The Shark Tank continues in San Jose as the team now looks to find their next defensive stud. But their rebuilding prospect pipeline is destined to put the Sharks back on the right track, writes Tony Ferrari.

As the NHL off-season ticks on, Tony Ferrari continues to analyze each team’s prospect pool, with the San Jose Sharks next up.

In this series, Tony Ferrari digs into each team’s strengths and weaknesses, their latest draft class, where their positional depth chart stands, and who could be next in line for a shot at the NHL. Note that a player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer considered a prospect for the purposes of these exercises unless mentioned otherwise.

Introduction

The San Jose Sharks are fully embracing the rebuild, having just traded Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson and constantly looking for ways to free themselves of the long-term cap disaster they were once in. They began to assemble a very solid prospect pool, but there is still plenty of work to do on the teardown and the rebuild en route to a return to their consistent status as a contender.

William Eklund highlights their prospect pool, and after a handful of NHL games in each of the two seasons since being drafted, the young Swede could be poised to jump to The Show. He is an incredibly smart player who is constantly looking to advance play. Eklund understands how to manipulate opposing defenders, which allows him to draw attention and open passing lanes. His eyes don’t always tell the story as Eklund will look off a defenseman, forcing them to take a step in the opposite direction and then exploit their small mistake.

The Sharks faced questions about their Filip Bystedt pick in the first round of the 2022 draft, but his performance since alleviated many of the worries. He was dominant at times against his age group. Bystedt was among Sweden’s best players at the World Junior Championship, using his combination of size and skating to excel at both ends of the ice. He took a big step in the SHL, affecting the game more consistently than he did in his draft year. The 6-foot-4 Bystedt should stick down the middle and provide the Sharks with an excellent second-line center.

Former Michigan forward Thomas Bordeleau was outstanding in the AHL last year, putting up 22 goals and 41 points in 65 games for his first full season. He’s had a cup of coffee in the NHL in each of the last two years and found success each time. Bordeleau is quicker than he is fast, excelling at darting around the offensive zone and finding seam passes to set up his teammates. He is a very good playmaker, but he’s developed his shot over the last few years as well, making him a dual threat.

Tristen Robins and Danil Gushchin had very good first full seasons in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda and earned some NHL games because of it. Robins plays a procedural game, blending excellent puckhandling and precise puck movement. His intelligence and work ethic are the foundation of his game. Gushchin is a high-motor, skilled player who zips around the ice, creating havoc with and without the puck. His ability to annoy opposing puck carriers in transition and get the puck back are big assets. Gushchin gashes opposing squads, getting in behind defenders to create breakaways and odd-man rushes.

Two players whose rookie AHL seasons were a bit less smooth were Ozzy Wiesblatt and Brandon Coe. Both showed flashes of the ability that made them highly touted prospects. Wiesblatt is a good skater who works hard, generating offense through his excellent vision and quick feet. Coe is a big forward who plays a tactical game and shows excellent processing. Both should be more comfortable at the pro level this season, and they should take big steps offensively with the Barracuda.

The blueline has few high-end prospects, but Shakir Mukhamadullin and Mattias Havelid are both potential NHLers. Mukhamadullin was acquired in the Timo Meier trade, and he brings all of the physical tools that you could ask for from a defender. His decision-making has often come into question, however. He is a very good skater, stands at 6-foot-4 and has flashed some impressive shooting ability offensively. The issue again comes down to the fact he doesn’t figure out when and when not to use his shot and whether he can make a better play. If he can take a step mentally, his physical tools could allow him to be a very good defender.

When it comes to Havelid, he is a very skilled puckhandler who can be relied upon on the power play. He is more physical than most 5-foot-10 defenders as well, which makes him very intriguing. Havelid’s passing ability in the offensive zone is precise, and he uses his lateral mobility to create angle changes to get his shot off or pass against the flow of play. Havelid is a very willing shooter but doesn’t settle for shots from a distance, penetrating the offensive zone whenever given the chance.

In the crease, the Sharks are like many teams who have a few players with pro potential but lack the stud in the same ilk as Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt or Nashville’s Yaroslav Askarov. Eetu Makiniemi put up respectable numbers in the AHL and didn’t look out of place in his two NHL games. Magnus Chrona had four very good years at the University of Denver and signed his entry-level contract at the end of last season. He should battle for starts at the AHL level going forward.

2023 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 4th overall - Will Smith, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 1, 26th overall - Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL)

Round 2, 36th overall - Kasper Halttunen, RW, HIFK (Liiga)

Round 3, 71st overall - Brandon Svoboda, C, Youngstown (USHL)

Round 4, 123rd overall - Luca Cagnoni, LD, Portland (WHL)

Round 5, 130th overall - Axel Landen, RD, HV71 J20 (Sweden Jr.)

Round 5, 132nd overall - Eric Pohlkamp, RD, Cedar Rapids (USHL)

Round 7, 196th overall - David Klee, C, Waterloo (USHL)

Round 7, 203rd overall - Yegor Rimashevsky, RW, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)

The San Jose Sharks were one of the busiest teams at the draft with nine selections, including two in the first round. With a solid pipeline already, they looked to infuse even more talent as they have been in full rebuild mode. 

