San Jose Sharks first round draft pick has demanded a trade

It was reported that San Jose Sharks prospect Quentin Musty has requested a trade from the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. The 19-year-old forward, selected 26th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, is still at his home in Hamburg, New York while waiting to see what transpires in terms of a deal. This news originally comes courtesy of former Sportsnet host Jeff Marek.

Musty was returned to Sudbury following his participation in the Sharks' training camp last month. Although he was in camp and played in two pre-season games for the Sharks, he did not record a point and was returned to the OHL on September 30th. A big specimen standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 200 pounds, Musty enjoyed a strong season last year in Sudbury, recording 102 points in 53 regular season games, adding another ten points in eight playoff contests.

It's not clear what prompted the request. An attempt to reach out to his representative wasn't immediately returned. There are some who would speculate this could be playing time or development opportunities, but that hasn't been confirmed. Musty is going into his fourth season in the OHL and he has spent his entire junior career with the Wolves, making this move even more interesting.

Despite requesting a trade, the Sudbury Wolves have gotten off to a hot start this season. They have played four games thus far into the season, bringing a 3-1 record into their last outing, a tight 2-1 loss to the Barrie Colts. Where Musty's absence does come into focus, though, is in relation to the future of not only his OHL career but possibly his path toward making an impact with the Sharks.

Though the request for a trade by Quentin Musty has added a bit of cloudiness to his near future, promising development will make him worth watching as an asset. What comes next, be it with a new OHL team or more time with Sudbury, will be ultra-important in deciding where his course heads toward the NHL.