San Jose Sharks
#16 San Jose - The Sharks have been prevented from undergoing a full rebuild due to multiple bad contracts at the NHL level, but they have drafted heavily for upside lately, especially at forward, and now a path back to NHL relevence is in sight.
Photo: Mathilda Ahlberg / BILDBYRÅN
- William Eklund
While it was a very successful draft season for the 5’10 forward out of the storied Djurgårdens program, it was far from an easy one. Yes, he led the SHL in U20 scoring by a forward (ahead of the likes of Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz) and was the league’s rookie of the year. However, bad luck seemed to follow him like a cloud hanging over him. First, he contracted Covid in December, eliminating him from contention for the Swedish World Junior team. Then he had to have his appendix removed in January after falling ill. Finally, he got injured at the Swedish training camp for the World Championships in May and was not able to participate at that event either.
Eklund’s skating might just be his strongest asset. His mother was a figure skater, and it shows in Eklund’s skating that he has taken advantage of that growing up. His edges are exceptional, and it gives him the opportunity to turn fast (faster than his opponent) and those turns give him the little extra space that he needs to create chances for himself or his teammates. William Eklund is also elusive because of how quick his hands are. As a slightly smaller forward, the Sharks may need to be patient with him as he spends a year or two more in Sweden to further gain strength. Even as one of the older players in the draft, he is still somewhat physically immature. He can get pushed off the puck a little too easily and he needs to become stronger to really make an impact in the NHL. As he gets stronger and builds confidence in his physical abilities, Eklund does have the chance to be a physically intense competitor who is difficult to separate from the puck. He may be the highest future point producer of anyone that was available in 2021. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021
- Thomas Bordeleau
Even surrounded by talents like 2021 top five picks Owen Power, Matthew Beniers, and Kent Johnson, as well as 2020 first rounder Brendan Brisson, Bordeleau stood out as an offensive producer without parallel. His 22 assists were seventh in all of the NCAA ranks, and he wasn’t just teeing them up for a solitary big shot sniper either, as no one among his teammates scored more than 10 times.
A smaller forward, Bordeleau plays a gutsy game, working to get into the hard areas of the ice to create a play, and succeeded more than most. Although he lacks elite speed, he has quick feet, and even quicker hands. He reads opponents very well, and rapidly picks up on their errors, forcing turnovers. His quick hands also work to make him an asset on the faceoff dot. The next step in his progression is to reintroduce his wicked wrist shot as a primary weapon again, as that was his primary selling feature during his time with the USNTDP. Considering how well he managed to perform without the sniper’s approach, the frequency of his setups for linemates, and even his proving that he didn’t need to be protected and could even be a regular penalty killer, the avenues to Bordeleau’s success at the NHL level are multiple. He could turn pro after this coming season, and possibly reach the NHL by 2023-24, with a likely top six outcome. - RW
- Ozzy Wiesblatt
After being drafted with the final first-round pick in 2020 by the Sharks, Wiesblatt got a chance to play six AHL games with the Barracuda with the pandemic curtailing major junior hockey in Canada. After the new year, he was returned to the WHL’s Raiders, where he posted 28 points in 21 games to cap a successful campaign.
A feisty, aggressive skater with an explosive first step, Wiesblatt fights through traffic and keeps his feet moving at a frenetic pace, utilizing his low center of gravity. He excels in tight spaces and is a tenacious forechecker without the puck, creating turnovers and opportunities on the penalty kill. He possesses quick hands but perhaps lacks the offensive upside that top-line players usually have. Although he’s a fairly disciplined player, Wiesblatt may need to play more of an agitator role in order to have success at the NHL level. His release is good but lacks velocity, and he will need to continue to add strength to compensate for his lack of size. With another two seasons of junior eligibility remaining, Wiesblatt will almost certainly return to the WHL for 2021-22, where he will likely be one of the top players in the league, and perhaps an invite to the World Junior Championships in December is in the cards as well. - AS
- Ryan Merkley
A dynamic offensive defenseman, Merkley started his pro journey last season after four years in the Ontario Hockey League. Given his high-risk style of play, the San Jose Sharks will have to be patient with Merkley as he learns to mitigate risk at the pro level, just as he had to do at the junior level. That was extremely evident with the Barracuda of the AHL in his rookie year. His skating ability and high skill level allows him to keep pace at the pro level...with ease. However, his decision making at both ends still leaves something to be desired.