Taking Will Smith certainly added the dynamic talent they wanted. He was the driving force on the most dominant line in all of junior hockey last season, playing center on the NTDP’s top line with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. Smith is a cerebral offensive force in just about every aspect. He is an elite passer, a skilled shooter, and a manipulator of blueliners. Smith has insane hands and an elusiveness that puts defenders on their heels – and often their butts.

The former No. 1 overall pick in the OHL was taken 26th overall in the NHL draft. Quentin Musty is a very skilled power forward who can shoot the lights out and has developed a very intriguing playmaking side. His effort level was inconsistent, especially at the beginning of the year, but it can be attributed to a bout with mononucleosis to start the season. Musty brings a physical aspect to his game and has impressive hands and offensive tools. Down the road, Musty and Smith could form a wicked dynamic duo.

The Sharks went with a heavy shooter and big hitter in Round 2 when they selected Kasper Halttunen, a Finnish winger heading to the OHL's London Knights next season. His game isn’t overcomplicated. He attacks north-south and shoots the puck a ton with a booming release. When he doesn’t have the puck, the 6-foot-3 winger loves to try and put his opponent through the boards.

Brandon Svoboda is a big-bodied forward who works his butt off around the net and has a very good shot. He played a depth role with the Youngstown Phantoms and wasn’t asked to be one of the main offensive contributors, but the flashes and tendencies in his game were worth the selection. At 6-foot-3 and over 210 pounds, he engages physically and can get to the inside with ease. The Sharks see Svoboda as a long-term investment who can play a depth role with the upside to play higher in the lineup if developed properly.

In the fourth round, Luca Cagnoni was the Sharks selection. The diminutive new Sharks’ prospect plays uptempo, skilled hockey from the back end. Cagnoni has battled adversity throughout his hockey career, going from undrafted in the WHL to one of the Portland Winterhawks’ top blueliners. He lacks physicality, and his defensive game needs work, but he has shown some solid defensive habits when using his skating to cut off attackers. He has power-play quarterback potential at the next level, but it will just be about putting him in a position to succeed.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Axel Landen is primarily a defensive specialist with a good shot. He plasters opponents to the boards, preventing them from gaining an edge outside. Landen is a good breakout passer but doesn’t consistently bring his passing game to the offensive side of the puck. The young Swedish blueliner has some great defensive habits, which should allow him to play pro as he develops physically and maturely.

Eric Pohlkamp, 19, is a stalky defender who is 5-foot-11 and over 200 pounds. The American right-shot defender has never been a massive offensive contributor, but he has a big shot and showed some advanced passing last year in the USHL. The Bemidji State University commit loves to punish opponents with the body, but his mobility can hold him back at times.

Swinging on skill and offensive talent in the seventh round, San Jose selected David Klee and Yegor Rimashevsky. Klee is a highly skilled puckhandler who was buried on the Waterloo Black Hawks' depth chart. His ability to dangle and create offensive chances was intriguing enough to earn a late-round flyer. Rimashevsky, on the other hand, is an off-puck shooter who relies on others to create so that he can finish. His skating and work ethic will be hurdles.

Strengths

The forward depth in the Sharks system is becoming a big strength, particularly down the middle. While Eklund is a possible center option, the reality is that with players like Smith, Bystedt and Bordeleau in the system, allowing Eklund to be a catalyst from the wing is a luxury. Smith is the creative, high-end offensive dynamo who can take the No. 1 spot. Bystedt is the big, skilled center who plays a sound game at both ends of the ice and has had an excellent developmental trajectory. Bordeleau is a reliable and sound center who has found a way to use his agility and intelligence to pick opponents apart. They all bring different skill sets, which should give the Sharks a number of looks to attack in waves.

Weaknesses

The Sharks could use some depth on the back end. Mukhamadullin and Havelid are very good prospects, and they should find their way to NHL playing time. Adding Cagnoni was an excellent value pick at the draft this year. The players deeper within the system, such as Nikita Okhotyuk and Michael Fisher, project to be lower-end defenders who could find minutes on a third pair at best. But the Sharks must find their next Karlsson or Brent Burns. They need the next stud on the blueline, and they don’t have that in the system at the moment.

Next Man Up: William Eklund, C/W

Bordeleau should be battling for a spot in training camp as well, but it feels as though it is time for Eklund to get into the lineup on a full-time basis going forward. Every time he’s had the opportunity to play NHL games, he displayed impressive playmaking ability and played a full 200-foot game. His defensive game has never been an issue, and he has begun to assert himself offensively. 

Eklund’s intelligence and cerebral mindset have allowed him to produce wherever he has played, especially when he has skilled linemates alongside him. A role in the top six isn’t out of the question, and whether he is on a line with Tomas Hertl or Logan Couture, he should elevate their games as well. 

Eklund is ready for NHL action. The biggest question is whether the Sharks allow him to have the opportunities he certainly deserves at this point.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: William Eklund, Quentin Musty, Yegor Spiridonov

C: Will Smith, Thomas Bordeleau, Filip Bystedt, Cam Lund

RW: Tristen Robins, Ozzy Wiesblatt, Kasper Halttunen, Brandon Coe, Danil Gushchin

LD: Shakir Mukhamadullin, Luca Cagnoni, Nikita Okhotyuk, Jake Furlong

RD: Mattias Havelid, Michael Fisher, Gannon Laroque, Axel Landen

G: Eetu Makiniemi, Magnus Chrona, Mason Beaupit

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook, Prospects Unlimited and Future Watch print editions of The Hockey News.