San Jose Sharks prospects have stellar games, with one starring on “Shoresy Night”
San Jose Sharks front office and scouting staff had to have liked what they saw from Will Smith and Quentin Musty on Friday
SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks front office and scouting staff had to have liked what they saw from 2023 first-round draft picks Will Smith and Quentin Musty on Friday night, not to mention their seasons in general.
Smith, selected fourth overall by the Sharks in June, had three assists for No. 2 Boston College in its 6-1 non-conference win over No. 18 Notre Dame on Friday. The 18-year-old Golden Eagles freshman now has a seven-game point streak in which he has two goals and nine assists and he’s third among all Hockey East players with 19 points in 13 games.
Topping that list is Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini, a former Jr. Shark, who has nine goals and 22 points in 12 games. Celebrini is widely thought to be the best player available in the 2024 NHL Draft, and if the Sharks finish with the league’s worst record this season, they will have a 25.5 percent chance of winning the draft lottery and selecting first overall.
Musty, taken 26th overall by the Sharks in June, had a five-point night for the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves in their 9-2 win over the London Knights.
Musty had three goals and two assists on what was “Shoresy Night,” a benefit the Wolves had in partnership with the producers of the television series that’s based in Sudbury. The Wolves wore the uniforms of the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs, the fictional team that “Shoresy,” the protagonist, plays for and leads. The show can be seen in the United States on Hulu.
FIRST #OHL HAT TRICK QUENTIN MUSTY!
The @SanJoseSharks first-round pick carries Sudbury to an enthralling victory with a milestone game!@Sudbury_Wolves | #sjsharks pic.twitter.com/SucH7UMKEF
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 25, 2023
Musty had missed four of Sudbury’s previous five games, first missing games on Nov. 10 and 11 because of an illness, then two more because of a suspension from the OHL incurred from a Nov. 15 game. Sudbury lost all four games.
Musty now has 19 points in 12 games.
“I felt terrible I couldn’t be in the lineup and help out,” Musty said. “Tried to be supportive in the locker room and at practice, and I think it paid off. The bots came out flying today with a statement win against one of the better teams in the league.”
Kasper Halttunen, chosen 36th overall by the Sharks in June, scored for London and has 24 points in 23 games.
Asked about Smith and Musty’s development on Saturday, Sharks coach David Quinn said, “I’m always looking. It’s good to see them be productive on the stat sheet but more importantly, when you talk to our development people, they’re happy with the other areas that don’t show up on the stat sheet, which is really what’s going to allow those guys to be successful NHL players.”
Smith would seem to have a solid chance to be on the American team for this year’s World Junior Championships, which begin Dec. 26 in Sweden. Musty might also have a chance to make what should be a loaded U.S. team, with Halttunen a likely choice for Team Finland.
“It’s a great tournament, a great tournament for development,” Quinn said. “High-pressured hockey, playing against the best of the best in your age group. I think it’d be very beneficial if any of our prospects are able to play in that tournament.”