It isn't incredibly often that you see players like Sgarbossa that went undrafted in their first year get contracts out of camp for an NHL squad. Not only that but to then go on to annihilate the OHL for the Sudbury Wolves and score 62 points in 37 games with 29 goals. After that to get an invite to Team Canada's camp ahead of MANY drafted prospects at forward.
This year he has picked up right where he left off last season for Sudbury and scored 36 goals in 51 games with 74 points overall and a +20 rating with little else by way of "veterans" to work with on his roster save undrafted Russian Andrei Kuchin and Josh Leivo. Sgarbossa is running away with the team lead in points and is 3rd in the OHL in goals scored and 4th in points.
What is the upside on Sgarbossa? I think the Sharks got a steal here.
3 goals and an assist last night in an OT loss. He's now up to 2nd in OHL scoring with 39 goals and 40 assists in 53 games.
He's looking like an early candidate for CHL player of February with 11 goals and 9 assists in 9 games with a +6 rating during that stretch. 14 points in his last 5 games. 12 game point streak. Points in 18 of his last 19 games. 9 multi-point games in that time.
It should be exciting to see him go professional at the end of the Junior season. Another amazing stat for those stat geeks out there.
68 goals and 73 assists for 141 points with a +35 in his last 90 games in the OHL.
McFarland really fell off. I remember him when he played minor here in the city. Such a buzz around the kid back in the day. I caught the Wolves game yesterday and Sgarbossa looked great. Nice pick by the Sharks.
Sgarbossa is one of the best players I've ever seen lace up the skates for the Wolves in the 30 years I've been watching them. He has such amazing talent and to top it off he has a great attitude and is a great team player.
It baffles me how Saginaw thought McFarland was the better player of the two. Not even close.
It's unfortunate that Sgarbossa had an average month in October. I believe that is the only reason he wasn't invited to the December WJC camp. Watching him play against guys that made that team, it is obvious that he deserved to be there. But that's the way hockey goes.
Looking forward to seeing him progress through his career.
The Avs definitely got a keeper here. I really like Sgarby. Should be interesting to see how he progresses. Solid trade by both sides, the Sharks really needed to add some more grit. Still cant believe they let Malhotra go a few years back.
Small talented center, 2nd in the OHL in points, and has a chippy style that gets under players skin.
Remember him from prospect tourney a few years back. He definitely plays 3 inches bigger than he is. Thought he was a great prospect then - surprised he was never drafted.
