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Fabian Zetterlund’s life instantly changed when he got the news he was being traded from the New Jersey Devils to the San Jose Sharks.
It was a cold Sunday, about 30 degrees in Jersey City, and rumors were flying around that the Devils would get Timo Meier from the Sharks.
Zetterlund, like his teammates, saw the rumors but wasn’t really expecting it to involve him.
During an episode of Dropping the Gloves, he shared how his teammates were messaging him, worried it might be him.
“Some guys on the team texted me, ‘hopefully it’s not you,'” Zetterlund said.
“I said I haven’t heard anything yet.”
Not long after, he got the call confirming the trade.
“I picked it up, and yeah, I was traded, and life changed. I packed all my stuff and went to San Jose,” Zetterlund explained.
Things moved fast—he was on the ice for the Sharks just two days later.
And the trade itself involved several players. Along with Zetterlund, the Devils sent Andreas Johnsson, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Okhotiuk, and some draft picks to San Jose in exchange for Meier.
The Devils also received players like Scott Harrington and Santeri Hatakka, as well as some prospects and draft picks.
After the trade, Zetterlund had a tough time securing a top role in New Jersey because of the team’s talent.
“In New Jersey, it was hard to get a top-six spot,” he mentioned.
However, things were different in San Jose, where more spots were available, and he made the most of them.
“In San Jose, it was different. More spots were open, and I took advantage of it.”
And he definitely took advantage of it.
In his first season with the Sharks, Zetterlund was on the top line, playing alongside William Eklund and Mikael Granlund.
He finished the 2023-24 season with 24 goals and a career-best 44 points, proving he’s a valuable player for the Sharks.
When Zetterlund was traded, there weren’t massive expectations for him, but he quickly exceeded them.
According to Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis, his contract, with a cap hit of $1.45 million, has been recognized as one of the best-value deals in the NHL.
Stop us if you’ve heard this before… THAT’S ZETTERLUND ON THE POWER PLAY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KlOCudgv4C
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 2, 2024
Zetterlund led the Sharks in goals and was the only player on the team to play all 82 games.
As Ellis pointed out, Zetterlund could have easily been lost on a team that struggled so much, but he didn’t let that happen.
Instead, he thrived, scoring 24 goals and 44 points in those 82 games, showing his importance to the team.
Also, Zetterlund’s success is crucial for the Sharks’ future, especially as the team rebuilds.
His growing chemistry with his linemates, Mikael Granlund and William Eklund, will be key moving forward.
As Ellis noted, the addition of new talents like Macklin Celebrini or Will Smith could help Zetterlund improve even more.
Zetterlund already has a strong connection with Granlund, who had a career-high in assists last season.
Looking ahead, Zetterlund’s production should continue to grow, especially with the team’s young core developing around him. In the 2023-24 season, he fired 204 shots, a career-high for him, with a shooting percentage of 11.8%.
All of this shows that he has confidence in his shot and the skill to back it up.
If he can increase his shot count to around 250 while maintaining a similar shooting percentage, Zetterlund could reach 29 goals next season.
Another area where Zetterlund has made a big impact is on the power play.
Out of his 44 points, 16 came when the Sharks had the man advantage, showing he’s comfortable in high-pressure situations.
With the Sharks’ power play struggling overall, Zetterlund’s performance was bright.
This season, the power play will likely include players like Zetterlund, Eklund, Celebrini, Toffoli, and Smith, giving Zetterlund even more chances to shine.
As the Sharks’ roster continues to evolve, Zetterlund’s role will likely grow even more.
New players like Celebrini, Smith, and Toffoli will bring more depth to the team’s offense, which could further elevate Zetterlund’s performance.
While it’s still unclear how new head coach Ryan Warsofsky will structure the lines, Zetterlund is expected to stay a big part of the top six.
And undoubtedly, Zetterlund’s breakout season puts him in a great position moving forward.
He’s got one year left on his current contract before becoming a restricted free agent, so the 2024-25 season is a big one for him.
If he can build on what he did last year, Zetterlund could land a significant pay raise and secure a spot as a key piece of the Sharks’ future.
Overall, Fabian Zetterlund’s journey from the Devils to the Sharks has been a major turning point in his career.
The move to San Jose gave him the chance to show what he can do, and he’s taken full advantage of it.
With more opportunities and new teammates, Zetterlund is set up for a huge season, and his performance will be a major factor in the Sharks’ plans.
While the team might not make the playoffs, Zetterlund’s continued growth will be something to watch.