San Jose Sharks Shine with Three First-Round Picks at NHL Draft

San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier entered the NHL draft with a clear goal in mind: to avoid picking at the top of the draft next year. After a season of gradual improvement, Grier expressed hope for the future, stating, “The group made some strides and improvements. But there’s still a lot of work to do and a lot of long ways to go.” Following a successful draft night, that hope has turned into optimism.

The Sharks made a significant leap in the draft order, moving up to the No. 2 pick after winning the draft lottery. Grier’s strategy paid off as the team secured three of the top 21 picks, signaling a brighter future for the franchise. “It was a good day for us,” Grier remarked. “I think it’s a real good, a real important day for the organization to add three players that we did, that we really think can be part of this for a long, long time.”

Starting with their second overall selection, the Sharks picked Swedish left winger Ivar Stenberg, who was a strong contender for the top pick before Gavin McKenna was selected first by Toronto. Stenberg, just 18 years old, had an impressive season in Sweden’s top league, leading all teenagers with 11 goals and 33 points in 43 games. His performance ranks among the best ever for an 18-year-old in the league.

Next, San Jose chose North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9. At 17 years old, Verhoeff was the youngest NCAA Division I blue-liner last season, leading all draft-eligible defensemen with 20 points in just 20 games. The Sharks then traded up to the No. 21 spot to select Ryan Lin, a play-making defenseman from the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, who notched 14 goals and 57 points in 53 games while serving as team captain.

These new additions bolster a Sharks roster already featuring promising talents like Macklin Celebrini, the top pick in the 2024 draft, who had a breakout season with 45 goals and 115 points. Stenberg expressed admiration for Celebrini, stating, “Yeah, Macklin is one of the best in the world.” Verhoeff shared his excitement after receiving a welcoming call from Celebrini, noting, “Anytime you hear from a player like that, and all he’s accomplished and achieved, it was incredible. I was a little starstruck.”

The Sharks also welcomed 2025 No. 2 pick Michael Misa, 2023 No. 4 pick Will Smith, and defenseman Sam Dickinson, selected No. 11 in 2024. Although the Sharks have missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, they finished last season with a record of 39-35-8, their best performance since 2018-19. Grier reflected on the team’s progress, saying, “The foundation has started to be laid. And these guys are definitely pieces that we are really excited to add.”

Despite receiving trade offers for the No. 2 pick, Grier opted for Stenberg, who he described as a player eager to make an impact, saying, “He wants the puck. He wants to be the guy to make a difference and make the play.” On the contract front, the Sharks re-signed 22-year-old forward Zack Ostapchuk to a four-year deal worth $9.4 million.

Completing their draft haul, San Jose selected U.S. development team goalie Brady Knowling in the fourth round, WHL Portland center Jake Gustafson in the sixth, and OHL North Bay defenseman Alexander Karmanov in the seventh round. Notably, Karmanov, at 7-foot-1, is the tallest player ever selected in the NHL draft and has committed to attend Penn State in 2027.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.