Sharks’ first-round pick has big night in North American pro debut

Center Filip Bystedt played in his first AHL game Wednesday as the San Jose Barracuda faced the San Diego Gulls

San Jose Sharks first-round draft pick Filip Bystedt had an AHL debut to remember on Wednesday night, although it wasn’t the final result he and the San Jose Barracuda wanted.

Bystedt, in his North American professional debut, scored twice and assisted on Ethan Cardwell’s go-ahead goal with 8:28 left in the third period in the Barracuda’s game against the San Diego Gulls.

The Barracuda, though, allowed a power play goal to Pavol Regenda with 4:28 left in regulation, then could not score in overtime or in the shootout in what became a 6-5 Gulls win at Pechanga Arena.

Bystedt, 20, took the Barracuda’s last shootout attempt but could not beat Alex Stalock, who pumped his fist after the save in what might have been his final game as a professional. Stalock, a 2005 fourth-round draft pick by the Sharks who played in 179 NHL games over a 14-year pro career, including 63 with San Jose, finished with 22 saves.

Bystedt scored at the 18:10 mark of the second period. After Barracuda forward Kyle Rau created a turnover in the neutral zone and carried the puck into the Gulls’ end, he passed to Bystedt, who fired a one-timer past Stalock to tie the game 3-3.

In the third period with the same score, Ethan Frisch drove wide before he sent a centering pass to Bystedt, who found some open ice near the crease and beat Stalock for a 4-3 Barracuda lead.

Cardwell’s goal was his team-leading 21st of the season. Rau and Scott Sabourin also scored for San Jose.

Filip Bystedt with back-to-back goals in his AHL debut@sjbarracuda | #SJvsSD pic.twitter.com/hfMHZPykW4

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 4, 2024

Bystedt and the Barracuda play again Thursday night in Coachella Valley and close the road trip Saturday in Ontario.

It was a quick turnaround for Bystedt, the centerman who was officially reassigned to the Barracuda on Monday and arrived in San Diego from Sweden to join the team later that day. He will wear No. 21.

“I’m excited,” Bystedt told the Sharks Audio Network before the game. “I know it’s going to be a little different from what I’m used to back in Sweden, but it’s going to be exciting to see that and get on the (smaller) ice.”

Goalie Magnus Chrona started Wednesday’s game for San Jose and finished with 28 saves. Akim Aliu, signed by the Barracuda on March 20 to a professional tryout agreement, played in his first game for San Jose.

The Barracuda (21-32-9-3) were officially eliminated from playoff contention last month. The Gulls (24-31-8-0) remained in ninth place in the AHL Pacific Division, two points ahead of the Barracuda.

Bystedt, chosen 27th overall by the Sharks in 2022, had 17 points in 47 regular season games for Linkoping of the Swedish Hockey League this season. He had 20 points in 45 games for the club last season when he was named the SHL’s Rookie of the Year.

Bystedt was ranked by The Athletic as the Sharks’ fourth-best prospect in February, behind forwards Will Smith and Quentin Musty and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin.

The Sharks felt Bystedt, who turned 20 in February, had a solid year.

“It’s a 19-year-old playing against men in the top division in Sweden,” said Chris Morehouse, the Sharks’ director of amateur scouting, in December. “There are going to be some ups and downs.”

Playing for Sweden at the World Juniors, Bystedt had three goals and an assist in seven games.

“His development has continued to get better from day one,” said Todd Marchant, the Sharks’ director of player development, in January.

At the 2022 NHL Draft, the Sharks originally had the No. 11 pick, but sent it to the Arizona Coyotes for three draft choices, including the 27th overall pick used to select Bystedt.

The Sharks also received two second-round selections in the deal, at nos. 34 and 45, which they used on forward Cameron Lund and defenseman Mattias Hävelid, respectively. Arizona used the No. 11 pick on center Conor Geekie, who had 99 points in 55 Western Hockey League regular season games this year for Wenatchee and Swift Current.

Aliu’s last AHL game before Wednesday came on March 14, 2017, when he was with Cleveland. Since then, he played in Slovakia, Sweden, and Orlando of the ECHL before he made his last pro stop in Czechia in 2020. Wednesday, he played defense and was paired with Nikolai Knyzhov.

“I’m excited, mixed with anxiety,” Aliu said before Wednesday’s game of playing for the first time in four years after dealing with multiple injuries. “Hopefully it’s like riding a bike. Get a couple of shifts in and hopefully the legs aren’t too heavy.”

Shakir Mukhamadullin was injured in Sunday’s game against Calgary and did not dress Wednesday. He is considered day-to-day.