San Jose Hockey Now
San Jose Hockey Now • • sports
Key Points:
- The San Jose Sharks hold three first-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft: No. 2, No. 9, and No. 27, and are primarily seeking to draft defensemen due to a thin current roster at that position.
- The team is targeting high-impact, young defensemen, though such prospects are scarce in the draft pool, making it likely they will keep their top picks rather than trade them.
- Ivar Stenberg is considered a strong candidate for the No. 2 pick, with the Sharks also interested in defensemen Daxon Rudolph and Keaton Verhoeff for their No. 9 pick.
- Other top defensemen in the draft include Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Alberts Smits, who are expected to be selected before the Sharks’ No. 9 pick.
- The Sharks’ strategy may involve staying at their current draft positions and hoping one of their preferred defensemen falls to them, while other teams might prioritize centers like Viggo Bjorck in the top eight picks.
