The San Jose Sharks have six prospects at the 2024 World Junior Championship, including their top prospect, Will Smith.

The San Jose Sharks have six prospects at the 2024 World Junior Championship, including their top prospect, Will Smith.

Sharks' Director of Amateur Scouting, Chris Morehouse, spoke glowingly about all the players headed to the World Juniors. 

1. Will Smith

"Anytime you look at the numbers, he's doing his thing," Morehouse said about Smtih's season. "I think there's been lots of really great positives to come out of it."

Smith is first in goals, 13, and second in points, 23, at Boston College this season.

Smith will be joined by his college teammates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. Those three have arguably been the best line in college hockey.

Smith should have a significant role on Team USA. 

"I think the one really positive for Will is that he's been able to produce and get better every game," Morehouse said. "That's a really big part of the development."

2. Eric Pohlkamp

Eric Pohlkamp will play with Smith for Team USA. Pohlcamp is a sturdy defenseman who can fire the puck. 

He will have a good shutdown defense role and could get some looks on the second powerplay unit. 

"With Eric, it's been just this year, but that nice steady climb of development," Morehouse said. "That's what you want to see on our end."

Pohlkamp has nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) at Bemidji State University. 

3. Filip Bystedt

Filip Bystedt should be playing in North America this season, so going against this top talent will be good for his development. 

The big centerman was a first-round draft pick in 2022.

"He's a 19-year-old playing against men in the toughest division in Sweden," Morehouse said. "there are going to be some ups and downs."

Bystedt has nine points in 20 games in Sweden's top professional hockey league. Bystedt is one of the youngest players in the league, and to produce as much as he has is an accomplishment. 

4. Mattias Havelid

Mattias Havelid is somewhat the forgotten Sharks prospect headed to World Juniors.

"He's gonna have a big role on that team, and both those kids, [Bystedt and Havelid], it's going to be great to watch how they embrace the pressure of playing at home," Morehouse said. 

Sweden is this year's host, and the pressure to win gold for the host can mount on these young players.

"There are a lot of outside things that go on during a World Juniors that's media-based, so it's going to be fun to watch those kids and how they handle it," Morehouse explained. 

Both Havelid and Bystedt will be top-line players. Havelid should be Sweden's No. 1 defenseman. 

5. Jake Furlong

Jake Furlong has been captaining the Halifax Mooseheads to a successful season. 

Furlong has 20 points in 29 games and has skated in a second-pair defenseman role for Team Canada. 

"I think Jake, not only did he start and have a really consistent year with defending and moving pucks and being hard to play against, he had a really good [World Juniors] camp," Morehouse said. 

Furlong will provide Canada with stability on the blue line, allowing players like Macklin Celebrini to run wild up front. 

6. Kasper Halttunen

Kasper Halttunen will play for Finland and is arguably the purest goal scorer of the San Jose Sharks prospects at the tournament.

Halttunen is playing for the London Knights in the OHL, and it is his first season playing hockey in North America.

"He's getting adjusted to North American ice [and] North American style. The European game is different," Morehouse said. "If he can sure up some of the other parts of his game, getting faster, working on his pace in terms of the way it's played over here. I think Kas has had a really positive year. I think he made the choice to come over, feeling that it was the best thing for him."

Halttunen has 20 goals and 11 assists in 28 games in the OHL. He should play in the top six for Finald at the WJC.

The World Juniors' first games are today, and all of the San Jose Sharks' prospects are in action. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

Three Takeaways From Sharks 7-4 Loss to Canucks

Canucks Can Show Off Kuzmenko To Sharks Tonight

Aaron Dell Will Play For Team Canada At Spengler Cup

Predicting Sharks Line Combinations When Logan Couture Returns

• undefined