The San Jose Sharks will select 4th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The San Jose Sharks will select 4th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.
This will be the second draft for Sharks GM Mike Grier.
"We're excited, and we're happy. We're going to get a good player that will hopefully be a building block for this franchise for a long time and a core piece of the team for a long time," Grier said. "We're pretty happy where we are."
Top prospect Matvei Michkov is under contract for another three years in Russia. Grier had this to say in regards to possibly taking him 4th overall.
"I think I know just the same as you guys. He's going to be under contract for another three years or so," Grier said.
When it comes to looking at specific players they might take, Grier wants to make sure he keeps his options open.
"We'll take in all that information and consider all the options if they're good and bad, and the pluses and minuses of all the players that will be options for us," Grier said. "I think it's something that we'll definitely discuss."
When it comes to Will Smith, Grier had this to say.
"He's really talented offensive player. He made a lot of high-end plays over [at the U18 World Championships], and [he] kind of drove the offense."
When it comes to possibly trading down Grier was pretty certain they wouldn't but didn't rule it out completely.
"Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't rule anything out. I think there'd have to be a pretty significant offer for us to move out of four, but you certainly never know. You never know what happens when you get close to the draft," Grier said.
The Chicago Blackhawks will select first overall. The Anaheim Ducks fall one spot and will select second overall.