The San Jose Sharks should have some interest in goalie Thomas Milic.
The San Jose Sharks have a decent-sized goalie prospect pool but should consider adding Thomas Milic to that list.
The Seattle Thunderbirds starting goalie has had a very successful season as a 20-year-old.
Milic started his season strong and earned his way onto Team Canada for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was expected to compete with former Sharks draft pick Benjamin Gaudreau for the starting job.
Milic eventually won the job and helped lead Canada to a gold medal. He finished the tournament with a 5-0 record across six games played. He had a .932 save % and a 1.76 GAA.
In the WHL, Milic played in 33 regular season games and had a record of 27-3-1, helping lead his team to the Memorial Cup Final. During the WHL playoffs, Milic had a .933 save % and 1.95 GAA.
Milic also received the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy as the WHL's goaltender of the year.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy,” Milic said. “I’d like to thank the coaching staff here at the Seattle Thunderbirds as well as all the incredible coaches I’ve had before, who have helped shape me into who I am today."
Milic isn't expected to be the top goaltender in the draft this season, but with where the San Jose Sharks are in their rebuild, adding another young goaltender to the system isn't the worst idea.
In this mock draft, the Sharks select Milic in the fifth round, and for a team needing to find talent at all phases on the ice, a goalie with this pedigree in the fifth round could be major value.
Yes, the talent pool for the San Jose Sharks goalies is beginning to run long with the likes of Magnus Chrona, Strauss Mann, and Eetu Makiniemi, but if the Sharks select Milic, their goalie prospect depth would be much deeper than most teams.
If the San Jose Sharks select Milic, he must be the best available player regardless of position. GM Mike Grier needs to focus on just building talent across all positions, and a goalie in the fifth round could be a diamond in the rough.