SAN JOSE – In his first real competitive action with the Sharks during a rookie game in training camp on Sep. 12, Joonas Donskoi was the best player on the ice. At 23 years old he had more experience than most of the other Sharks and Ducks prospects that were skating that night, and it showed.
Seven games into his NHL career, Donskoi was again one of the best players on the ice on Tuesday night against Columbus, and this time he wasn’t competing against teenagers. His work along the boards helped to generate Joe Pavelski’s first period goal, even though he didn’t get an assist on the play.