San Jose Sharks notebook: Ferraro on leadership, Boughner on his own crazy NHL debut

SAN JOSE – Perhaps it was only a matter of time before Mario Ferraro was named one of the Sharks’ official leaders.

But when Ferraro was told by coach Bob Boughner earlier this week that he was being named an alternate captain, it still came as a surprise to the 23-year-old defenseman.

“I was pretty shocked, but I’m super honored,” Ferraro said Saturday before the Sharks’ game with the Winnipeg Jets. “I’ve said this before, but this team is full of great players (and) great people as well off the ice as well. To be recognized as a leader on this team is really special.”

In naming Ferraro the Sharks’ fourth alternate captain, Boughner said the defenseman’s outgoing personality is such that he can act as a bridge between the younger players and veterans. The Sharks had three players take part in their first NHL games on Saturday, and more could be on the way.

“I take a lot of pride in being recognized as that connection between the younger guys and the older guys,” said Ferraro, who was also an alternate captain in his sophomore season at UMass-Amherst in 2018-19. “That’s a good thing that the younger guys feel comfortable and I’m proud to be the guy that can hopefully make them feel comfortable.

“Your first year in the league, you’re nervous being around guys that are a lot older. But you get comfortable. It just takes some time.”

Logan Couture enters his third season as the team’s captain. The other alternates are Tomas Hertl, Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns. Karlsson and Hertl were expected to wear letters Saturday, with Burns and Ferraro wearing letters Tuesday in Montreal. The two groups of two will then alternate for each game.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: More than 27 years after his father made his debut for Sharks, Jonathan Dahlen will start Saturday’s game on San Jose’s top line with Logan Couture and Timo Meier.

Ulf Dahlen played 161 regular-season games over four seasons with the Sharks from 1994 to 1997, collecting 41 goals and 93 points. San Jose reached the second round of the playoffs in 1994 and 1995.

Boughner played against Ulf Dahlen and said both father and son have the same style, including their skating.

“(Ulf) was tough to play against, heavy on the puck, and so is Johnny,” Boughner said. “When he goes wide, he’s got his feet doing the same thing his dad did. So there’s a lot similarity there.”

DEBUT NOSTALGIA: Dahlen, William Eklund, and Jasper Weatherby are all making their NHL debuts Saturday. Boughner, asked about his own debut, noted how short-lived it was.

Boughner was a defenseman with Buffalo in 1996 when the Sabres played in Boston. His family in Ontario had to go to a local establishment with a large satellite dish to watch the game.

Boughner didn’t get much playing time. Just 1:14 into the second period, Boughner was given a game misconduct for being the third-man in during an altercation between his teammate, Brian Holzinger, and the Bruins’ Dean Chynoweth.

“It wasn’t much (of a debut),” Boughner said.