An electric skater, especially due to his confidence on his edges and his ability to navigate traffic, Merkley can be a real asset in transition. Additionally, his ability to open up lanes on the powerplay with his footwork can give his offensive unit a major advantage. Over the course of his OHL career, his defensive commitment and ability improved, however, to be an NHL player, it will need to improve further. The offensive production this past year for the Barracuda may not be at the level some expected, but it is important to note that Merkley did not get first unit powerplay time, the situation where he would have likely been most effective. Look for him to improve his offensive numbers this year in the AHL with greater responsibility. He still projects as a potential offensively oriented top four defender and powerplay QB, however, he may yet be a few years away from making an impact. - BO
- Jonathan Dahlen
Dahlén has absolutely ripped apart the HockeyAllsvenskan over the last two years; he scored an unbelievable total of 148 points in just 96 games. He led the league in points last year with a nine-point lead over the second most productive player (Jens Lööke), who, on the other hand, played seven more games. Dahlén had no reason to stay in the Swedish second tier league; he should be ready for an NHL challenge. Even though he helped his team to promote to the top Swedish league, he´ll fight for a regular spot in the National Hockey League with San Jose.
A Sharks prospect, who was drafted by the Senators in the second round in 2016, signed a one-way contract with the team. He is a dynamic, offensively skilled winger, who would be best in the top-six. The jump from the Swedish second tier to the best league in the world is not easy, but Dahlén´s ridiculous numbers have proven he is capable of playing in a much better league than he did in the last two years. He is speedy and agile and has all the offensive tools in his skillset – he´s a great puck handler, passer and shooter, but he rather relies on his playmaking skills. On the other hand, he lacks grit and there were some consistency issues during his previous North American seasons, but he should be more NHL ready this time. If everything goes right for Dahlén, he is able to be a 0.5 point per game player even next season. - MD
- Ben Gaudreau
With a strong performance at the World Under 18 Hockey Championships in Texas, Gaudreau put himself in the conversation with the likes of Jesper Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa as one of the top goaltenders available. The starter for the gold medal winning Canadians at the event, he was named the tournament’s top goaltender, an award won by the likes of Yaroslav Askarov, Ilya Samsonov, Juuse Saros, and John Gibson in the last decade. An incredibly meticulous and detailed oriented netminder, Gaudreau combines good size (6-2”) with an elite ability to process the action around him.
Ultimately, Gaudreau’s ability to read the play is a major strength. He just seems to be one step ahead of the play unfolding around him, allowing him to consistently be in the correct position. His play tracking ability is among the best of any goaltender to come through the OHL in recent years. Additionally, his movement is so refined. Rarely do you see him over-extend on his pushes, taking him out of the play or putting him out of position. Where Gaudreau sometimes gets himself in trouble is that holes can open up while moving and he can be susceptible to some “softer” goals to the five-hole area and close to the body as he pushes laterally. Like any young goaltender, he will also need to continue to improve his control of his lower body and pads, directing shots away from the slot with more consistency. All that said, Gaudreau definitely has the makeup, athleticism, and temperament to be a top flight NHL goaltender in time. He will return to the OHL this season with Sarnia and look to establish himself as one of the league’s best. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021
- Danil Gushchin
The third member of the relatively new Russian pipeline of talent that flows through Muskegon, Gushchin followed previous transplants Andrei Svechnikov (Car) and Yegor Afanasyev (Nsh) to the shores of Lake Michigan and made it into a home. After three seasons with the Lumberjacks, he departs as the club’s all-time leader in points, and with an NHL contract in hand. Lacking the size of the aforementioned trail setters, Gushchin more than made up for it with superb energy, and continuously growing skill with the puck. Highlight reel plays were par for the course all year long, as he grew more and more confident with the puck, and more and more able to make defenders look silly.
His straight-ahead speed is solid, but he shines playing an East-West game, forcing opponents to move laterally, and creating holes in otherwise airtight defenses. He packs a very heavy shot into his small frame, and plays relatively fearless, even though his lack of size makes him an inviting target and he isn’t shy about putting himself in harm’s way. There is risk in a player like this, particularly in that he might flounder if put in a bottom six role, teamed up with linemates lacking in the ability to play with high-end skills. And while he was a dangerous penalty killer with Muskegon, that risk will remain until he proves otherwise. Thankfully, his abilities wouldn’t look out of place in a top six role in the NHL. Where he plays this season remains to be seen, as he could go to the OHL with Niagara, as previously planned, or play in the AHL as a 19-year-old. - RW
- Tristen Robins
Tristen Robins has a motor that is working all the time. What makes him a promising hockey player is that his mind and body work at the same high speed. He is a 200-f00t player that makes quick decisive plays at both ends of the rink. He is capable of driving a line because of strong transition skills and passing ability. When in the offensive zone, he is comfortable with the puck on his stick and capable of picking corners with his shot or picking apart defenses with his passing. He plays the puck into space incredibly well and leads his guys into scoring opportunities. He makes quick passes and is always moving which makes him so difficult to defend. He is not scared of traffic and will carry the puck to the net, where his trigger reflexes enable him to push the puck wide to help break down the defensive zone coverage.
