SAN JOSE — Rudolfs Balcers walked into SAP Center on Friday afternoon — like he has so many times before — and made his way to the hallway that houses the dressing rooms for both visiting NHL teams and the San Jose Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate.
If he was still a member of the Sharks’ organization, Balcers may have been walking the few extra steps it takes to get to the Barracuda’s room for its game that night. Instead, he’s getting his chance to play at the NHL level with the rebuilding Ottawa Senators, who are excited — and a bit surprised — by what they’ve seen so far from the 21-year-old winger.