Sharks Recall Pohlkamp for Road Trip
San Jose recalled 22-year-old defenseman Eric Pohlkamp from the Barracuda as the team opened a three-game trip against the Los Angeles Kings.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hockey
The San Jose Sharks recalled defenseman Eric Pohlkamp from the Barracuda on Tuesday afternoon and flew to Los Angeles afterward. The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night before facing the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars.
Why it matters
The recall adds a young blueliner to the active roster for a stretch of three road games. Pohlkamp turned pro seven months before the move, so the call-up signals the club's willingness to test a recent draftee against NHL competition.
Pohlkamp, 22, was selected 123rd overall in the 2023 NHL Draft and has seven assists in 10 games with the Barracuda this season. The Sharks enter the trip at 7-8-1 overall and 1-3-0 on their homestand.
The players
Eric Pohlkamp
Pohlkamp is a 22-year-old defenseman from Baxter, Minnesota, who won an NCAA championship at Denver before turning pro.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are an NHL franchise based in San Jose, California, that plays its home games at SAP Center.
The details
Pohlkamp won an NCAA Division I championship with the University of Denver in spring 2025 before signing a two-year entry-level contract with the Sharks on April 16, 2025. A native of Baxter, Minnesota, he joins the club for games in Los Angeles, Minnesota and Dallas.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Sharks recall Pohlkamp from the Barracuda.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Sharks face the Minnesota Wild.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Sharks face the Dallas Stars.
Season Trajectory
Recalls of young defensemen during a road trip reflect how rebuilding NHL clubs use depth call-ups to evaluate prospects while the standings remain in flux. The move comes as the Sharks sit at 7-8-1 early in a season that will determine whether the club's younger players can contribute.
Fantasy managers tracking young defensemen will want to watch Pohlkamp's ice time over the three road games. His seven assists in 10 Barracuda games are the production that earned the call-up and will determine whether he sees minutes.
The takeaway
Young defensemen called up on the road often show their value through steady minutes rather than highlight plays, so the next few games will reveal whether Pohlkamp earns a longer look. Readers following the Sharks should track his deployment against the Kings, Wild and Stars.
What happens next
The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, November 4, the Minnesota Wild on Friday, November 6, and the Dallas Stars on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see San Jose Hockey coverage.
