Entering this season, San Jose had prospect defencemen that fans were excited about. However, Jack Thompson has provided a surprising spark for the Sharks. With Sam Dickinson, Luca Cagnoni, and Shakir Mukhamadullin on the horizon, it is easy to see how Thompson got lost in the shuffle. That being said, the 22-year-old has made an early name for himself. He has provided a surprising spark for a team that is struggling and in need of something positive. Let’s take a look at where he came from and how his play is key for San Jose moving forward.
An Afterthought Turns Into an Impact Player
As a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Thompson appeared in just one game. He didn’t get an extended look at the ice, and likely wouldn’t with the position that Tampa’s team was in. The Lightning acquired Anthony Duclair from the Sharks at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. In order to do so, Tampa sent Thompson, along with a third-round pick, to San Jose. After coming to the Sharks, Thompson played two games in the NHL, but spent a lot of time in the AHL.
Thompson showed that he was a good AHL player with the Syracuse Crunch, especially in 2023-24 before the trade. In 46 games, he had 32 points and showed flashes as a great offensive defenceman. That trend continued into this season, as he had nine points in 16 games before being called up to the NHL. The biggest question that remained, however, was can Thompson become a consistent NHL-calibre offensive defenceman? So far, he has shown that he can.
He has three points in three games and is fresh off of a two-assist performance against the Los Angeles Kings. Notably, however, is that both assists came on the power play, which has struggled to find an impact defenceman on it since Erik Karlsson. It’s still early in the season and Thompson’s career, but how does his strong play impact the Sharks moving forward, both this season and beyond?
What to Expect for Jack Thompson and the Sharks for 2024-25
Through the early part of the year, San Jose’s power play is firing at about 23%. Before Thompson joined the club, Jake Walman was the player who saw a majority of time on the backend with the man advantage. Thompson gives head coach Ryan Warsofsky the ability to play them on each power play unit and spread their talent around. Thompson thinks the game at a high level. With many of the veterans that are playing on the Sharks power play, such as Mikael Granlund and Tyler Toffoli, Thompson’s highly intelligent play should lead to some success. At even strength, he’ll have a chance to develop his game and become a staple of the defensive core moving forward.
Assuming Thompson spends the rest of this season with the Sharks and considering how much time on the power play he’s gotten, he could put up some points. It’s hard to imagine he’ll stay at this current pace, but 25-30 points, with about 7-10 more coming on the power play is nothing to shake a stick at. He may also see his ice time continue to increase as the season progresses and further cement himself moving forward.
The More Defencemen the Better
Looking at the team currently, Henry Thrun has played himself into a bigger role moving forward. With Dickinson, Cagnoni and Mukhamadullin on the horizon, Thompson can earn the trust of San Jose’s coaching staff. The Sharks are clearly in a spot where no spot is guaranteed for anyone, so someone has to step up. This is an opportunity for Thompson to do exactly that.
Main Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA TODAY Sports
