{"id":896294,"date":"2026-06-27T11:03:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T11:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/896294\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T11:03:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T11:03:13","slug":"sharks-look-toward-future-as-big-winners-in-2026-nhl-draft-nbc-sports-bay-area-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/896294\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharks look toward future as big winners in 2026 NHL Draft \u2013 NBC Sports Bay Area & California"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s note:<\/strong>\u00a0Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California\u2019s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on\u00a0San Jose Hockey Now<\/a>, listen to him on the\u00a0San Jose Hockey Now Podcast<\/a>, and follow him on Twitter at\u00a0@Sheng_Peng<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BUFFALO \u2014 The Sharks, no doubt, were big winners during the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll see if it leads to be being big winners on the ice.<\/p>\n

The Sharks selected winger Ivar Stenberg<\/a> at No. 2, defenseman Keaton Verhoeff<\/a> at No. 9 and defenseman Ryan Lin<\/a> at No. 21.<\/p>\n

What did an NHL scout, not with the Sharks, think of the picks?<\/p>\n

None of these picks were used to address next year\u2019s Sharks\u2019 most glaring need, their blue line, but Stenberg, Verhoeff and Lin all are excellent prospects. Verhoeff and Lin were strong value choices, where they were selected.<\/p>\n

And of course, the draft is not about today, it\u2019s about tomorrow. But it\u2019s worth noting that the widely held belief is that the Sharks acquired the No. 9 pick from the Ottawa Senators, in exchange for young winger William Eklund<\/a>, to try to deal for a young-but-experienced, high-impact NHL defenseman.<\/p>\n

That deal didn\u2019t materialize, though Sharks general manager Mike Grier admitted that San Jose took one offer for No. 2, which included an established NHL player coming back to the Sharks, under “strong consideration”.<\/p>\n

Anyway, 20-something, high-impact blueliners don\u2019t grow on trees, so if you can\u2019t find the right trade, drafting at Nos. 2 or 9 or 21 is no small consolation prize.<\/p>\n

The scout raved about Stenberg, \u201cHe\u2019s a complete player.\u201d<\/p>\n

To that point, while the 5-foot-11 winger is considered a future point-per-game scorer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou also appreciate his ability to work under pucks and play on both sides,” Sharks director of amateur scouting Chris Morehouse emphasized. “He’s a dynamic offensive player, but he’s got that hard competitive skill that you’re always looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grier said Stenberg was the No. 1 player on the Sharks’ board, ahead of winger Gavin McKenna, who went No. 1 overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs.<\/p>\n

\u201cCelebrini and Stenberg are going to be a terror for many years to come,\u201d the scout said. \u201cTalking in a world where need isn\u2019t considered for San Jose, he\u2019s an awesome pick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stenberg is thought by many to be NHL-ready, and maybe one reason why the Sharks deemed popular winger Eklund expendable.<\/p>\n

There was a lot of thought that the Sharks would go for a defenseman at No. 2 \u2014 Daxon Rudolph was the surprise first defenseman off the board at No. 4 to the Buffalo Sabres, while Chase Reid was a betting favorite for a while \u2014 but the Sharks, as they always said they would, went with their \u201cbest player available.”<\/p>\n

“We didn’t pay attention to all the writers saying we should take a D,” Morehouse said, joking but not joking.<\/p>\n

San Jose did address its organizational need on defense, at least in the future, with their next two picks.<\/p>\n

Six-foot-4 right-hander Verhoeff had a fascinating campaign, entering the season as consensus No. 1 defenseman in the draft and ending up as the fifth blueliner off the board — still a tremendous feat.<\/p>\n

Grier said the Sharks were entertaining trade offers until No. 7, when it was clear to them that Verhoeff would drop to No. 9.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll things go right, you\u2019re looking at a first-pair defensive anchor and first PK,\u201d the scout opined.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be more defensive-leaning,\u201d the scout added. \u201cMaybe not as much of an offensive sense? That showed up in college with more structure and tighter checking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, the University of North Dakota defenseman deserves a lot of credit for playing in the NCAA as a 17-year-old, testing himself against older-than-junior players.<\/p>\n

Sharks director of player personnel Scott Fitzgerald said the plan at the moment is for Verhoeff to return for more seasoning with North Dakota.<\/p>\n

The Sharks showed how much they liked right-hander Lin, trading Nos. 27, 62, and 120 picks to the Philadelphia Flyers for the No. 21 pick.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a great swing to take Lin there,\u201d the scout said. \u201cHe\u2019s an excellent all-around defenseman, who just happens to be small.\u201d<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t sound like Lin is projected to run a first-unit power play at the highest level, but like Stenberg, he\u2019s a highly competitive smaller player who\u2019s expected to make a significant two-way impact.<\/p>\n

In one night, Grier blew up the narrative that he\u2019s a size-obsessed GM, which was the thought of some, despite premium picks used on smaller talents like Will Smith and Leo Sahlin-Wallenius in previous years.<\/p>\n

\u201cHard competitive skill\u201d is the buzz phrase for all three of the Sharks\u2019 first-round picks, including the smaller Stenberg and Lin.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s something when you watch Carolina, they have some smaller guys, but they’re all competitive,\u201d Grier said of this year\u2019s Stanley Cup winner. \u201cIt’s a trait that goes back through the years, and in this league, if you’re a smaller guy and you want to have success, you better be competitive, and both these kids are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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