2024 San Jose Sharks EHE Draft Review 2024-08-27 The San Jose Sharks went into draft day with 7 picks in total to continue filling the prospect pipeline with promising young players. There were rumours the GM was looking to move back in round 1 to draft defenseman Sam Dickinson and add more draft capital, but those trade discussions didn’t progress beyond preliminary talks. Team needs at this point is still pretty wide open as the slow rebuild through the draft drags on. The prospect pool was lacking a top end center prospect, lacking depth at defense, and could use another promising goaltender as well as overall depth. Here are the picks from the draft: 3rd Overall: Cayden Lindstrom C 6’3” 214 lbs – Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) WHL: 32GP – 27G – 19A – 46P – 66PIM - +12 Injuries limited Lindstrom to only 32 games last season, but that didn’t scare away the scouts who still had the big power forward rated highly. When he returned from his severe back injury he picked up right where he left off with his production. While he has an above average shot for his age group, it would be a disservice to proclaim him a sniper as he does so many things well. A track star in school, he has an explosive first step and has fine top end speed. There isn’t really any one tool that is lacking in his toolbox, he just does everything very well. He’s fearless on the ice too, never shying away from taking the puck into the middle of the ice and is not afraid to take or make a hit to extend plays. Play Style: Power Forward NHL Style Comp: Roope Hintz Potential wise he has a high ceiling but also has a high floor. He projects as a power forward who will be given the opportunity to develop into a #1 center. He’s likely to return to the WHL where a full healthy season will go a long way towards his development. If I was making a top 10 prospect list today, he’d be just behind Michkov as the teams #2 prospect. GM Notes: “I had Celebrini at 1, Demidov at 2, and Lindstrom at 3. I was strongly considered going with Sam Dickinson at 3 as I think he’s the best defender in the draft, he reminds me of a left handed Drew Doughty and should get really good sim rates in his prime. But I just stuck to BPA and didn’t mess around.” 33rd Overall: Ilya Nabokov G 6’1” 179 lbs – Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) KHL: 43GP – 2.15 GAA - .930 SV% - 23W-13L-3OTL – 3SO Colorado reached on draft day for Nabokov and so did the Sharks in EHE. While his numbers look fantastic as a #1 in the KHL last season, it’s his playoff performance where he really shined posting a GAA of 1.82, SV% of .942 with 4 shutouts and going 16W-6L while winning the Gagarin Cup and being named MVP for the playoffs. As an older player in his 4th year of draft eligibility, he’s a more refined goalie prospect than others who were available. He moves very well in his net, attacking angles on shooters and moving post to post with ease. His size was a bit of a concern and that is the reason he went undrafted all those years, but with a now proven track record he looks like one of the better goalies available in the draft. Play Style: Hybrid Goalie NHL Style Comp: Semyon Varlamov I’ve seen Juuse Saros listed as a player comparison, but I think stylistically it’s probably closer to a Varlamov so I’ll go with that. He’s under contract in the KHL this season but could potentially sign his ELC at the end of the KHL season and get a look in the AHL. Potential wise he’s behind Trey Augustine in our pipeline but ahead of the other goaltenders. GM Notes: “I had Nabokov at the top of my list here and was quite pleased to jump up and make the pick. Goaltending is not a weak spot in our prospect pool any longer.” 50th Overall: Ondrej Becher C/W 6’1” 194 lbs – Prince George Cougars (WHL) WHL: 58GP – 32G – 64A – 96P – 48PIM - +38 Another older player selected by San Jose, this was Becher’s third year of draft eligibility. There really wasn’t much else he could have done to put himself on teams draft radar this year, just shy of scoring at a 2 point per game pace in the WHL. His high hockey IQ shows in his playmaking ability on offense and his shutdown ability at even strength and on the PK. He also looked fantastic at the U20 tournament putting up 10 points in 7 games. He looks set to return to the WHL next season where he should be one of the top forwards again. Play Style: Playmaker, Two-way player NHL Style Comp: Ondrej Palat He reminds me of Palat with his defensive play and the fact he likes to be on the perimeter in the offensive zone. Another player selected by the Sharks who has a high floor due to his defensive play, if the offense doesn’t translate to a top 6 role he’ll be just fine as a shutdown center in the bottom 6. GM Notes: “I had Leon Muggli at the top of my list for this pick and was disappointed to miss my target. Still happy to add someone with Becher’s upside mid-second round.” 