The San Jose Sharks reached into their defensive depth and recalled Joakim Ryan from the AHL early Sunday afternoon. The team will play the next two games on the road and may need some insurance while heading to Minnesota and Winnipeg.
Ryan is in the middle of his second straight outstanding season in the minors since coming out of Cornell in 2015. The small defender has 63 points in 121 games in his AHL career, moving the puck quickly and effectively all season long. Selected in the seventh round of the 2012 entry draft, the 23-year old look like he’ll at least take on a part-time role in the NHL one day.
The Sharks sit first in the Pacific Division but have the Edmonton Oilers nipping at their heels. Their matchup tonight in Minnesota is one to watch, as it very likely could be the Western Conference final this season. If Ryan gets into the lineup (which is still doubtful), he’ll have a tough time transitioning from AHL wingers to one of the deepest forward groups in the NHL.