Sharks’ first-round pick to make North American pro debut tonight
San Jose Sharks first-round draft pick Filip Bystedt will make his North American professional debut tonight when the San Jose Barracuda face the San Diego Gulls at Pechanga Arena.
It will be a quick turnaround for Bystedt, the 20-year-old centerman who was officially reassigned to the Barracuda on Monday and arrived in San Diego from Sweden to join the team later that day. He will wear No. 21.
It was not immediately clear who Bystedt’s linemates would be against the Gulls. He may take the spot of Jack Studnicka, who centered the second line with Danil Gushchin and Brandon Coe on the wings in the Barracuda’s 4-1 win over the Calgary Wranglers on Sunday. The Sharks recalled Studnicka on Monday.
Wednesday’s game starts at 7 p.m. The Barracuda (21-32-9-2) have been officially eliminated from playoff contention but can move past the Gulls (23-31-8-0) into ninth place in the AHL Pacific Division with a regulation-time win.
Bystedt, chosen 27th overall by the Sharks in 2022, had 17 points in 47 regular season games for Linkoping of the Swedish Hockey League this season. He had 20 points in 45 games for the club last season when he was named the SHL’s Rookie of the Year.
Bystedt was ranked by The Athletic as the Sharks’ fourth-best prospect in February, behind forwards Will Smith and Quentin Musty and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin.
The Sharks felt Bystedt, who turned 20 in February, had a solid year.
“It’s a 19-year-old playing against men in the top division in Sweden,” said Chris Morehouse, the Sharks’ director of amateur scouting, in December. “There are going to be some ups and downs.”
Playing for Sweden at the World Juniors, Bystedt had three goals and an assist in seven games.
“His development has continued to get better from day one,” said Todd Marchant, the Sharks’ director of player development, in January.
At the 2022 NHL Draft, the Sharks originally had the No. 11 pick, but sent it to the Arizona Coyotes for three draft choices, including the 27th overall pick used to select Bystedt.
The Sharks also received two second-round selections in the deal, at nos. 34 and 45, which they used on forward Cameron Lund and defenseman Mattias Hävelid, respectively. Arizona used the No. 11 pick on center Conor Geekie, who had 99 points in 55 Western Hockey League regular season games this year for Wenatchee and Swift Current.