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SAN JOSE — Forward Antti Suomela, arguably the Sharks’ biggest free agent signing out of Europe in 2018, is now fighting for a job to stay in the NHL.
“This is the biggest year for me, absolutely,” Suomela said Tuesday. “I really want to play well this year.”
Suomela, 25, receives his first opportunity Tuesday to show he belongs, as he’ll start on a line with Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc for the Sharks’ preseason opener at SAP Center against the Anaheim Ducks.
Suomela made the Sharks’ roster at the end of training camp last season and was the team’s third line center for most of the first two months of the regular season.
But after recording three goals and five assists in 20 games, Suomela’s game hit a snag. He not only went without a point in seven straight games from Nov. 20 to Dec. 7, but also lost about 60 percent of his faceoffs.
Suomela was reassigned to the Barracuda on Dec. 11, and really never made a compelling case to rejoin the big club with 20 just points in 47 AHL regular season games. He was also scratched for two of the team’s four playoff games.
“He’s fighting for a spot,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “I think he showed last year that he can play at this level. Then like all young players, it’s can you do it for 10 games, 20 games, 30 games, 80 games, and then can you do it in the playoffs and take it to another level.
“Like all young players, he stumbled around a little bit after he got to the 20-30 game mark. He went back down to the American League and I thought he was kind of just OK down there, especially down the stretch.”
Still, the Sharks weren’t ready to part ways with the Finnish centerman just yet, as he was given a qualifying offer in late June and was signed to a one-year deal in early July.
“He’s got a lot to prove,” DeBoer said. “He’s shown he can play at this level, but we need 82-game players. We’re not looking for 20-game players. For me, I like a lot of pieces to his game, but it’s about consistency and bringing that every night.”
Suomela trained in the offseason with fellow Finnish players like Carolina’s Teuvo Teräväinen with the goal of getting stronger and improving his skating. He’s about five pounds heavier now than he was when he first signed with San Jose in June 2018 out of Liiga, where he recorded a league-best 60 points in 59 games with JYP.
“I learned a lot,” Suomela said. “I think I’m stronger right now.”
Suomela also wants to get back to simply enjoying the game, something that wasn’t necessarily easy to do last season as a point producer that wasn’t producing many points.
“Last year was my first year here and everything was new for me,” Suomela said. “I learned a lot and I think now I’m ready.”
Becoming a regular in the Sharks’ lineup this season won’t be easy for Suomela. If he makes the team out of camp, he may have to do so as a winger.
The Sharks are fairly set down the middle on their first three lines with Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Joe Thornton. At 6-foot and 180 pounds, Suomela doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of a prototypical Sharks fourth line center, although he was skating on Melker Karlsson’s line through the first few days of camp, including the two scrimmages.
Suomela spent some time as a winger with the Barracuda last season, so he has some familiarity with the role and what is expected within the system.
“It’s a new place for me,” Suomela said, “but I think I’m ready if they need a winger.”
“We’re going to dress the 12 best guys that can help us win,” DeBoer said. “Some guys have different things in their tool kit. Some guys it’s speed, physicality. Some guys its the ability to take draws and are comfortable at center, so that’s a plus.”
