Gushchin Will Not Participate in AHL All-Star Game

Danil Gushchin will not be able to participate in the AHL All-Star Game this weekend.

The San Jose Barracuda’s leading scorer suffered an upper-body injury in a Jan. 26 game against the Calgary Wranglers. There was hope that Gushchin would be able to turn the corner and participate in AHL All-Star Weekend, held this year on Feb. 4 and 5 at his home Tech CU Arena, but instead, Josh Doan of the Tucson Roadrunners is going in his place.

The Barracuda and San Jose Sharks will still be represented by defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin. The star prospect, fresh off his NHL debut, was added to the roster on Wednesday, and has five goals and 26 points in 39 games.

Gushchin had 14 goals and 37 points in 39 games, a pace well ahead of last season’s rookie debut 45 points in 67 contests. Those 37 points are tied for seventh in the AHL.

Hopefully, the 2020 San Jose Sharks’ third-round pick can come back and continue his breakout campaign soon. The Barracuda play in Feb. 2 and 3 in Abbotsford before the AHL All-Star break. They return to action on Feb. 9 at Bakersfield.

The top San Jose Sharks prospect is also in line for a call-up whenever the cellar-dwelling big league club starts making trades. The NHL Trade Deadline is on Mar. 8.