The San Jose Sharks have added to its prospect pool, and here are the best five players in the system.
Since becoming General Manager of the San Jose Sharks, Mike Grier has done much to add to the prospect pool.
Whether through the draft or acquiring talent via trade, the Sharks' future looks much brighter than it did three years ago.
1. Will Smith
The 2023 fourth-overall pick is the San Jose Sharks' top prospect.
The dynamic puck possession skill, mixed with his high IQ and speed, gives Smith the perfect potential to become a No. 1 center in the NHL.
"It's hard to really pick apart his two-way game because he has the puck all the time," Sharks Director of Amateur Scouting Chris Morehouse said after the draft. "Every single kid taken in this draft has things they need to work on if they're going to be the best at what they are at the NHL level. I think Will Smith is a very, very, very smart player with a ton of skill and a ton of compete."
Playing with the U.S. National Development Program last season Smith was a superstar. In 60 games, Smith had 51 goals and 76 assists. Smith also led the entire U18 World Championship with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in seven games.
His game should perfectly fit what the Sharks are trying to do.
2. Quentin Musty
Musty could be the steal of the 2023 NHL Draft. The Sharks selected him 26th overall.
From the start of development camp, Musty showed why he should've been drafted higher.
At the Prospect Scrimmage, Musty showed his power-forward playstyle right away. He started the game with a hard check along the boards. He then proceeded to score three goals.
In 53 games in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves last season, Musty had 26 goals and 52 assists.
Musty could've played with Smith at the USNDP but decided to stay in the OHL to challenge himself more.
"[Musty] has size, reach. He has skill. He can score goals. I think in the second half of the year, he took off a little bit in Sudbury. When you see him and meet him, he's a big boy. We're just thrilled to have that talent along with the size and the reach and also the ability to score," Morehouse said.
Throughout development camp, Musty has had a chip on his shoulder as if he wanted to prove to the front office and coaching staff that he is already ready for the NHL.
An eight-game cameo at the start of the season is not out of the question, but the San Jose Sharks will likely want to have the first year of his ELC slide to next season.
3. William Eklund
Drafted seventh overall in 2021, the Swedish forward will look to make his mark on the NHL level this season.
Eklund has played 17 career games with the San Jose Sharks and compiled seven points.
Although only 5'10, the speedy winger can easily create space for himself. Often featured on his off-wing on the powerplay, Eklund began to show prowess with a one-timer.
The San Jose Sharks have been looking for his ability to drive play into the offensive zone since the Timo Meier trade.
Eklund has also shown chemistry with current No. 1 center Tomas Hertl. Playing on the top line with Hertl should help Eklund take his game to the next level.
4. Filip Bystedt
Drafted 27th overall in 2022, Bystedt became the first draft pick under the Mike Grier regime.
The 6'4 centerman will either play in Sweden for another season or take the same route as Eklund and be in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda next season.
His size and skill with the puck emulate a playstyle similar to Hertl. He loves creating space behind the net and along the boards to make a play.
Bystedt had 10 points in last season's IIHF World Junior Championship for Team Sweden.
The biggest thing that Bystedt needs to work on is his foot speed. Once the big centerman gets moving, he can go, but getting there can take some time.
"Yeah, it's a bit of everything," Bystedt said at development camp regarding what he wants to improve. "I would say I want to get faster, [I've been] working a lot this summer to get faster. More of the small details around the boards and everything like that."
Fans may want Bystedt to develop faster but given where the Sharks are in their rebuild, taking the slow route is not the worst option.
5. Shakir Mukhamadullin
Mukhamadullin was the top prospect the San Jose Sharks got in return for Meier.
The smooth skating 6'4 defenseman showed that his game could go a long way in making the Sharks blueline more dynamic.
Barracuda head coach John McCarthy described his skating ability as "floating on the ice" rather than cutting through the ice like a player his size typically does.
By no means is McCarthy saying the Russian isn't skating. He means that he can move effortlessly to all areas.
In 12 games for the Cuda, Mukhamadullin had 10 points. He got time on the first powerplay unit and is expected to take over that role full-time next season.
His size and skating ability make him an attractive piece, but his ability to think the game takes his game to the next level. He is showing his ability to learn a new system quickly, which will help him get his game to the NHL level.
The San Jose Sharks prospect pool looks a lot brighter since Grier took over, and although fans may want these players to be in the NHL faster, the slower route will allow these players the best chance at finding their full potential.