work, and you got to be willing to work on the right things. I always told those guys, let's do a little bit of extra or something, you know, on the ice, work on your skills," Granlund said. "What I am really proud of when [I] think about those guys, whether it's [Zetterlund, Eklund, Macklin Celebrini, or Will Smith], they're trying to play the right way.
"You can see with Zetts and Eky, last season, we played a lot together, I was like, you gotta play the right way. If you wanna become a winning player, a winning hockey team in this league, you gotta play the right way defensively, all 200-foot game. If they get something out of that, it's a tough situation. You're losing a lot, but at the same time, your habits need to be there."
Granlund's insight, even during a small media scrum, shows what kind of player he was to not just the young San Jose Sharks but to the culture the entire organization is trying to build around.
The Finnish forward took a second to recognize how much the Sharks revitalized his career. Granlund was coming off an awful stretch of one goal and four assists in 21 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"Personally, it was great. With everything that was going on before I got here, I knew [it was] probably a good opportunity to play," Granlund said. "It was big for me, and obviously, I'm thankful for all the help from the organization and from a lot of guys with the staff and players. It was great."
Granlund will get a chance to play in the postseason with the Dallas Stars, something he hasn't done since the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Nashville Predators.
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