San Jose Sharks Need to Be Patient with Zack Ostapchuk – Hockey Writer – San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have relied heavily on young players to make an impact for most of the 2024-25 season. Several people play important roles, but not all find their place in the team, perhaps most famously being Zack Ostapchuk. As a central return player in the Fabian Zetterlund trade, Ostapchuk faces a lot of production pressure, but he works hard to build himself in the forward group. He is still young and developing, and every time he has been in San Jose, he reflects that. Just as frustrating as the beginning of his Shark tenure, the team can be patient with him if they want to unlock their potential.

Ostapchuk's start is tough

After the deal, Ostapchuk appeared in 13 Shark games, and the numbers for these games were simply not very good. He didn't register a point and scored only six, including not in his first eight games. His overall NHL statistics (one goal and three assists in 63 games) were not good when he served as the Ottawa Senator. He offers some physical obstacles on defense, but his offense shows that he hasn't done enough to stand out. The factor is that he was traded as a 20-goal scorer, a fan favorite and a beloved teammate, the move became even more suspicious.

Given his age, Ostapchuk should have time to adapt to San Jose. Unfortunately for Shark, his lack of productivity will make the adjustment period last.

Young people in Ostapchuk leave a lot of room for growth

In the difficult start of Ostapchuk, the Shark needs to consider his youth. One month after he was 22 years old, he was three and a half years younger than Zetterlund. Another example is that he is also a few months younger than William Eklund, who was selected the same year. Eklund broke out during his 21-year-old season, but the wingers tend to develop curves more easily than the center. Ostapchuk had to adapt to a new team mid-season and assume the roster associated with players who had never skidded before. It's a tough task for any center, but it's a tough task for someone so young.

Ostapchuk didn't transition from juniors until the 2023-24 season, and he was still accustomed to professional hockey. His time in the American Hockey League (AHL) (AHL) in his 84 games was much more successful than his NHL appearance. He needs time to become an NHL caliber player, and the Sharks can provide him with it.

Zetterlund provides examples for Ostapchuk

In the process of being suitable for sharks, Ostapchuk should look for other players who have to go through a similar process. One of the best examples comes from the person he was traded.

Zetterlund arrived in San Jose shortly before the 2023 trade deadline, part of Timo Meier's trade with the New Jersey Devil. He isn't the highest award in the deal, but he's an interesting winger with no obvious future in New Jersey. His run after the end was unobtrusive: He participated in 22 games, scored no goals, and registered only three assists. He showed no signs that he would be a valuable part of the return package in the deal. In the subsequent offseason, he struggled to merge with the Sharks and realized his potential.

Related: Shark's Bad Recordings Doesn't Tell the Full Story of Their Season

The result is a huge improvement – he scored a career-high 24 goals in 2023-24 and looked like a candidate not only to be a traded player, but also a candidate to be a core member of Sharks Rebuild. Events next season changed that possibility, but he still proved how the mid-season trade acquisition rebounded from the tough start of his new team.

Ostapchuk's shark tenure was less efficient and his position was different, so the similarities were not accurate. But he is also younger than Zetterlund now, and he has a lot of room for growth during the trading period. He may not see progress as quickly as Zetterlund, but he can use Zetterlund as a role model for how to find his place in San Jose.

Ostapchuk can still find the character of the shark

The Sharks hope Ostapchuk will be their third-tier center, and he needs to score more than four points to get there. On the other hand, his defense and physical tools show that he can be a grinding forward that can improve the team’s defense while helping protect their more offensive players. General Manager Mike Grier repeatedly stressed the importance of a strong middle. Ostapchuk can help the shark get there, but he needs to turn more offensive threats into a perfect one. He has one year left on his current contract, at which point he will enter restricted free agents. The offseason and next season are crucial to him and he can spend time developing further in the AHL.

When Sharks traded Zetterlund, they took a lot of risks, in large part because they counted on Ostapchuk to eventually develop into a full-time NHL center. They knew his transition wouldn't happen immediately, and the game after he arrived showed that it might be longer than they expected. He is in progress and now they are committed to him, the team has no choice but to wait patiently.