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3.9. Colin Graf #51

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Slide 47: Collin Graf #51

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Collin Graf #51 [NOTE: Larger title text.]

Played with Quinnipiac (NCAA), leads his team in points the 23-24 season

Garners a lot of attention from NHL teams!

Age 21—he is too old for the draft (previously passed over probably for being short <3), which is why teams approach him with intent to sign

Signs with the Sharks 2024 Apr 4

Already has a familiar face on the team—grew up skating with Sharks d-man Henry Thrun and played against him in the NCAA. Thrun alleges Graf was always good at hockey, but tiny for a hockey player (shorter than 5’8”) in high school

He chose to go to the Sharks because he liked “the honesty”, corroborating DQ’s claim that the Sharks org recruiting strat is “not making false promises” (player whisperer DQ strikes again…!)

By “the honesty”, the sales pitch was probably something about the team playoff hopes pretty much died before the season even started + there’s a weakly established pecking order since the team is a gaggle of endlessly injured Just Some Guys and reclamation projects, so he’ll get some NHL playing time right away to prove himself. And he did get that ice time!

Played 7 games with the Sharks this season

NHL debut is the Sharks’ win vs the Blues on Apr 6 (see Devin Cooley’s slides for details on this), aka one of the most “fairytale” sort of games of the season and their 2nd-to-last win of the season

Almost eats shit on his rookie lap because of the step down to the ice. First Mukhamadullin and now him… that SAP ice is TREACHEROUS!

First NHL point on an assist to Luke Kunin against the Yotes on Apr 7

[Image description: 2 pictures of Colin Graf at his first game. First, Collin Graf stands on the ice during warmups. Second, Collin Graf skates during his rookie lap. End description.] Fig. 1: first day on the job! San Jose Sharks/Twitter

[Image description: Collin Graf poses with his first NHL game puck. End description.] Fig. 2: first day on the job complete! San Jose Sharks/ Twitter

Last updated: 2024 Jun 30

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Slide 48: Collin Graf #51 part 2: the Narrative Slide

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Collin Graf #51 part 2: the Narrative Slide [NOTE: Larger title text.]

puckpocketed: I’ve been Avoiding this one and collecting links in a state of paralysis LMAO anyway . um. Here u GO!!

If you go looking, you won’t find scouting reports on Collin Graf from his draft year (2021). We know why this is without even thinking; as noted in pt. 1, at 18 Collin Graf clocked in at under 5’8.

On the one hand, there’s the reality of size in the NHL and how skill sometimes just… can’t keep up. On the other hand, having become somewhat familiar with the short kings of the league, both players and prospects — there is room in this wretched league for players who lack the ‘tool’ of being over 6 feet tall.

But that’s not this story.

Collin Graf was on nobody’s radar, so what happened? Well, he’s currently listed at 6’1, so there’s a clue. Given the NHL turned their eyes on him somewhere towards the end of his first campaign at Quinnipiac, odds are Graf had a late growth spurt between his draft year and the end of his freshman year.

Sophomore season 2022–23: Collin Graf transfers to Quinnipiac University from Union College after the UC head coach resigns during his freshman season (fun fact, he was a Managerial Economics major at UC and then a Business Analytics major at QU. in case anyone else also likes seeing what NCAA players major in). He did pretty good at UC, 2nd on his team in points (22). And then he completely blew that ut of the water at QU

Led the team in goals (21) & assists (38). Led in points (59!!) by a margin of 16! 👍

NOTE: the stats sheet is. missing a game <3 but everywhere else says 21/38/59!

Also *the* Powerplay Guy. Q30 reports a notable step up from the PP of last season with him on ice. Led the team with 8 PPG

Gets a hatty in November. sweet!

One of “the big three” (top line) of him, Jacob Quillan, and Sam Lipkin. First put together in November to compensate for injuries, and the rest is history…

In an ECAC Hockey interview (17:34), Graf describes them as “multidimensional” since all of them can pass and shoot and having good chemistry

Coach Pecknold emphasized their defensive skill: “Because they defend so well they then go and get to play a lot of offense so it’s a tough matchup for most teams.”

[Image description: Jacob Quillan, Collin Graf, and Iivari Rasanen celebrate a goal in the third period against the Michigan Wolverines during the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinals. End description.] Fig. 1: The Big Three! (from behind) Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

[Image description: Sam Lipkin, Jake Quillan, and Collin Graf holding the NCAA DI men's hockey championship trophy right after winning it in 2023. End description.] Fig. 2: The Big Three! (from front) Jake Quillian/IG

Last updated: 2024 Jun 30

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Slide 49: Collin Graf #51: the Narrative Slide cont.

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Collin Graf #51: the Narrative Slide cont. [NOTE: Larger title text.]

THE 2023 NCAA TOURNAMENT FINAL!

Scored the game-tying goal in the final that got QU to OT. Also on ice for the OT GWG that won QU’s 1st ever championship title, as the decoy in a play called “the Jet”.

This is the first time it succeeded in the 150 times they ran the play that season, according to their associate coach

This is *massive* for the team and the Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey program

Their current coach, Rand Pecknold, built the present-day Quinnipiac men’s hockey program from the ground up out of a really, really bad and underfunded and unpopular Division III team ever since being hired in 1994. The man was crying tears of joy

See this article for more on the trials & tribulations of Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey

They’re underdogs compared to how decorated, accomplished, & lavish w/ NHL draftees the other three schools’ (Minnesota, Michigan, BU) men’s ice hockey programs were.

