Sharks prospect, still in Sudbury, shines in first game back from injury

San Jose Sharks prospect Quentin Musty is starting to make up for lost time after missing the last seven weeks with a broken hand.

Playing his first game since late November, Musty scored two goals and three assists on Sunday for the Sudbury Wolves in their 10-6 win over the Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League.

Musty, taken 26th overall by the Sharks in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, was named the game’s first star and now has 25 points in 12 regular season games with Sudbury.

Musty, a Western New York native, missed 15 games after sustaining the injury in a Nov. 24 game against the Oshawa Generals. The injury ended any chance Musty might have had of being named to Team USA’s roster for the just-completed IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, where the Americans captured gold for the second straight year.

It was first reported in October that Musty, 19, had requested a trade from Sudbury after three years with the organization.

Although the reasons for Musty’s request were not made public, no move was made, and the 6-foot-2, 205-pound forward remained on the Wolves’ roster past the OHL’s trade deadline on Friday. It is unclear whether Musty ever withdrew his initial trade request.

After the Sharks loaned him back to the Wolves in late September, midway through San Jose’s training camp, Musty did not report to Sudbury, instead going to his hometown of Hamburg, N.Y., as he awaited a possible trade.

Sharks general manager Mike Grier grew impatient with the standoff, saying on Oct. 21 that he supported Musty but wanted a quick resolution. Just over a week later and without a trade, Musty returned to Sudbury in early November and, in his first 11 games, had eight goals and 12 assists.

Sudbury’s next game is on Thursday against the Windsor Spitfires as it begins a three-game road trip.