Sharks Call Up Trio Of Players

The San Jose Sharks made a number of moves in calling up a trio of players from the AHL. C.J. Suess, Evgeny Svechnikov, and Nick Cicek all got the call while Eetu Makiniemi went back down the other way.

Suess is the oldest of the three at age 28 and has next to no NHL experience despite his age. He spent four years playing Division 1 hockey before playing the majority of the previous five seasons in the AHL. He has been in the Winnipeg Jets' organization until this season. Suess has played five total NHL games in his career and has no points and four penalty minutes.

Svechnikov is getting another chance after recently being sent down through waivers by the Sharks. The 26-year-old is at the age where he may not get much better, so he appears to be capped off at a fringe NHLer. The difference here is this player has been an effective AHL player since the moment he stepped in the league and has forced the hand of the teams he's played for to earn multiple shots in the NHL. He has 39 goals and 101 points in 186 games in the AHL and 15 goals and 38 points in 135 NHL games. Last season with Winnipeg was when he was at his best, getting some top line minutes. Hopefully he can stay with the team this go-around.

The final call-up, Cicek, is a young defenceman still on his entry-level deal. The 22-year-old is only in his second season pro and has been more productive in the same number of games in the NHL than he has in the AHL this season. In 10 AHL games in 2022-23, he has no points and is minus-4. In 10 NHL games he has four assists and is minus-3. The young defenceman will get some third-pairing minutes while the back-end is banged up for now.

Photo credit: © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports