Collin Graf practices with the San Jose Sharks on April 5, 2024 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Andreea Cardani/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE — Collin Graf will make his NHL debut Saturday when the San Jose Sharks host the St. Louis Blues at SAP Center.
The undrafted Graf, considered one the top college free agents available this year, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Sharks on Thursday and arrived in San Jose later that day.
Graf took part in his first practice with the Sharks on Friday and skated on a line with Luke Kunin and William Eklund.
Graf, 21, just finished his second season at Quinnipiac University and finished with 49 points in 34 games. He led the Bobcats to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I tournament before they lost to No. 1 seed Boston College in overtime last week.
Graf had upwards of two dozen teams interested in his services before he narrowed his decision down to six teams. After another round of interviews with those teams, he ultimately decided to join the rebuilding Sharks.
“Play to your strengths, play with some swagger,” Sharks coach David Quinn said of Graf on Friday. “I’m sure there’s going to be nerves, as there is with any player once they start their NHL career.
“Our job is to put him in a position to succeed, and then it’s going to be his job to do what he’s capable of doing — be competitive, play to pace, and do the things that this game demands at this level.”
Graf arrived at SAP Center with defenseman Henry Thrun just before 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. The game starts at 3 p.m., with the Sharks looking for the three-game season sweep of the Blues, who are barely hanging on to their playoff
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Originally published at Curtis Pashelka