Analysts tab Sharks as having best prospect pool in NHL

The San Jose Sharks have made top-10 selections in three of the last four seasons, and while all the losing they had to do to earn those high draft picks likely stung, the payoff could be well worth it.

Headlined by 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini and 2023 No. 4 overall pick Will Smith, the Sharks had the No. 1-ranked farm system in Daily Faceoff’s prospect pool rankings.

“Skill, size, versatility, you name it,” DFO prospect analyst Steven Ellis said . “The Sharks have a bright future, and while they’re still a few years away from making serious progress forward, we’re about to get a glimpse of what the future holds in just a few short weeks.”

Many prospect gurus have said the Sharks have the deepest group of center prospects in the league.

Two of those players — Celebrini and Smith — will make their NHL debuts this season, and another — Thomas Bordeleau — got a taste of the NHL last season with a 27-game stint, most of which came after the trade deadline.

San Jose also bolstered an already deep farm system with last week’s trade for goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, who was named the top goaltending prospect in the American Hockey League last season.

“They still need some extra defensive depth, though, but I can live with where they are, knowing they’ve got at least one more early draft in them,” Ellis added. “So, while it might still be a long few years as the kids keep developing and the vets keep losing, better days are ahead. And that’s all you can ask for.”

Ellis’ top 10 Sharks prospects:

1. Macklin Celebrini, C
2. Will Smith, C
3. Sam Dickinson, D
4. Yaroslav Askarov, G
5. Quentin Musty, LW
6. Shakir Mukhamadullin, D
7. Igor Chernyshov, LW
8. Thomas Bordeleau, C
9. Filip Bystedt, C
10. Kasper Halttunen, RW