The San Jose Sharks' young rookies are starting to flash their talents. During the trade deadline, veterans like Luke Kunin, Vitek Vanacek, Jake Walman, and even Fabian Zetterlund were moved on, leaving the children to start building with the rubble of this one proud franchise. Cornerstones like Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini were always expected to exceed expectations, but it's been a lot of the new younger guys stepping into roles for the Sharks who can be proud of their jobs.
Collin Graf has been a revelation for Team Teal this season. Coming up midway through the year from the San Jose Barracuda, Graf has started to fill all the roles you'd typically expect to see those bottom six veterans do. He's playing on the powerplay, killing penalties, and frequently finding himself out on the ice in situations where the game is on the line. He's becoming a great utility player for the Sharks.
As an undrafted free agent out of Quinnipiac, the Lincoln, Massachusetts native is starting to become an essential part of the Sharks. With the gaps players like Sturm and Kunin left, the Sharks will need these young kids to begin filling in and becoming part of the solution for the future. That's what Graf is. He's starting to transition into an outstanding player in all three zones for the Sharks, and it's showing in his offense.
Earlier in the year, he scored his first career NHL goal, but he's recently been putting up more points, including a two-goal night against Chicago. It can be a building block for another young kid that the Sharks hope will be part of the future. We know the bright future the Sharks have, and it's coming sooner than we think, but Graf falls through the cracks when talking about them. He deserves his flowers, too.