Barracuda forward expresses frustration with Sharks: ‘They know where I stand’

SAN JOSE Veteran forward Andrew Poturalski led the AHL with points and was named the league s greater part valuable participant this season as he helped lead the San Jose Barracuda the Sharks top minor league affiliate to its first Calder Cup playoff appearance in six years Despite that Poturalski only played three games with the Sharks all from Feb to and that was practically out of necessity Forwards Alexander Wennberg Nikolai Kovalenko Nico Sturm and Klim Kostin were all injured at the time and the Sharks had just traded center Mikael Granlund to the Dallas Stars so Poturalski was promoted and played his first NHL games since Nov Right after the Sharks began their Nations Face-Off break on Feb though Poturalski was right back in the minors never to return I would have loved to get a limited more games in a row there and really start to get adjusted Poturalski commented Friday at Tech CU Arena as the Barracuda held exit meetings This is my ninth year You play nine years in the AHL it s an adjustment to go the NHL I want that opportunity to show that I can play at that level and I feel like it should be for me to decide and nobody else I just want to keep working to prove that I can play there Now Poturalski despite being under contract with the association for another season has to wonder when or if he ll get another shot at playing in the NHL and whether that opportunity will come with the youthful Sharks I can t say enough good things about my time here with the Cuda Poturalski reported The staff gave me an opportunity to succeed and I had a lot of good teammates to play with and help me out and do well and we had a pretty good group It was a lot of fun to come to the rink But in the same breath I m still chasing the NHL and it was a little frustrating on that standpoint to not get a full chance with the Sharks I guess I kind of get it but I don t agree with it I m getting older but I don t feel my play has slowed down Poturalski might not be the biggest sportsman -foot- pounds or the fastest skater but his skill shot craftiness and hockey IQ have been enough to produce points in AHL regular-season games and points in career AHL playoff games He was a major part of Calder Cup-winning teams in and the latter of which came with the Chicago Wolves under the current Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky Part of the reason why Poturalski signed a two-year deal with the rebuilding Sharks last July was his relationship with Warsofsky and the feeling he would get more of a chance to play on a organization that s still in a transitional phase When Poturalski was first recalled in February he was allowed to center the second line with Fabian Zetterlund and Will Smith I don t know if he s ever gotten this type of opportunity Warsofsky stated then I think he deserves this opportunity He hadn t In six previous NHL games four with the Carolina Hurricanes and two with the Seattle Kraken Poturalski averaged less than minutes of ice time In his three games with the Sharks Poturalski had one assist and averaged in ice time Still it only went so far When the Sharks got healthy again they recalled other Barracuda players ones they signed or drafted when they needed reinforcements Poturalski suffered a torn left MCL in a Barracuda championship against Abbotsford on March and didn t play again However he was nearing a return when San Jose was eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday I still think I have something to prove and I ve never fully gotten a chance in the NHL Poturalski declared and I think that just kind of eats at me a little bit and motivates me to keep going Reports in Russia have suggested that Poturalski has already agreed to join Avangard Omsk of the KHL But Poturalski explained he hasn t formally decided where he ll play next season Related Articles San Jose Sharks sign another member of draft class San Jose Barracuda experiences bitter ending to otherwise positive season After lottery should Mike Grier try to acquire the Islanders No pick for Sharks Sharks Eklund has surgery could he soon be in line for a major payday Sharks have various luck in NHL Draft Lottery but not as much as they demanded If that s the situation then Poturalski and the Sharks could terminate his NHL contract But Barracuda general manager Joe Will stated he and Poturalski have not discussed such a move Andrew s the ultimate pro Will commented We have a relationship where we talk about things very openly He looks at it What else can I do I m the regular season MVP He s been to four Calder Cup finals winning two of them He s been the Calder Cup MVP in the American League and he s just got a handful of games in the NHL Even if he does leave the Sharks organization Poturalski has been everything the Barracuda hoped he d be in terms of professionalism production and leadership Whatever issues he had with the Sharks he didn t show his frustration or let it affect his preparation as he continued to pursue his NHL dream I ve been pretty upfront in talking to either our coaches or staff and management here throughout the year that that s what I m chasing Poturalski announced I felt like I ve accomplished a lot in the AHL but I still haven t proved anything in the NHL That s what drives me and I m too competitive to just be content with being an AHL veteran and I want more That s what drives me to keep going every day and show up to the rink and be motivated So I think they know where I stand