If Melker Karlsson and Joonas Donskoi have shown anything, it’s that San Jose GM Doug Wilson knows how to find NHL talent in Europe.
Now, we’ll see if that applies to Marcus Sorensen.
Sorensen, the speedy 24-year-old forward signed out of the Swedish League last summer, has been recalled by San Jose and could make his NHL debut tomorrow when the Sharks take on the Sabres.
Sorensen’s recall comes after he scored 13 goals and 27 points in 39 games for the AHL Barracuda, in what is his first professional season in North America.
Previously, the former Ottawa draftee (fourth round, 2010) had spent the better part of his career with SHL outfit Djurgardens IF.
As mentioned above, Wilson and the Sharks are hopeful Sorensen can follow in the footsteps of Karlsson and Donskoi. The former was signed out of Sweden in 2014 -- age the age of 23 -- and the undrafted forward spent a short time in the AHL before transitioning to the Sharks that same year.
Karlsson has since become a lineup fixture for the Sharks, and has six goals and 13 points through 46 games this year.
Donskoi, a former Florida draftee, signed with San Jose in 2015 after capturing Finnish League MVP honors. Like Karlsson, he was 23 at the time of singing and, like Karlsson, wasted little time making an impact in San Jose. Donskoi jumped straight to the NHL and had a solid rookie campaign, with 11 goals and 36 points in 72 games.