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San Jose Sharks on The Hockey News
Six Sharks On The Athletic's Top 100 Drafted Prospects; Celebrini Tops Rankings
By Max Miller,
1 day ago
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic put out his list of the top 100 drafted NHL prospects, and the San Jose Sharks have six players on the list, including the No. 1 prospect.
2024 No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini tops the list as the NHL's top prospect, according to Wheeler.
"I expect him to become a frontline, star-level center for the Sharks," Wheeler writes.
Is there anything more to say about the Sharks franchise centerman? Celebrini led Boston University in scoring with 32 goals and assists.
Not far behind Celebrini is Will Smith at No. 8 and in Wheeler's second tier. Smith is another generational talent who arguably has more offensive potential than Celebrini.
"I'll be shocked if he doesn't become a playmaking top-six center and PP1 creator. I expect him to become a big-time point producer. His individual skill and creativity are rare. I thought about ranking him higher here," Wheeler writes.
Smith's puck skills are elite. He can do whatever he wants with the puck and always maintains complete control.
Sliding down to No. 11 and tier 3 is 2024 11th-overall pick Sam Dickinson. Dickinson projects to be a complete top-three defenseman in the NHL. His size, strength, skating ability, and hockey IQ make him a top prospect.
The London Knights d-man has it all but needs to unlock his full potential.
"His size, skating and defense make him a top prospect. He's got some offense, too. He looks like he's going to be a two-way stud in the NHL. He is also by all accounts a great kid who has twice worn a letter for Hockey Canada already and could in London next year," Wheeler writes.
Finally, a big jump down to No. 55, where Quentin Musty sits. Musty is considered to be in Wheeler's 4th tier of prospects. The high-end physical winger has offensive potential to make fans jump out of their seats and go wild.
If he impresses, the OHL's leading scorer in points per game can make the Sharks' NHL roster out of training camp.
"I think he's got a real chance to become a top-six winger in the NHL and I thought about ranking him higher here. The tools are there and I'm looking forward to seeing the level he can get to in the OHL next season and the impact he can have at the world juniors," Wheeler writes.
Down at No. 82 is Shakir Mukhamadullin. At 82, Mukhamadullin is in Wheeler's 6th tier of prospects. The tall defenseman has slowly but surely shown that he can become a good, two-way defenseman.
Time in the NHL seems to be here, but he needs a solid training camp to do so. He looked pretty comfortable in the three games he played last season.
Staying in Tier 6, at No. 87, is Filip Bystedt. The big Swede has found an identity as a skilled offensive playmaker. He loves to drive play with the puck on his steak and has a knack for finding loose pucks in front.
His offensive hockey IQ is very high, but the knock on Bystedt was always his skating. After lots of time, those concerns have begun to fade. Although it doesn't look like there is enough offensive upside to be a top-tier NHL centerman, Bystedt could be a lovely middle-six forward.
"He was one of the SHL's better young players in consecutive seasons and there's more than meets the eye with his game offensively. His game should also work better on North American ice. He projects as a good third-line center for me," Wheeler writes.
Wheeler had three other Sharks prospects who didn't make the list but were in his final cut: Igor Chernyshov, Luca Cagnoni, and Leo Sahlin Wallenius.
Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
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