Zack Ostapchuk has been showing his speed and skill.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not just on Tuesday night, when he flashed breakaway speed to notch the game-winner in the San Jose Sharks\u2019 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.<\/p>\n
Reaves, on Ostapchuk’s goal: “He’s the fastest man in the world. Damn race horse. I don’t know what’s going on, blew by everybody.” https:\/\/t.co\/Yr8lYYMgO5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n And that\u2019s not just his first goal as a member of the San Jose Sharks, scored on Dec. 29 in a 5-4 win at the Anaheim Ducks.<\/p>\n Zack Ostapchuk gets his first goal as a member of the #SJSharks<\/a> providing much needed insurance late in the 3rd.\ud83d\udea8 pic.twitter.com\/I98zfauida<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SnipeCity420 \uea00 (@SnipeCity420) December 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked to him about playing with the puck a little bit more,\u201d San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky shared on Jan. 2. \u201cHe\u2019s actually quickly picked that up. That was a conversation just a couple weeks ago, and we\u2019re starting to see some benefit of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Keep your eye on Ostapchuk (63) in these two clips:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n On Dec. 29 at Anaheim, Ostapchuk springs Ryan Reaves (75) and Barclay Goodrow (23) for a 2-on-1. Then, he holds off Ian Moore (74) and Pavel Mintyukov (98) to find Collin Graf (51).<\/p>\n On Dec. 31 in a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild, Ostapchuk beats Zach Bogosian (24) to a loose puck, centering it to Goodrow. Then, his hustle turns a Brock Faber (7) puck into a 50-50.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got a big frame. He can hold on to it. He can make plays. Can get to the inside,\u201d Warsofsky said.<\/p>\n The 6-foot-4 center is defining himself as the fourth-line center of the future for the San Jose Sharks.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been playing some good hockey,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cReally solidifying his role on this team and as a player.\u201d<\/p>\n And he\u2019s just 22, so there\u2019s still plenty of time for him to grow into more.<\/p>\n Ostapchuk is a great reminder to have patience with trades.<\/p>\n Last Trade Deadline, after the San Jose Sharks acquired Ostapchuk in the much-panned Fabian Zetterlund deal, fans were too quick to dismiss the 2021 second-round pick. Ostapchuk was, granted, underwhelming in his teal debut.<\/p>\n This season, the young centerman is beginning to look like a victory for the Sharks\u2019 pro scouting staff. While he\u2019ll probably never score like a Zetterlund, Ostapchuk\u2019s already-mature defensive game, coupled with these increasing flashes of offense, has the look of a playoff-caliber two-way bottom-six staple.<\/p>\n It\u2019s still early to say \u2014 on either side of the coin \u2014 but Ostapchuk appears to be a winning player at a very valuable position, no small reason why the 21-18-3 Sharks already have more victories this season, in just 42 games, than all of last year.<\/p>\n Ryan Reaves<\/p>\n Reaves, on getting knocked down by Olivier: “He’s one of the toughest in the league. It’s the first time that I’ve been caught & knocked down like that. But when you go up against a guy like that, I’m 38 & getting a little older. So eventually, I was gonna get caught. Today was\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Reaves, on how he got cleared to come back for the 3rd period after getting knocked down by Olivier: “I had to memorize some words, cotton, honey, arrow. There were months of the year backwards, do some number games, some balance stuff. Passed with flying colors.”<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Alex Nedeljkovic<\/p>\n Nedeljkovic, on performing like this in front of his dad:<\/p>\n Yeah, it\u2019s great. It\u2019s always fun. I love having family in town. The best part is just seeing, spending time with them off the ice and away from it. It\u2019s obviously a long trip from Cleveland, so anytime I get to spend with them away from the rink is special, and for him to hang out with his grandkids, is fun to watch, and takes a little bit of pressure off me and Emma, and gives us a little bit of a breather too.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ryan Warsofsky<\/p>\n Warsofsky, on Reaves:<\/p>\n He is a joy to coach. He is so important for our team. What he does to stick up for our team. What he does to stick up for his teammates, change momentum. I think he\u2019s playing really good hockey. We love the guy.<\/p>\n No health update on Dellandrea. There rarely is after a game. <\/p>\n Warsofsky ruled out Michael Misa from playing tomorrow in LA.<\/p>\n \u2014 Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Alex Wennberg<\/p>\n Wennberg, on the San Jose Sharks surpassing last season\u2019s win total in just 42 games:<\/p>\n It\u2019s great. But there\u2019s a long way to go. We\u2019re happy with the wins. But one game at a time. See where it takes us.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t