Those three will serve as the cornerstones of San Jose\u2019s offense moving forward. Given how great their starts have been, it\u2019s hard to imagine the talent set to join them. San Jose landed OHL exception-status star Michael Misa<\/strong><\/a> with the second-overall pick this season, following a season where he led the OHL in scoring with 62 goals and 134 points in 65 games. It was a finish in the realm of former OHL greats like Patrick Kane<\/a><\/strong>, John Tavares<\/a><\/strong>, and Steven<\/strong> Stamkos<\/strong><\/a>. Misa has long been considered a superstar in his age group, and seems to have well outgrown the junior flight with his performance this season. With a hefty frame, pro-level skating, and a clear scoring knack \u2013 it seems well possible that he could push into the NHL as soon as next season.<\/p>\n San Jose had plenty of time to watch Misa as he faced off against a string of their top prospects this season. Winger Kasper Halttunen<\/strong><\/a> shined through as a strong, persistent sniper sat on top of the London Knights offense. He finished the regular season with 21 goals and 41 points in 38 games, then ramped to 15 goals and 21 points in 17 playoff games en route to an OHL and Memorial Cup championship. He was physically imposing, with the boost of tons of finesse on the puck and a killer wrist-shot. Those same descriptors could apply to Quentin Musty<\/strong><\/a>, who scored 30 goals and 59 points in 33 games with the Sudbury Wolves across the league.<\/p>\n San Jose also laid claim to another bruting OHL winger in Igor Chernyshov<\/strong><\/a>, who racked up an incredible 19 goals and 55 points in just 23 games playing opposite of Misa.<\/p>\n All three wingers seem to offer the hefty physicality and hard shot to compliment the nimble skill of players like Celebrini and Smith. If they can\u2019t, San Jose has plenty more productive scorers rounding out their forward pool \u2013 players like Cameron Lund<\/strong><\/a>, Collin Graf<\/a><\/strong>, and Joey Muldowney<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n While that list, and many more, fall into place on offense \u2013 the defense already seems to sit in the hands of Sam Dickinson<\/strong><\/a>. He won the OHL\u2019s Max Kaminsky<\/a><\/strong> \u2019Defense of the Year\u2019 Trophy with a lofty 29 goals and 91 points in just 55 games this season. He was electric in all aspects, showing the physical fundamentals to dominate the defensive zone and the all-out confidence to dominate on offense. Dickinson will also have a clear path to make the NHL roster out of training camp, helped along<\/a> by the recent trade of Henry Thrun<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The trio of defense prospects compliment each other nicely \u2013 with a mix of beefy, all-three-zones finesse in Dickinson, nimble skill in Cagnoni, and poised defense in Mukhamadullin. But they\u2019re joined outside of the pro ranks by fellow physical, offensive-defenseman Eric Pohlkamp<\/strong><\/a>. Pohlkamp scored 35 points in 44 games with the University of Denver last season \u2013 and now seems well positioned to become the Pioneers\u2019 #1-defender after Zeev Buium<\/strong><\/a> signed his entry-level deal.<\/p>\n But the Sharks are well positioned to ramp up their blue-line over the next few years. The 2026 draft class is rife with blue-chip defensemen \u2013 including Keaton Verhoeff<\/strong><\/a>, Chase Reid<\/strong><\/a>, Daxon Rudolph,<\/strong><\/a> and Ryan Lin<\/strong><\/a>. A top pick next year would likely mean another top defense prospect. Even if it doesn\u2019t, San Jose could get another shot in 2027, with superstar defense prospect Landon DuPont<\/strong><\/a> already pushing himself above the rest of the pack.<\/p>\n The group is backed by perhaps the top goalie prospect in the world in trade-acquired Yaroslav Askarov<\/a><\/strong>, who posted a .923 save percentage in 22 AHL games this season and seems well set on earning San Jose\u2019s starting role soon.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/USATSI_19868915-200x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Dickinson\u2019s presence could go long in paving the path for Shakir Mukhamadullin<\/a><\/strong> and Luca Cagnoni<\/a><\/strong>. The pair have each flirted with routine NHL icetime, though Cagnoni has earned the step headed into next season with an impressive 16 goals and 52 points in 64 AHL games this season. With none of the three firmly rooted in the NHL just yet, San Jose has brought in a trio of veterans \u2013 Dmitry Orlov<\/a><\/strong>, John Klingberg<\/a><\/strong>, and Nick Leddy<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 to help man the ship in the short-term.<\/p>\n