QU had a total of three (3) NHL draft picks on their roster, all from the 6th round and later. Our Big Three are two undrafted blokes and a 7th rounder (Sam)

Is this not one of the most cheesy coming-of-age sports movie things to happen in real life <3

Obvious comparisons can be made between the Quinnipiac Big Three and BC’s Smith-Perrault-Leonard line, as they were another dominant NCAA line (23–24 szn). Ofc everyone expects high-quality hockey at this level, but I doubt it would be out of line to say ppl kind of expected that from the BC line’s reputation ever since juniors, plus they’re all 1st round draft picks in a prolific hockey program like BC’s. And maybe that factored into how ‘24 played out (spoiler alert, BC eliminated them in OT, tho single-game elimination means that such a close match probably could easily have ended differently). But in the few years that a player gets in the ever-changing rosters of college sports, QU’s Big Three, the underdogs, managed what the BC line couldn’t, and won a natty. They decided they still had enough to prove at QU to stay here, to stay together, for another year, to try to repeat it instead of going pro. Ain’t that something…

youtube

Fig. 1: The Jet in action, succeeding at the most narratively satisfying time possible

[Image description: Team photo of the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team after winning the 2023 NCAA Tournament. End description.] Fig. 2: CHAMPIONS‼️ Quinnipiac Men’s Ice Hockey/Twitter

puckpocketed: BIG ty to oensible for finishing these slides as i got sidetracked by other things… everything is here and there’s tears in my eyes THEY WON TOGETHER AND STAYED TOGETHER

Last updated: 2024 Aug 14

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Slide 50: Collin Graf #51 the Narrative Slide cont.

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Collin Graf #51 the Narrative Slide cont. [NOTE: Larger title text.]

Junior season 2023–24: like half of their team is gone, either graduating or signing with a pro team (as is the cyclical nature of college sports), but Graf and his fellow top lineys stay with Quinnipiac to run it back and try for a 2nd title.

Despite missing a total of 5 games at the start of the season, he still finishes the season 1st on his team in points (49) and goals (22), and 2nd on his team in assists (27)

Injured in the first game of the season against BC, came back the game after the next. Scored 5 points in his first game back. no biggie 👍

Gets injured again a few games later. Scored six points in the weekend that he came back. no biggie 👍

The big three line gets into a low-scoring slump during the season so the coach shuffled them a little and they got right back to it

QU falls to Boston College in the postseason (ft. 2023 4OA Sharks draft pick, Will Smith)

Note: also I can’t help but admire the author of the article linked above for riding the train metaphor to the last word. Quinnipiac is Amtrak but also running out of coal to shovel into engine 👍 the conflicting imagery adds character

Graf signs with the Sharks. Quillian and Lipkin also sign with pro teams (the Leafs and the Yotes (drafted in 2021 at 223rd), respectively), marking the end of their reign in the NCAA.

He picks up a ton titles/accolades (such as being a 2x Hobey Baker finalist!), we didn’t list them all here for brevity (haha), check out his QU profile page for the full list!

puckpocketed: it goes like this: no one expected anything out of you — 2 undrafted players, and a 7th rounder — but there you are at the end of your first year together, staring down a national title. You win. They call you the Big Three. and just on the other side of boyhood is every dream you’ve ever dreamed. You could leave for the show right now. You won’t, though. You’ll hold onto each other for one more year.

Time for Sharks hockey! [Note: Written larger for emphasis.]

Not too much to report on. A lot of losing happens <3! Slide 1 has about everything you need to know about his brief time as a 2023–24 San Jose Shark

[Image description: Photoshoot of Collin Graf in gear. He is down on one knee, stick raised over his head in celebration. On his jersey is the "A" of an alternate captain. End description.] Fig. 1: Check out that A!!! Collin Graf/IG

[Image description: Photo of Quinnipiac celebrating their victory in the quarterfinals crowded against the glass. Collin Graf, only visible by his helmet, is pointed out with an arrow. End description.] Fig. 2: After beating Cornell in the quarterfinals. He’s riiiiight… there! Quinnipiac Men's Ice Hockey/X

Last updated: 2024 Aug 14

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Slide 51: Collin Graf #51: picsss

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Collin Graf #51: picsss [NOTE: Larger title text.]

[Image description: Collin Graf celebrates his goal with his teammates to tie the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Frozen Four Championship Final. End description.] Fig. 1: After he tied the ‘23 finals. He’s riiiight… there! Richard T Gagnon/ Getty Images

[Image description: Collin Graf, Christophe Tellier, Jake Quillan, and Noah Altman playing baseball on an ice rink in their hockey gear. Collin Graf is pitching a tennis ball at the batter, Tellier, who is using a hockey stick as a bat. Quillan stand behind him as the catcher, and Altman stands behind Quillan as the umpire. End description.] Fig. 2: shoulda let him get a pitch at that Giants game Jake Quillan/IG

[Image description: Collin Graf and Sam Lipkin celebrating a goal for the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Graf is holding up a gloveless hand to his ear in a gesture like he's picking up a call. End description.] Fig. 3: to quote the Bobcats’ tweet: “Collin can't talk right now, he's too busy scoring 😎” Quinnipiac Men's Ice Hockey/X

[Image description: Collin Graf and Henry Thrun walk in photo. End description.] Fig. 4: cool entrance… and also our beloved Kavin Mistry has captured Henry caught mid-fight with his suit jacket. Photographié! Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images

[Image description: Collin Graf enters the rink through a blue lit tunnel. Fans reach down from above to high five players. End description. Fig. 5: another cool entrance B) Panayiota Good/NHLI via Getty Images

[Image description: Collin Graf sitting next to Thomas Bordeleau on the Sharks bench. A coach is leaning over his shoulder and holding a digital tablet in front of his face to show him something on it. End description.] Fig. 6: IPAD‼️ Sharks on NBCS/X

Last updated: 2024 Aug 14

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