Top 10 Prospects - San Jose Sharks

Welcome to the 1st edition of the San Jose Sharks top 10 prospect listing. When GM Mitchell took the helm of the Sharks, the prospect cupboard was bare as only 1 prospect in this list was with the team, goaltender Akira Schmid. New players were added through the 2020 draft & recently through the 2021 draft as well as through trade.

Methodology used - We are ranking these players based on potential rather than closeness to being EHE ready. Some players further down the list are likely to make our EHE squad before others listed above.

I'll stop wasting your time and get to the nitty gritty:

10. Akira Schmid G 6'5" 205 lbs - New Jersey Devils (NHL)

Acquired: 148th Overall 2019 EHE draft (Drafted by GM Phillips)

Schmid's season has been fantastic so far, and that doesn't even truely do it justice. He went 8-0-2 in 10 AHL games with Utica which got him a call-up to NJ. I suspect he'll get sent back down as soon as the other goalies are healthy but that's a promising outlook for him.

GM notes: "Was very surprised with his emergence this year. I had Petr Kvaca ranked ahead of him when I joined the Sharks but he's put himself infront of all our goalie prospects this year."

9. Josiah Slavin LW 6'3" 190 lbs - Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Acquired: 85th Overall 2021 EHE draft

Slavin is a good example of drafting players based on projections rather than past results. He's just been sent back to the AHL after a cup of coffee with the Hawks in the NHL, the coaches love his game and I suspect he'll be a full time pro by as early as next season. He projects as a power forward and those take time to hit their stride, a great project to have in any system.

GM notes: "Future is bright for Slavin, I expect he'll be on the Sharks pro roster by next season."

8. Alex Vlasic LHD 6'6" 198 lbs - BU Terriers (NCAA)

Acquired: Traded with Par Lindhom & DAL 1st 2022 from Dallas for Kevin Hayes

The Terriers have been a bit of a mess the last few years, so his point totals looked linked to team success. With that said I don't think anyone is expecting the big Dman to put up points, his bread & butter will be shutting down offense. He's quite capable of that with great tools like his long reach, smooth skating, and good positioning. He has an absolute rocket of a shot from the point but needs to work on keeping it low and accurate.

GM notes: "He's actually a pretty high IQ player, I expect him to be the perfect complement to an offensive D partner. (Maybe Scott Morrow?)"

7. Blake McLaughlin LW 5'11" 161 lbs - U of Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)

Acquired: Traded with Brendan Lemieux and Brendan Guhle from NYR for Henrique, Kempny and two 5ths.

Blake was coming off a season in which he set career highs in every offensive category, it looks like a big task to best his 12 goal output from last season but so far he's ahead of where he was points wise. He's making better use of his teammates and is still generating lots of scoring chances. He's still pretty slight at 161 pounds and at this point I don't think it's fair to assume he'll pack on more weight.

GM notes: "This far down the list we would be very pleased if these guys make the NHL, McLaughlin will be turning pro at seasons end and if he wants to wait, he can sign wherever he wants."

6. Cross Hanas W 6'1" 172 lbs - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Acquired: 46th Overall 2020 EHE draft

The highly skilled Hanas would have gone much higher had he been more consistant a player, a year and a half after the draft those concerns are still there. He's putting up good numbers from a stat watching perspective but those points are coming in bunches then stretches of invisibility. His skill has never been in question though, as he replicated the Trevor Zegras pass the other week flipping the puck over the net to a teammate to bat it in.

GM notes: "He may never get that consistancy in his game. He's in the mold of a playmaking winger but I could see a team trying him out at center due to that creativity."

5. Martin Kaut RW 6'2" 190 lbs - Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Acquired: Traded from Buffalo with Jamie Oleksiak & BUF 2nd 2020 (Cross Hanas) for Pavel Buchnevich

I wasn't alone thinking Kaut would make the Avs this year out of camp, it's not shocking he didn't since he works best in a top 6 role and none of those are available in Colorado. He's continuously improving his play with the Eagles so it's nice to see he isn't regressing at least. He has a pro ready shot and has already tied last years goal output with 6 in 9 fewer games.

GM notes: "I'm still pretty high on Kaut, but it would ease my mind a bit if he could get a serious look in the NHL."

4. Francesco Arcuri C/W 6'2" 188 lbs - Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Acquired: 165th Overall 2021 EHE draft

As I said in my draft review, Arcuri's progression showed great strides in his stint last season in the Alps hockey league. That has carried over to his play in Kingston, but I will remaind optimistic because he is playing with some pretty talented players. That said, he has been playing really good hockey this year. Biggest boom/bust player on this list.

GM notes: "You never expect this type of production from a 6th rounder, he's even keeping pace with Shane Wright."

3. Scott Morrow RHD 6'2" 194 lbs - Umass Minutemen (NCAA)

Acquired: 41st Overall 2021 EHE draft

It's harder to judge prospects when they play in lower levels, Morrow was drafted out of legendary US prep school Shattuck St. Mary's. His numbers looked really good but there was some optimism on how he'd perform playing against older, stronger competition in the NCAA. He's put those critics to rest so far this season as he's sitting at a PPG and second in team scoring.

GM notes: "Highly skilled Dman who isn't lacking in size, I expect a top 4 offensive defender who should eventually be getting 1st PP reps."

2. Jacob Perreault RW 5'11" 192 lbs - San Diego Gulls (AHL)

Acquired: Traded from Colorado for Carter Verhaeghe & SJ 4th 2022

I still think Perreault was the best skater in the 2020 draft and have no idea why he fell into our second round. With no OHL playing last year Perreault was able to make his pro debut in the AHL at 18 and had a respectable showing. This season he's stepped up his game, his shot has improved and he's showing better committment to the defensive side of the game. I expect he'll get called up to the NHL at some point this season for the Ducks.

GM notes: "We had Perreault as a target in the 2020 draft but our pick was much too late to snag the talented winger. We see him as a top 6 potential scoring winger at the pro level"

1. Wyatt Johnston C 6'1" 174 lbs - Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Acquired: 29th Overall 2021 EHE draft

I already gushed about Johnston in our draft review, but he's been on fire in the OHL this season. I fully expected him to be a top player in the OHL this year but he's even surpassed my expectations. He's currently sitting 4th in OHL scoring, 4th in PPG output and has been dominate with Windsor this year. No other Spitfire is even top 25 in PPG which shows you just how head and shoulders above his teammates he is.

GM Notes: "Still tempering expectations, I think it's safe to say top 6 C is his potential."