Zack Ostapchuk has been showing his speed and skill.

That’s not just on Tuesday night, when he flashed breakaway speed to notch the game-winner in the San Jose Sharks’ 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Reaves, on Ostapchuk’s goal: “He’s the fastest man in the world. Damn race horse. I don’t know what’s going on, blew by everybody.” https://t.co/Yr8lYYMgO5

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 7, 2026

And that’s not just his first goal as a member of the San Jose Sharks, scored on Dec. 29 in a 5-4 win at the Anaheim Ducks.

Zack Ostapchuk gets his first goal as a member of the #SJSharks providing much needed insurance late in the 3rd.🚨 pic.twitter.com/I98zfauida

— SnipeCity420  (@SnipeCity420) December 30, 2025

“We’ve talked to him about playing with the puck a little bit more,” San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky shared on Jan. 2. “He’s actually quickly picked that up. That was a conversation just a couple weeks ago, and we’re starting to see some benefit of that.”

Keep your eye on Ostapchuk (63) in these two clips:

On Dec. 29 at Anaheim, Ostapchuk springs Ryan Reaves (75) and Barclay Goodrow (23) for a 2-on-1. Then, he holds off Ian Moore (74) and Pavel Mintyukov (98) to find Collin Graf (51).

On Dec. 31 in a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild, Ostapchuk beats Zach Bogosian (24) to a loose puck, centering it to Goodrow. Then, his hustle turns a Brock Faber (7) puck into a 50-50.

“He’s got a big frame. He can hold on to it. He can make plays. Can get to the inside,” Warsofsky said.

The 6-foot-4 center is defining himself as the fourth-line center of the future for the San Jose Sharks.

“He’s been playing some good hockey,” Warsofsky said. “Really solidifying his role on this team and as a player.”

And he’s just 22, so there’s still plenty of time for him to grow into more.

Ostapchuk is a great reminder to have patience with trades.

Last Trade Deadline, after the San Jose Sharks acquired Ostapchuk in the much-panned Fabian Zetterlund deal, fans were too quick to dismiss the 2021 second-round pick. Ostapchuk was, granted, underwhelming in his teal debut.

This season, the young centerman is beginning to look like a victory for the Sharks’ pro scouting staff. While he’ll probably never score like a Zetterlund, Ostapchuk’s already-mature defensive game, coupled with these increasing flashes of offense, has the look of a playoff-caliber two-way bottom-six staple.

It’s still early to say — on either side of the coin — but Ostapchuk appears to be a winning player at a very valuable position, no small reason why the 21-18-3 Sharks already have more victories this season, in just 42 games, than all of last year.

Ryan Reaves

Reaves, on getting knocked down by Olivier: “He’s one of the toughest in the league. It’s the first time that I’ve been caught & knocked down like that. But when you go up against a guy like that, I’m 38 & getting a little older. So eventually, I was gonna get caught. Today was…

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 7, 2026

Reaves, on how he got cleared to come back for the 3rd period after getting knocked down by Olivier: “I had to memorize some words, cotton, honey, arrow. There were months of the year backwards, do some number games, some balance stuff. Passed with flying colors.”

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 7, 2026

Alex Nedeljkovic

Nedeljkovic, on performing like this in front of his dad:

Yeah, it’s great. It’s always fun. I love having family in town. The best part is just seeing, spending time with them off the ice and away from it. It’s obviously a long trip from Cleveland, so anytime I get to spend with them away from the rink is special, and for him to hang out with his grandkids, is fun to watch, and takes a little bit of pressure off me and Emma, and gives us a little bit of a breather too.

Ryan Warsofsky

Warsofsky, on Reaves:

He is a joy to coach. He is so important for our team. What he does to stick up for our team. What he does to stick up for his teammates, change momentum. I think he’s playing really good hockey. We love the guy.

No health update on Dellandrea. There rarely is after a game.

Warsofsky ruled out Michael Misa from playing tomorrow in LA.

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) January 7, 2026

Alex Wennberg

Wennberg, on the San Jose Sharks surpassing last season’s win total in just 42 games:

It’s great. But there’s a long way to go. We’re happy with the wins. But one game at a time. See where it takes us.