KUWTP: Magnus Chrona, assist machine

Plus World Junior Selection Camp rosters announced.

The silver lining of not making the playoffs for three straight seasons is that the organization will trend toward higher draft picks to restock the draft pipeline. Once a month in “Keeping Up With The Pups,” we will check in on San Jose Sharks prospects and how their seasons are going.

Jake Furlong

Defender, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
2022 fifth-round pick

Season Stats

29 games
3 goals
16 assists

The Halifax Mooseheads are one of the best teams in all of the CHL, and Jake Furlong has been a top-pair defenseman for this team. He was recently named to the QMJHL team of the week.

While Furlong hasn’t put up the gaudy numbers you’d expect from a team as dominant as the Mooseheads, he has been a consistent performer and is playing big minutes with the club.

Magnus Chrona

Goaltender, University of Denver (NCAA)
2018 fifth-round pick (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Season Stats

16 games
Record: 12-4-0
.907 SV%
2.32 GAA

Acquiring Magnus Chrona from the Lightning for defender Fredrik Claesson in April 2021 might have been a 3D chess move by Doug Wilson. Claesson is currently playing in the KHL, while Chrona looks to be a legitimate goaltending prospect for San Jose. After winning the National Championship last year, Chrona’s numbers are a tick worse than last year, but nothing to be worried about. Plus, if Chrona is adding “primary assist machine” to his repertoire, who cares about the saves?

Alex Young

Forward, Colgate University (NCAA)
2020 seventh-round pick

Season Stats

18 games
9 goals
9 assists

Alex Young has had a quiet career so far in the NCAA, but this season, the forward has found his game. He netted a hat trick to lead Colgate to defeating the seventh-ranked Harvard. He was also named the ECAC Player of the week for the performance.

World Juniors Rosters

Filip Bystedt, Cam Lund and Benjamin Gaudreau have all been invited to their respective countries’ World Junior Championship training camps.

Filip Bystedt, the Sharks’ first-round pick in 2022, is all but a lock to make the team Sweden. Bystedt has tallied 11 points in 26 SHL games this season, leading all rookie players.

Canadian netminder Benjamin Gaudreau has posted a 3.62 goals against average and .868 save percentage in 22 games for the Sarnia Sting this year.

Cam Lund is a bubble player for Team USA and will need to have a good camp to secure his spot, but his scoring touch and transition game should be helpful.

Transactions

• Artem Guryev was traded from the Peterborough Petes to the Flint Firebirds (OHL).
• Hometown draft pick Reese Laubach was traded from the Youngstown Phantoms to the Omaha Lancers (USHL).

Injuries and Suspensions

• Liam Gilmartin (Erie Otters) was suspended 10 games for abuse of officials on Dec. 2.
• Artem Guryev (Flint Firebirds) was suspended five games for fighting an unwilling opponent on Nov. 23. That unwilling opponent was Sharks prospect Max McCue. Guryev has been suspended multiple times this season.
• Mattias Havlid is considered week-to-week with a back injury. The 2022 second round pick has played two games for Linköping HC.
• Mitchell Russell has been on IR for the Wichita Thunder and is seeing a specialist in San Jose.
• Gannon Laroque (Victoria Royals) and Michael Fisher (Youngstown Phantoms) have yet to play this season.