Post 2025 Draft Sharks Prospect Rankings

With the 2025 draft in the book, it's time to reshuffle and rank the San Jose Sharks' prospect pool. The Sharks currently boast the best prospect pool in the NHL, and that's not including either Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, who have graduated from the kiddie pool to the deep end.

A few rules to keep in mind:

1. Under 50 NHL games played. This takes out players like Celerbini and Smith. Although both players are still developing, they won't be considered prospects in this exercise.
2. Must be under the age of 25, except goalies, who take longer to develop, can be under 26.

Honorable Mentions:

Leo Sahlin Wallenius
Defenseman | Växjö Lakers | SHL
2024 Draft 2nd round

After bouncing around for four different teams (not including playing for Team Sweden) last season, the smooth puck-moving defenseman had solid production in his other stops playing in the J20, Liiga, HockeyAllsvenskan, and SHL. Wallenius should spend the upcoming season with the Växjö Lakers in the SHL, and could potentially be in San Jose next year playing with the Barracuda.

Haoxi (Simon) Wang
Defenseman | Oshawa Generals | OHL
2025 Draft 2nd round

The giant Chinese-born defenseman is one of the biggest boom or bust prospects in the Sharks' prospect pool. By this time next year, Wang could cement himself as a top-five prospect (due to his play and prospects aging out) or could be a player where Sharks fans might be looking at who else was on the board at 33. Wang is heading back to the OHL to play with Oshawa before heading to Boston University in the 2026-27 season.

Filip Bystedt
Forward | San Jose Barracuda | AHL
2022 Draft 1st round

Filip Bystedt was General Manager Mike Grier's first draft pick after sliding down from 11th overall. Bystedt hit the AHL like a force at the end of the 2023-24 season, where he had seven points in eight games, including four goals. His first full season in the AHL had its typical ups and downs, but he was one of the Barracuda's best skaters in the playoffs with three goals in six games. This season, more will be asked of Bystedt from the Cuda with AHL MVP now in the KHL.

Eric Pohlkamp
Defenseman | University of Denver | NCAA
2023 Draft 5th round

Eric Pohlkamp is a player that I continually want to move up the rankings more, but I am too much of a coward to do so. Despite being a 5th-round pick, Pohlkamp looks the part of an NHL player with his sturdy frame and ability to play a two-way game. Pohlkamp will be given the keys to the Pios' blue line with Zeev Buium now in Minnesota, and expect Pohlkamp to sign his ELC after Denver's season is over.

Cam Lund
Forward | San Jose Barracuda | AHL
2022 Draft 2nd round

The sniper made the most of his time in Northeastern, where he was easily the best player on a bad team last season. Lund went on an improbable playoff run and then signed his ELC to play in the NHL last year. In his brief NHL stint, he showed his scoring touch and why he should be in the mix as a complementary middle-six winger, but some seasoning in the AHL would be best for Lund and his development to round out his game.

The Top 10

10. Kasper Halttunen
Forward | San Jose Barracuda | AHL
2023 Draft 2nd round

Kasper Halttunen got some time in the AHL last season before heading back to London for one more ride. After a quiet regular season from the Finnish product, Halttunen came on in the playoffs as he does. He put up 15 goals in 17 games and was named the OHL Playoff MVP as London went back-to-back champions. He also posted four points in five Memorial Cup games.

Halttunen, now poised to play in the AHL this season, still has some issues to iron out in his game, including adding more power to his first stride, but he has all the tools in the world. He should immediately be the focal point on the Barracuda's top power play that lost key pieces in Poturalski, Danil Gushchin, and Collin Graf. His forechecking, physicality, and absolute rocket of a shot should lead to success in the AHL, especially as his skating continues to get better.

While Halttunen most likely projects as a third-line player who helps to finish plays rather than drive them, that's perfectly fine. He is well on his way to filling the "Kevin Labanc" role of improving the Sharks' power play, adding quality to the third line, and being one of the most feared shots.

9. Luca Cagnoni
Defenseman | San Jose Barracuda | AHL
2023 Draft 4th round

The Cagnoni Hive was buzzing all last season as the 20 year old put together one of the best seasons from the blue line in the AHL, he was third in scoring among all AHL defenseman with 52 points in 64 AHL games and was the first defenseman from the 2023 draft to make the NHL where he played six games for the mother club.

More will be asked from Cagnoni this season as Shakir Mukhamadullin is expected to graduate to the NHL, and Barracuda captain Jimmy Schuldt is now in the Canucks system. While Jack Thompson could be in play as well on the Barracuda (assuming he passes through waivers) and Lucas Carlsson will be another season removed from his ACL injury, Cagnoni is the engine for the Barracuda's offense from the blue line.

If John Klingberg continues to have trouble staying healthy this season, Cagnoni might be an option for the Sharks to run their power play unit (pending on what they do with Sam Dickinson). Expect Cagnoni to spend most of the time in the AHL this year, but he should see some NHL action as well. The questions will always be there about a 5'9" defenseman and if his game can translate to the NHL, but Cagnoni feels like he is going to be one of the small kings who makes it.