The biggest concern over his game is his size, but he is tenacious and hardworking so it shouldn’t be an issue like it is with other smaller players. Robins is a player that will need a season or two in the AHL where he can adjust to the pace and the size of the players. He will truly begin his pro journey this season with the Barracuda (after a two-game cup of coffee last year) and it will be interesting to see how he adapts. - VG
- Joachim Blichfeld
Blichfeld split 2020-21 between the Sharks and the AHL’s Barracuda, dressing in five NHL games and scoring his first-ever goal against the Wild’s Kaapo Kahkonen. He also earned a two-game suspension for a hit on Nathan MacKinnon. In the minors, Blichfeld posted 12 goals and 25 points in 22 games. A seventh-round pick five years ago, Blichfeld has quietly raised his stock and is knocking at the door of full-time NHL duties.
He possesses good wheels but doesn’t always move his feet enough, something that can be fixed with pro seasoning. His bread and butter is as a volume shooter, utilizing his terrific release, but finding the space to do so at the pro level isn’t that easy. Blichfeld is only average with the puck and as a passer, which may destine him as a bottom-six role player in the NHL if he cracks full-time. He needs to add strength in order to withstand the physical rigours of the game, and up his motor to pursue the puck rather than wait in the weeds to unleash his shot. With the Sharks stagnating a bit, undergoing off-ice drama with Evander Kane, and possessing a thin prospect pool, there could be an opportunity to grab a roster spot this fall in camp for the Dane, who has beaten the odds thus far. - AS
- Sasha Chmelevski
2020/21 has to be considered a breakout season for Chmelevski at the pro level. The former OHL star was among the leading scorers for the Barracuda, got his first NHL points (in five games), and even performed very well for the U.S. at the World Championships to close out the year. This has set him up nicely for the upcoming season, where he will compete for a full-time roster spot on the Sharks and could even be a front runner for a bottom six role.
Chemelski is a high energy player who can provide a lot of versatility because of his well-rounded skill set and tenacious work ethic. His skating has improved considerably since being drafted by the Sharks, as has his play away from the puck. A talented playmaker, he excels in transition when he is able to back down opposing defenses by driving the middle with speed. Ultimately, he projects as a middle six forward for San Jose who can play in any situation, although he may have to start on the lower lines and as a penalty killer before working his way up. - BO
- Brandon Coe
With the OHL on hiatus, Coe played last season in the AHL with the Barracuda, filling a checking line role. The 6’4 winger skates exceptionally well for his size, but he still needs to gain confidence in his ability to carry the puck and be a go-to offensive player. That is why it appears that San Jose is sending him back to the OHL this year for his overage season.
- Artemi Knyazev
After three solid seasons in the QMJHL with Chicoutimi, this mobile, two-way blueliner has emerged as a legitimate defensive prospect for the Sharks. He turns pro this season and will look to become an immediate impact player for the Barracuda.
- Dillon Hamaliuk
A big power winger, Hamaliuk’s offensive development has not gone according to plan since being drafted in the second round of the 2019 draft. Even as an overager in the WHL this past season, he failed to crack the point per game mark. But the Sharks did sign him and must see him as a potential checking line player. It will be interesting to see how he performs in the AHL this year.
- Yegor Spiridonov
A strong defensive center and penalty killer, the Sharks are still waiting for Spirodonov’s offensive game to take that next step forward. He will try to become a KHL regular this season with SKA St. Petersburg before possibly crossing the pond. The upside is not high, but Spiridonov could still become a valuable role player for San Jose in the future.
- Liam Gilmartin
Gilmartin was a valuable role player for the U.S. U18 team this past year. He provides a lot of versatility to his coaches because of his all-around skill set and nonstop motor. Gilmartin will play for Dale Hunter and the London Knights this coming season, a coach notoriously good at developing players like Gilmartin.