In this edition of Next Wave, discover what our prospects have been working on and the progress they've made.
PROSPECT OF THE WEEK:
- Eric Pohlkamp (Denver, NCHC) was named Sharks Prospect of the Week on Jan. 8. He surpassed his previous career high in goals (11) at the NCAA level and has currently netted 13 goals in 21 games with Denver. He leads NCAA blueliners in goals, in points (22) and is tied for third in points per game (1.05). He skated for the U.S. Collegiate Selects at the 2025 Spengler Cup where he tallied three points (2g, 1a) in four games.
- Leo Sahlin Wallenius (Sweden, WJC) was named Sharks Prospect of the Week on Dec. 30. He helped Team Sweden capture the Gold Medal at the 2026 World Juniors, defeating Team Czechia 4-2 on Jan. 5. He was named player of the game on Dec. 29 after tallying two assists in the 8-1 win over Team Germany. He posted six points (1g, 5a) in seven games for Sweden, finishing tied for fourth in assists and tied for fifth in points among defensemen in the tournament.
BARRACUDA
- The San Jose Barracuda are 6-3-0-1 in their past 10 games and sit tied for third place in the AHL Pacific Division. Among the league, the ‘Cuda rank tied for second in power-play goals for (33) and their power play percentage (24.8%) is fifth best.
- Filip Bystedt leads the Barracuda in scoring with 26 points (10g, 16a) in 31 games played this season. He reached double digits in goals on Jan. 2 at Bakersfield and is now two goals and three assists shy of matching his career high total set last season with the ‘Cuda.
- Pavol Regenda was recalled to the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 30 for his second stint this season. Regenda recorded his first career NHL hat trick on Jan. 3 against Tampa Bay and has now potted six goals in six games played this season with the Sharks.
- Jakub Skarek recorded his team-leading 11th win of the season in a 3-2 shootout victory at San Diego, finishing the contest with his second-best save percentage (.929%) on the road this season. He has posted a .900 SV% or better in each of his past four appearances.
- Quentin Musty recorded a career-long four-game assist streak (0g, 4a) from Dec. 13-31. He ranks third in assists (16) and tied for eighth in points (23) among AHL rookie skaters this season.
- Luca Cagnoni recorded his 15th helper of his campaign on Jan. 7 at San Diego, reaching the 20-point mark in consecutive seasons with the Barracuda. He ranks tied for sixth in goals (5) and in points (20) among AHL blueliners this season.
- Cam Lund has tallied six points (1g, 5a) in his past 10 games played. He ranks tied for sixth in assists among AHL rookie skaters this season.
- Oliver Wahlstrom has tallied points (3g, 2a) in four of his past seven games played, including his third multi-point game of the season on Dec. 17 at Coachella Valley.
- Goaltender Laurent Brossoit and defenseman Nolan Allan were acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks, along with a 2028 7th-round pick, on Jan. 8 in exchange for defensemen Ryan Ellis, Jake Furlong, and a 2028 4th-round pick. Brossoit has appeared in 173 career AHL games, posting an 80-69-21 record with a .912 SV% and a 2.74 GAA. Allan has skated in 109 AHL games, tallying 29 points (9g, 20a) in his career.
PROSPECT NOTABLES – NORTH AMERICA
- Jack Bar (Wichita, ECHL) recorded his ninth assist of the season on Jan. 7 at Allen and has tallied three points (1g, 2a) in his past four games played. He ranks second in points (11), in assists (9), and tied for third in goals (2) among Thunder blueliners this season.
- John Gormley (Wichita, ECHL) potted his second goal of his ECHL career on Jan. 3 in the 6-1 win against Utah. Gormley ranks tied for third in goals, along with Jack Bar, among Wichita defensemen in his 2025-26 campaign.
- Cole McKinney (Michigan, Big 10) represented Team USA at the 2026 World Junior Championships, skating in five games and tallying one assist in the tournament.
- Joey Muldowney (UConn, HE) tallied one assist in four games played from Dec. 26-31 with U.S. Collegiate Selects at the 2025 Spengler Cup. It was the first time the tournament featured a team comprised of collegiate players.
- Reese Laubach (Penn State, Big 10) has found the score sheet in three of his past five games with Penn State, tallying three goals and one assist in that span. He ranks tied for fourth in goals (4), is tied for fifth in points (11), and is sixth in assists (7) among his team this season.
- Richard Gallant (Harvard, ECAC) posted points in a career-high three consecutive games (2g, 2a) at the NCAA level from Dec. 5 through Jan. 2. He ranks tied for fifth in points (7), in assists (4), and is seventh in goals (3) among his team in his 2025-26 campaign.
- Eli Barnett (New Brunswick, AUS) ranks 4th in plus-minus rating (+6), and fifth in points (5) and assists (5) among New Brunswick defensemen.
- Joshua Ravensbergen (Canada, WJC) captured the Bronze Medal with Team Canada at the 2026 World Junior Championships on Jan. 5 in the 6-3 win over Team Finland. It was Ravensbergen’s first time in his career being named to the tournament.
- Christian Kirsch (Sweden, WJC) represented Team Switzerland at the 2026 World Junior Championships. He finished the tournament appearing in three games and posted a 1-2-0 record with a .904 save percentage and one shutout on Dec. 30 in the 4-0 win against Team Germany. His SV% ranked fourth-best among netminders in the tournament.
- Carson Wetsch (Kelowna, WHL) reached the 40-point mark for the third consecutive season in the WHL and has tallied 28 helpers this season, surpassing his career high assist total (25) during his 2023-24 campaign with the Calgary Hitmen. He leads his club in points (41) and assists.
- Teddy Mutryn (Moncton, QMJHL) has recorded multi-point efforts in three of his past four games with Moncton, including his fifth three-point game of the season on Jan. 7 vs. Gatineau. He ranks tied for seventh in points (41) and tied for ninth in goals (18) among U19 QMJHL skaters this season.
- Max Heise (Prince Albert, WHL) has posted multi-point efforts in a season-long four-straight games from Dec. 27 through Jan. 3, tallying three goals and five assists in that span. Heise has tallied 16 points (6g, 10a) in his past 10 games played, finding the score sheet in eight of his past nine games.
- Haoxi (Simon) Wang (Niagara, OHL) was traded to the Niagara IceDogs from the Oshawa Generals in exchange for Artem Frolov and three draft picks on Jan. 8. Wang leaves the Generals as their leader in points (13) and assists (11) among blueliners this season.
PROSPECT NOTABLES – INTERNATIONAL
- Yegor Spiridonov (Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk, VHL) has found the back of the net in two of his past three games played with Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. He is now one goal shy of matching his career total at the VHL level.
- G Yaroslav Korostelyov (SKA-1946) has recorded a win in consecutive starts with SKA-1946, including wins in seven of his past eight appearances. Korostelyov leads his team in shutouts (3) and ranks second in wins.