8. Collin Graf
Forward | San Jose Sharks | NHL
Undrafted

Spoiler, this will be the last time we see Graf on a prospect list because he's ready to graduate to the NHL. After signing with the Sharks out of Quinnipiac, Graf played some NHL games before starting last season in the AHL. He was stapled to Poturalski's line and quickly showed why he will be an effective pro. His ability to play in all situations (despite never playing PK before) was quickly noticed by the coaching staff with both the Cuda and the Sharks.

Graf's intelligence is easy to see, as the puck always finds his stick. He finds quiet pockets of ice to operate and utilizes his vision to read the plays and know what's going to happen before it happens. The playmaking will be there for Graf, and the scoring started to show at the end of the season in the NHL. Graf is a perfect piece for the Sharks since he is comfortable playing up and down the lineup. If he needs to be a third liner who can help connect a line, he can do that. If he needs to play a top-six role as more of a complementary piece, he can do that as well.

While Graf isn't a lock to make the Sharks out of camp, it's hard not to envision him on the team because of his diverse skill set. With San Jose losing so many core penalty killers in Mikael Granlund, Nico Sturm, and Luke Kunin, there is an easy path for Graf to make the team just based on his penalty killing alone.

7. Joshua Ravensbergen
Goalie | Prince George Cougars | WHL
2025 Draft 1st round

A surprising pick, but a welcome one when San Jose picked Ravensbergen this June. With Yaroslav Askarov expected to take the mantle as the long-term goalie this season, General Manager Mike Grier continues to play the long game with the draft, and Ravensbergen was considered by many to be the best goalie in this year's draft. His 6'5" frame and athleticism make it easy to see why the Sharks wanted to add him to the pipeline.

Ravensbergen has already seen a massive workload at Prince George. Last season, he played in 58 of Prince George's 75 games (68-game regular season, seven playoff games). While the stats won't blow you away (.901 sv% and 3.00 GAA in the regular season), Ravensbergen's play helped propel the Cougars into the playoffs despite losing Zac Funk (123 points in 68 games during the 2023-24 season) and Riley Heidt taking a step back (117 points to 90 points). With the offense not as dangerous (Cougars went from 316 goals scored to 251), Ravensbergen had to help make up the difference.

Ravensbergen is a perfect example of how the new NCAA/CHL rules will work. Expect another season in the WHL, and then he should spend a few years at a big-time college program where he can play against older players. He's already used to the workload of the WHL, but having the extra time to spend in the gym and with coaches working on his technique will help Ravensbergen iron out some of the flaws in his game before he turns pro. Ravensbergen won't help the Sharks win games soon, but he could be part of the makings of a great tandem.

6. Shakir Mukhamadullin
Defenseman | San Jose Sharks | NHL
2020 Draft 1st round

Another player who will not be on the list next season, as he should be a full-time NHLer. Mukhamadullin had a slow start last year due to a groin injury before training camp. The Sharks let him find his groove in the AHL before recalling him. In his NHL time, he had nine points in 30 games, including two goals. He was stacking games before his season-ending injury (thanks a lot, Frank Vatrano).

Mukhamadullin has improved his decision-making, and we started to see more flashes of his playmaking in the NHL this season as he gained more confidence. While his production wasn't what you expected with the Cuda, it was easy to see why.

Even with the new additions on the blue line, Mukhamadullin is in line to soak up a ton of minutes for the Sharks as he looks to earn a long-term contract next summer. With all the defenseman coming off the books, signing Mukhamadullin to a four or five-year deal should be the objective of Mike Grier if Mukhamadullin has the season that we project him to have.

5. Quentin Musty
Forward | San Jose Barracuda | AHL
2023 Draft 1st round

Not the season Musty imagined when he went back to the OHL. A failed trade request and a broken hand led to Musty only playing 33 games. He was still highly productive with 30 goals and another four points in three playoff games despite battling injuries. We finally got to see Musty in the AHL, where he showed some flashes in his limited time.

Musty is a player who has always been a "bigger, stronger, faster" guy than his peers. He's utilized his superior size and speed against his peers, so his transition to the AHL might take a little longer than some of his peers as he gets used to playing players just as big, just as strong, and just as fast. This is nothing to worry about, and Musty is clever enough of a player to figure it out. We saw plenty of flashes from Musty in a small sample while jumping into the middle of a Cuda playoff race.

Musty is going to be part of a massive injection of talent hitting the Barracuda this season, while other players might get the call-up before him, this shouldn't be an indictment of where Musty is at as a player. Musty is oozing with offensive talent, and just as a pitcher needs to learn a variety of pitches, Musty needs to learn his change-up in his game.

4. Igor Chernyshov
Forward | San Jose Barracuda | AHL
2024 Draft 2nd round

After a sunburn (and shoulder surgery) pushed Chernyshov's draft stock down, Mike Grier swooped in and drafted him at the beginning of the second round in 2024, and it's going to make a lot of other GMs look very bad. Chernyshov got out of his KHL deal and quickly signed his ELC. He was picked in the import draft by the Saginaw Spirit and committed to playing with them. After missing the first chunk of the season recovering from his shoulder surgery, Chernyshov was an absolute fireworks show for Saginaw.

