Pavol Regenda will play his first game for the San Jose Sharks on Monday since being acquired by the organization last season.
Regenda has been a solid contributor for the San Jose Barracuda since his arrival, and now he is looking to do that in the NHL. In 19 games this season for the ‘Cuda, Regenda has three goals and four assists.
“I know I can be trusted. Of course, I gotta make [the coaches] trust me. So I’m gonna play well,” Regenda said. “That’s my game. I’m playing [on the] 4th-line. That’s what I want to play.
Net front on the second power play, I’m really surprised with that. I’m happy. Hopefully, I can do a good job there. I’m just gonna try to do my job to stay and earn the trust.”
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#SJSharks power play lines:
PP1: Klingberg-Eklund-Celebrini-Smith-Wennberg
PP2: Liljegren-Orlov-Toffoli-Regenda-Kurashev— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) December 1, 2025
The San Jose Sharks recalled Regenda after they put Vincent Desharnais on IR due to an upper-body injury. Adam Gaudette is also a game-time decision due to illness against the Utah Mammoth.
For Regenda, there is more than just playing in the NHL on the back of his mind. Regenda, a native of Slovakia, has high expectations of himself and believes he should play for his country at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
“[My expectation is to make] the Olympic roster. Of course, I want to play against the best guys to prepare myself the best. When we go to the Olympics, and there’s gonna be a full team Canada or USA, they are going to have an insane lineup,” Regenda said.
“I want to prepare the best as I can. Every day I work so I can play [in the NHL], so you can prepare for all those battles that are going to come in the Olympics.”
Regenda told SHD that the Slovakian national team hasn’t informed him that he will be on the roster, but he believes he has a good chance. The Sharks winger confirmed to reporters that he is part of the group that will undergo the IIHF’s mandatory drug testing.
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Although he hasn’t been tested yet, Regenda’s inclusion on that shortlist is a good sign.
The San Jose Sharks forward does have a slight edge over most NHLers in the Olympics. Regenda played for Slovakia during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
In seven games, the Sharks winger had one goal and three assists. Slovakia was a surprise to many and earned a bronze medal for the tournament. A medal in 2026 will be much harder for Slovakia, as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
Regenda also helped Slovakia qualify for the 2026 Olympic Games in 2024. Slovakia was part of the final three teams to qualify. The other two nations are Latvia and Denmark.
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In three qualifier games, the San Jose Sharks forward scored two goals and had 12 penalty minutes.
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