The San Jose Sharks announced Thursday morning that they have signed top NCAA free agent Colin Graf to an entry-level contract, effective immediately. The Lincoln, Massachusetts native further strengthens the Sharks' deep ties to the Boston area. General manager Mike Grier is a Boston University alum, and head coach David Quinn also played and coached in the Boston University hockey program. Last season, they acquired Henry Thrun, a Harvard graduate and Southborough native who has been a mainstay on the blue line this season. Last but not least, they also selected current Boston College Eagle Will Smith with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Graf has been a member of the Quinnipiac University Bobcats for the past two seasons and has significantly improved his stock after going undrafted multiple times. He has been nominated twice for the Hobey Baker Award, but lost last season to Adam Fantilli, who defeated finalists Matthew Knies and Logan Cooley. This season he was again a candidate, but he again did not become a hat-trick finalist. Although he wasn't one of the frontrunners for the prestigious award, the fact that he entered contention as an undrafted player is significant. That being said, even award-winning players are often not high-end difference makers at the NHL level. It's best to temper expectations for players like Graf. He certainly has talent, but there's a reason he went undrafted so many times.
Lack of size with huge talent
When Graf was a draft candidate, teams felt he wouldn't be able to make it in professional hockey because he was undersized. The 21-year-old has slowed his development and has put on a significant amount of muscle over the past few seasons. He is currently 6-foot-1 and weighs 194 pounds, which is exactly the weight NHL teams are looking for. Many GMs around the league will no doubt blame themselves for not selecting such a talented player when he was available in the seventh round so many times.
Graf made his collegiate debut in the 2021-22 season after two outstanding seasons at Quinnipiac after transferring from Union University. During the 2022-23 season, he was named ECAC Player of the Month on three separate occasions, was named to the conference's first All-Star team, was named an NCAA All-American, and led the team in every major offensive statistic while leading the team in all major offensive statistics. Won the U.S. Championship. . He scored 59 points in 41 games as a sophomore and was named a finalist for the aforementioned Hobey Baker Award.
During the 2023-24 season, Graf's game appearances decreased significantly. He missed four games early in the season, partly due to injury, but also because of Quinnipiac's inability to participate in the Frozen Four this season. His scoring numbers improved slightly from 1.43 points per game last season to 1.44 points per game this season. He scored 49 points in 34 games, leading the team in this score. He also led Quinnipiac with 22 goals. This time, however, he did not lead the team in assists, as Jacob Killan, who recently signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, earned that honor.
However, Graf's performance earned him the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year award, and although he didn't make the final three, he was once again in the Hobey Baker conversation. Graf made his NHL debut on Saturday, April 6, in a storyline-rich game. Although he didn't record any points, he made an impact, earning top-six ice time in the opening minutes as well as a chance on his second power-play unit.
Sharks would like to build more ties with Boston
With Graf's addition, it's clear how deeply connected the Sharks are to the Boston area. However, Grier and Quinn will definitely add their own this summer. Top draft prospect Maclin Celebrini not only settles into his comfort zone as a member of the Boston University Terriers, but he also has deep ties to the Bay Area. His father works for the Golden State Warriors, and as a result, the younger Celebrini spent time as a member of the Junior Sharks before moving to Shattuck St. Mary's for the 2020-21 season.
Related article: Sharks' Bistedt gives meaning to Barracuda's final game
It's clear that the Sharks have become more connected to the Boston area over the years. It remains to be seen whether that strategy will pay off, as Greer and Quinn are still in the second year of a major rebuilding project that will take quite a while to turn around. But one thing is for sure: their ability to convince players like Graf to join their ranks will undoubtedly help the rebuild in the long run.
