SHARKS RECALL THREE FROM BARRACUDA

Feb 4, 2021

SAN JOSE, CA (Feb. 4, 2021) - San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has recalled forwards Rudolfs Balcers (@rudolfsbalcers) (conditioning), Maxim Letunov and defenseman Fredrik Claesson from the San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda), the team's top development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Balcers, 23, appeared in 10 games for the Stavanger Oilers in the Eliteserien in Norway, scoring 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) with 18 penalty minutes. Last season he spent time with the Ottawa Senators and Belleville Senators, skating in 15 games and recording three points (one goal, two assists) with Ottawa and registered 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 33 games with Belleville.

The five-foot-eleven, 181-pound native of Liepaja, Latvia was claimed off waivers by San Jose on Jan. 12, 2021 from Ottawa. He was originally selected by San Jose in the 2015 NHL Draft (fifth round, 142nd overall).

Letunov, 24, appeared in three NHL games for San Jose in 2019-20, and scored his first NHL goal on Feb. 6, 2020 at Edmonton. He made his debut on Feb. 4, 2020 against Calgary. He also spent time with the San Jose Barracuda, scoring 40 points (12 goals, 28 assists) in 50 games last year.

The six-foot-four, 185-pound native of Moskva, Russia, was acquired via trade from Arizona on June 20, 2016. 

Claesson, 28, split the 2019-20 season with the New Jersey Devils and Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL). Claesson appeared in five games for New Jersey, recording two points (one goal, one assist). While with the Checkers, the defenseman registered 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 47 contests. He finished second among Checkers defensemen and third on the team in plus/minus (15).

The six-foot, 201-pound native of Stockholm, Sweden was signed by San Jose as a free agent on Jan. 11, 2021.  

For the Barracuda's current roster, click here.