Collin Graf Explained

Birth Date:21 September 2002
Birth Place:Lincoln, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:180
Position:Right Wing
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:San Jose Sharks
Prospect Team:| prospect_league = AHL| draft = Undrafted| career_start = 2024| career_end =

Collin Graf (born September 21, 2002) is an American professional ice hockey player for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for Union College and Quinnipiac University.

Playing career

College

Graf began his collegiate career for the Union College during the 2021–22 season, where he recorded 11 goals and 11 assists in 37 games.[1]

Following his freshman year he transferred to Quinnipiac University.[2] During the 2022–23 season, in his sophomore year, he recorded a team-high 20 goals and 38 assists in 40 games.[3] His 58 points were the most by a Bobcats player since Bryan Leitch set the program-record of 59 points during the 2008–09 season.[4] On November 12, 2022, Graf recorded his first career hat-trick in a game against Yale.[5] During November he recorded four goals and eight assists, including points in nine of the team's 10 games. During the Friendship Four he recorded three assists and was named the Player of the Tournament.[6] He was subsequently named the ECAC Forward of the Month and the HCA Co-National Player of the Month.[7] [8] During December he recorded three goals and nine assists, and was one of only two players in the league to record double-digit points. He was subsequently named the ECAC Forward of the Month for the second consecutive month.[9] Following the season he was named a unanimous All-ECAC First Team selection and named an AHCA East First Team All-American. He was also named a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.[10] [11]

During the 2023–24 season, in his junior year, he led his team in goals and points, with 14 goals and 19 assists in 20 conference games, for a 1.65 points per game average. Following the season, he was again named a unanimous All-ECAC First Team selection and ECAC Hockey Player of the Year.[12] [13] He finished his collegiate career with 54 goals and 76 assists in 112 games.[14]

Professional

On April 4, 2024, Graf signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League.[15] [16] He made his debut two days later, in a 3–2 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues.[17] Graf got his first point in his second game, on April 7, assisting on a goal by Luke Kunin in a 5–2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.[18]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2019–20Boston Junior BruinsNCDC49 16 31 47 33
2020–21Boston Junior BruinsNCDC24 19 35 54 246 3 5 8 2
2021–22Union CollegeECAC37 11 11 22 10
2022–23Quinnipiac UniversityECAC41 21 38 59 4
2023–24Quinnipiac UniversityECAC34 22 27 49 4
2023–24San Jose SharksNHL7 0 2 2 0
NHL totals7 0 2 2 0

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
College
All-ECAC First Team2023, 2024[19]
AHCA East First Team All-American2023[20]
NCAA All-Tournament Team2023[21]
ECAC Hockey Player of the Year2024[22]
AHCA East Second Team All-American2024[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Collin Graf Bio . gobobcats.com . April 8, 2023.
  2. Web site: Quinnipiac Hits Transfer Portal Gold with Graf . collegehockeynews.com . Brevin . Monroe . January 5, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  3. Web site: Two ECAC Hockey Representatives Named to 2023 All-College Hockey News Teams . ecachockey.com . March 30, 2023 . April 9, 2022.
  4. Web site: Quinnipiac men’s hockey earns four individual awards, five all-league selections . . Cameron . Levasseur . March 16, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  5. Web site: Quinnipiac Shuts Out Yale Courtesy of Graf's Hat Trick . ecachockey.com . November 12, 2022 . April 8, 2023.
  6. Web site: Graf Selected as HCA's Co-National Player of the Month . gobobcats.com . December 7, 2022 . April 8, 2023.
  7. Web site: Graf, Lipkin Selected as ECAC Monthly Award Honorees . gobobcats.com . December 7, 2022 . April 8, 2023.
  8. Web site: Graf, Walsh, Dukaric Honored with National Monthly Awards . ecachockey.com . December 7, 2022 . April 8, 2023.
  9. Web site: Graf, Lipkin Earn ECAC Monthly Awards . gobobcats.com . January 6, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  10. Web site: Four Bobcats Earn Major Individual Awards; Six Selected All-ECAC Hockey . gobobcats.com . March 16, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  11. Web site: Two Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey players named finalists for Hobey Baker Award as top player in country . . Kels . Dayton . March 15, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  12. Web site: 2023–24 First Team All-ECAC Honorees Announced . ecachockey.com . March 14, 2024 . March 14, 2024.
  13. Web site: Graf Selected as ECAC Player of the Year; Quillan Tabbed as Gladiator Best Defensive Forward . gobobcats.com . March 21, 2024 . March 21, 2024.
  14. Web site: Quinnipiac’s Graf signs NHL deal with San Jose, leaves Bobcats after junior season . USCHO.com . April 4, 2024 . April 4, 2024.
  15. Web site: Russo . Michael . Pronman . Corey . Sharks sign top college free agent Collin Graf to 3-year contract . theathletic.com . The Athletic . April 4, 2024 . April 4, 2024.
  16. Web site: Sharks sign forward Collin Graf . National Hockey League . April 4, 2024 . April 4, 2024.
  17. Web site: Eklund Hat Trick, Initial Thoughts on Graf, Cooley Gets First Win!. sanjosehockeynow.com. April 6, 2024 . April 6, 2024.
  18. Web site: Miller . Max . Collin Graf Nets First NHL Point; Sharks Fall To Coyotes 5–2 . The Hockey News . April 8, 2024 . April 7, 2024.
  19. Web site: ECAC Hockey Announces 2022–23 Men’s All-League Teams . ecachockey.com . March 16, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  20. Web site: 2022–23 Men's CCM Hockey Division I All-Americans . ahcahockey.com . April 7, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  21. Web site: Quinnipiac crowned . collegehockeyinc.com . April 9, 2023 . April 9, 2023.
  22. Web site: Graf Receives ECAC Hockey Player of the Year Award . ecachockey.com . March 21, 2024 . March 21, 2024.
  23. Web site: Top 25 men’s college hockey players earn distinction as CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans for 2023–24 season . USCHO.com . April 12, 2024 . April 12, 2024.