Playing with Michael Misa, Chernyshov quickly acclimated to the OHL and put up an astonishing 55 points in 23 games. His 2.39 points per game lead the OHL, and he looked like a boy against men. The attention to detail in all three zones puts him ahead of his peers, as his positioning and vision to know where everyone on the ice is light years ahead of other 18-year-olds. Chernyshov's high hockey IQ, mixed with his hard skills, was an instant match with Misa as the two quickly learned to play off each other.

Chernyshov got a taste of AHL action last year and managed to score his first goal in the playoffs thanks to his ability to get to the dirty areas. Expect Chernyshov to hit the ground running with the San Jose Barracuda now that he's had a season playing in North America, where he's been able to start to learn English and get used to the North American version of the game.

If he continues on his progression, it shouldn't be a surprise if Chernyshov is making an impact in the NHL sooner rather than later. While Musty has a higher ceiling, especially in the offensive zone, Chernyshov is the safer of the two players and can play anywhere in the lineup and be productive. We've already seen a line of Misa and Chernyshov dominate a league and it won't be long until the NHL sees it too.

3. Yaroslav Askarov
Goalie | San Jose Sharks | NHL
2020 Draft 1st round

Askarov gave Sharks fans a taste of the future last season when he was called up after a freak accident knocked Vanecek out for six weeks. During his 13 games, he had a solid .896 sv% and a 3.10 GAA playing behind *gestures at the Sharks' defense. In the AHL, Askarov showed why he can be a difference maker on a night-in, night-out basis. He had four shutouts in 22 games with the Cuda and posted a 2.45 GAA and a .923 sv%.

In the playoffs, Askarov was simply magnificent. With the Barracuda missing two of their top players in Poturalski and Thomas Bordeleau, everything fell to Askarov to keep the Cuda in every game. He posted a 1.68 GAA and a .935 sv% in six playoff games and a shutout. Although the Barracuda didn't get past Colorado, Askarov was the difference maker for them as their offense ran out of gas.

Next year, Askarov gets his chance to shine in the NHL. Grier cleared the way for Askarov to take crease for the next decade by not re-signing any of the Sharks' veteran goalies and trading for Alex Nedeljkovic, who he thought would be a perfect mesh with Askarov. While the Sharks will still struggle next year, Askarov has done everything he could in the AHL and is now ready for the next level. Consistency and staying healthy will be the key for Askarov, but the sky is the limit.

2. Sam Dickinson
Defenseman | San Jose Sharks or London Knights | NHL or OHL
2024 Draft 1st round

One of the biggest questions heading into training camp is "Where does Sam Dickinson play next season?" He finished off a historic OHL season with the London Knights that saw him set a franchise record in points, win back-to-back OHL championships, a Memorial Cup, and be named the CHL defenseman of the year. Dickinson has done everything possible in the OHL.

Dickinson's biggest issue has been how he deals with pressure, but he isn't going to fix this issue by playing in the OHL. He has made massive strides in the OHL, and his decision-making continues to improve. Also, not playing 30-35 minutes a night and playing 17-18 might help. Unfortunately, Dickinson is the last of a dying breed of players who are forced to choose between the OHL and the NHL.

While you are worried about a Kevin Korchinski situation, Dickinson already is a high-level skater and has an NHL-sized frame. He probably will struggle in the NHL this season, but sending him back to dominate in the OHL could lead to developing bad habits, as he might be asked to drive offense more for a London team that is losing a lot of talent. If Dickinson shows that with his size and skating, he can survive, it might be best for San Jose to have him around all season.

1. Michael Misa
Forward | San Jose Sharks (maybe?)| NHL?
2025 Draft 1st round

The other big question is where Michael Misa will play next year. Misa is coming off a hardware-filled campaign that saw him lead the CHL in scoring, be named the OHL's Most Outstanding Player, and be named to both the CHL and OHL First Team All-Star teams. Misa was considered the best forward in the draft, and after much consternation, the Sharks picked him second in the draft.

Misa is as clean a prospect as you could ask for. He has a motor that never quits, can play well in all three zones, is a clinical finisher, and his dog per 60 is off the charts. If Celebrini weren't already in the organization, Misa would be looked at as the top center and potential savior of the Sharks. With Celebrini already establishing himself as a legitimate top-line center in his rookie campaign, Misa will have a lot less pressure on him to succeed right away.

While Misa is a cleaner prospect than Will Smith, the path to playing in the NHL has been set by San Jose. Keep the training wheels on Misa for the first half of the season as he continues to spend more time in the gym, and then let him go in the second half once things slow down. Smith finished the season with 30 points in 34 games, and there is no reason to believe that Misa couldn't report the same type of performance.

Misa could also look to go spend a season in the NCAA, where he would have the pick of programs looking to add a top-line center (even for a year). Michael Misa's brother, Luke, is currently at Penn State. A potential Gavin McKenna-Michael Misa combo would be too much for Sharks fans. If Misa signs his ELC, it will most likely signal that Misa is spending the year in the NHL.