The San Jose Sharks just shared a full-circle moment that involves the veteran player Adam Gaudette and the newly drafted defenseman Ryan Lin. It was a moment that stretched back to Lin's childhood. 

The Sharks' official X account posted a photo on June 29, which shows 11-year-old Lin holding a hockey stick that was gifted to him by then-Vancouver Canuck Gaudette, standing next to him. The team captioned the photo simply as a throwback, 

"They both look better in Teal," read the caption. "When 2026 Sharks draft pick Ryan Lin was 11, then-Canuck Adam Gaudette skated with his youth team and gifted him a stick that Ryan still has at home today."

Lin still holds onto that stick to this day, and now he shares a locker room with his inspiration. With both now part of the Sharks team, this seven-year-old photo means something much deeper.

Gaudette was originally drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2015. He went on to win the Hobey Baker Award in 2018 after holding up an excellent career at Northeastern University before turning professional. 

Ever since his NHL debut, he has played for Vancouver, Chicago, Ottawa, St. Louis, and now San Jose, holding a good amount of experience that can help him guide the Sharks’ young roster.

Lin is one of San Jose's top selections from the 2026 NHL Draft, who was ranked No. 16 among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

He is set to play for the defending NCAA champion Denver Pioneers, meaning he won't be eligible to suit up for the Sharks' AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, until his college career comes to an end.

For the Sharks, they are still developing their young core. This throwback moment between a veteran player and a newly drafted defenseman adds a sentimental angle to a busy weekend.

Ryan Lin's next chapter begins

San Jose's interest in Lin made them trade their 27th, 62nd, and 120th overall picks to the Philadelphia Flyers to move up to 21st to select him.

Vancouver assistant coach Wacey Rabbit has dubbed Lin "a breakout machine," praising his 5-foot-11, 178-pound frame, elite skating, and playmaking ability. His high hockey IQ-traits that have drawn comparisons to NHL defensemen Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Lane Hutson.

"Having him this year as a 17-year-old, running our power play, being our top defenseman, arguably, I thought he was probably the best defenseman other than (Carson) Carels (of Prince George) and (Landon) DuPont (of Everett) out in our western conference before he got injured," he said as quoted by NHL.com.

Lin just finished a strong season with the Vancouver Giants, where he was even the alternate captain and led the team’s defense with 57 points, including 14 goals and 43 assists, in 53 games. 

He also represented Canada internationally five times over the past two seasons. He now joins the youngest core in San Jose, which includes elite players like Macklin Celebrini and Ivar Stenberg.

What do you think of the full-circle moment for Lin in San Jose? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar