Is this the last hurrah in San Jose for Barracuda’s all-time top scorer?

SAN JOSE – Forward Danil Gushchin is the San Jose Barracuda’s all-time leading scorer and, after three seasons with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, is finally getting a chance to compete in the Calder Cup playoffs.

But Gushchin’s future in the Sharks’ organization is unclear. Like a few of his teammates, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Russian-born winger is a pending restricted free agent, and the Sharks will have to decide whether to issue those players in contract years qualifying offers to retain their NHL rights.

Gushchin had one point in 12 games this season with the Sharks, who have prioritized adding some size to the organization. Gushchin wants to play in the NHL, but hasn’t been able to hold onto a spot with the Sharks.

If nothing works out in North America, a return to Russia to play in the KHL also appears to be an option for Gushchin.

“For sure, I want to play in NHL, right? It’s my dream (since I was) a younger kid, so hopefully that’s going to work for me,” said Gushchin, adding later, “I’ll talk with my agent, my family, and decide where the best (place is for) me and my career.”

Right now, Gushchin’s focus is on this week. After missing the playoffs the last two years, the Barracuda finished sixth in the AHL’s Pacific Division and will face the third-place Ontario Reign in a best-of-three first-round series that starts Thursday in Los Angeles.

Gushchin, a third-round draft choice by the Sharks in 2020, is the Barracuda’s all-time leading scorer with 150 points in 182 AHL games. He spent the first month of the season with the Sharks but still scored a career-high 28 goals for the Barracuda and was third on the team with 51 points in 56 games.

“If you look at (Gushchin’s) goals per games played, it’s pretty high,” said Barracuda coach John McCarthy, the team’s previous all-time leading scorer with 138 points. “Obviously, he didn’t play all of the games for us. But a threat on the flank, on the power play, a threat 5-on-5, dynamic with the puck on his stick. Just an elite offensive producer at the AHL level.”

Other Barracuda players who are pending RFAs include forwards Carl Berglund, Thomas Bordeleau, and Brandon Coe, defenseman Jack Thompson, and goalies Gabriel Carriere and Georgi Romanov. Colin White, Walker Duehr, Scott Sabourin, Pavol Regenda, and defenseman and team captain Jimmy Schuldt are set to become unrestricted free agents.

Thompson sustained an upper-body injury earlier this month with the Sharks, but he and forward Zack Ostapchuk (lower body) were officially returned to the AHL on Tuesday.

Bordeleau, though, is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, and the AHL’s leading scorer, Andrew Poturalski, is week-to-week with a lower-body malady. Those players combined for 111 points this season, and their potential absences in this series would put more pressure on the 23-year-old Gushchin to produce, something he’s done throughout his time in San Jose, where he’s become more comfortable.

“He’s a guy that’s kind of come out of his shell a little bit,” McCarthy said of Gushchin. “Obviously, English isn’t his first language, but his English is strong, and I’ve seen a new side of him this year. He’s letting his personality out, and it’s good to see.”

“Great city, great weather,” Gushchin said of San Jose. “Good friends here, especially the Russian boys. I like all of them.”

McCarthy’s first season as the Barracuda’s coach in 2022-23 was also the first full year of pro hockey for Gushchin, Bordeleau, and Coe. Also making their pro debuts that season were forward Anthony Vincent and defenseman Ethan Frisch.

The Barracuda finished eighth in the AHL’s Pacific Division in 2022-23 and 10th in 2023-24. Now with a deeper and more experienced lineup, the Barracuda hopes to go on a long playoff run, with Gushchin playing a critical role.

“Exciting moment for sure, not just for me, for the team, too,” Gushchin said. “Just need to do our best and win hockey games.”

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NEW SIGNING: The Barracuda on Tuesday announced the signing by University of Denver goalie Matt Davis to an AHL contract through the 2025–26 season. Davis, 23, just completed his final season in Denver, where, in 40 games, he had a 29-10-1 record with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. He helped the Pioneers with two national titles, including one last year, and an appearance in this year’s Frozen Four.

SHARKS COACHES ADDED: Sharks goalie coach Thomas Speer and video coach Nick Gialdini were officially added to Team USA’s staff under head coach Ryan Warsofsky for next month’s IIHF World Championships in Sweden and Denmark. Both held the same role at the 2023 World Championships under then-Sharks coach David Quinn. Gialdini is a San Jose native.