65th Overall: Brodie Ziemer RW 5’11” 196 lbs – US National Team U18 (USHL/NTDP) USHL/NTDP – 88GP – 35G – 59A – 94P – 24PIM - +53 The US national team captain, Ziemer plays a fearless brand of hockey. There’s something to be said about his leadership as he was named captain over stars like Cole Eiserman and James Hagens. He thinks the game well and has a good shot to go with those instincts. He’s relied upon to play a PK role as he hounds puck carriers, plays a heavy checking game, and is a relentless forechecker. He also plays well in transition and plays a good supporting role on a line. Skating is the one weakness in his game, if he had above average skating he’d be a first round talent. Play Style: Two-way energy winger NHL Style Comp: Michael Bunting Ziemer is the type of player you could plug into any line and into any role whether it’s in a checking role or playing in support with top players. I say Bunting for his style comparison, but his skating isn’t quite up to the same level. That can be taught and improved though. GM Notes: “I was worried my targets would start going prior to my picks here but was pleasantly surprised Zeimer was available.” 91st Overall: A.J. Spellacy C/RW 6’3” 203 lbs – Windsor Spitfires (OHL) OHL – 67GP – 21G – 17A – 38P – 59PIM - -22 Spellacy is a dynamic skater with an explosive first step and is one of the better skaters available in this draft. He also plays a heavy game and makes contact as often as possible, separating defenders from pucks and winning board battles. He’s got great athleticism as well being a two-sport athlete growing up and getting scholarship offers to play D1 football, but ultimately chose hockey. There are some glaring weaknesses in his game, he’ll need to make better reads on offense and learn to use his linemates more as he hasn’t been a driver on his lines. Play Style: Speedy two-way forward NHL Style Comp: Barclay Goodrow He’s still a raw talent right now and is tough to project. His offense may not translate well to the pros but at bare minimum he looks like he could be a good energy type speedster who excels on the PK. He’s not afraid to drop the gloves either. GM Notes: “I really like the skating and size combo with AJ. His ceiling may be one of the lowest of my draft picks but his floor is quite high. He should be able to carve out a career as a PK specialist.” 97th Overall: Colton Roberts RHD 6’4” 205 lbs – Vancouver Giants (WHL) WHL – 62GP – 7G – 20A – 27P – 49PIM - -30 A big raw toolsy player, Roberts showed a mix of good and bad last season. When on his game, he’s a strong shutdown defender with great skating for someone his size. This allows him to break down transition offense from the opposition and he’s regularly first on puck retrievals. The bad though, he makes questionable decisions with the puck, so while he’s usually first to the puck, he tends to make bad decisions with it. He also seems completely unaware of offensive players slipping behind him. Play Style: Mobile, physical defender NHL Style Comp: Rasmus Ristolainen I say Ristolainen for the comparison due to his skating and play in all three zones, but he’ll need to show a bit more offense to look like peak Ristolainen instead of current Ristolainen. The tools are certainly there and there is some added value there as he plays the coveted right side. GM Notes: “This late in the draft I turned my focus onto big raw players to marinate on the prospects list for a while and address a team need for defense. Expectations are low but there is upside there.” 129th Overall: Nate Misskey RHD 6’4” 209 lbs – Victoria Royals (WHL) WHL – 44GP – 7G – 27A – 34P – 54PIM - +11 Misskey is a very physical and punishing defender who can have a bit of a mean streak. Outside of the physicality he possesses a strong stick checking game and has pretty good gap control. His play on the other side of the puck has been improving as well, he put up pretty solid numbers last year despite playing 21 less games and even managed to produce well in the playoffs. Play Style: Physical shutdown defender NHL Style Comp: Brandon Carlo A big physical presence on the ice, he’s been showing good progression and has been adding tools to his toolbox as he’s been developing in the WHL. He’ll need to continue to work on his skating and play with the puck to make it to the pros. GM Notes: “Happy to add some more defensive depth. I went a different direction this season with my late picks, opting to take on projects instead of higher floor undrafted players.”
