San Jose Sharks Draft Three Players in First Round

The San Jose Sharks selected three players in the first round of the NHL draft, including Ivar Stenberg at No. 2.

Stenberg, a Swedish left winger, led all teenagers in Sweden's top league with 11 goals and 33 points in 43 games.

What happened at the draft?

The Sharks also picked Keaton Verhoeff, a North Dakota defenseman, at No. 9, and traded up to select Ryan Lin, a WHL Vancouver play-making defenseman, at No. 21.

As of the end of the last season, the San Jose Sharks stood 11th in the Western Conference with a 39-35 record, on a W1 streak.

Who are the new players?

Ivar Stenberg, 18, is coming off a strong season in Sweden's top league, while Keaton Verhoeff, 17, was the youngest NCAA Division I blue-liner last season.

Verhoeff led all draft-eligible defensemen with 20 points in 20 games, and Lin had 14 goals and 57 points in 53 games as team captain.

Why it matters for San Jose Sharks

The new additions join a Sharks team that includes Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 pick in 2024, who enjoyed a breakout season with 45 goals and 115 points.

Celebrini was a star in representing Canada at the Milan Cortina Games, and the new players are expected to bolster the team's lineup.

The Sharks' general manager, Mike Grier, said the team had a good day at the draft, adding three players who can be part of the team for a long time.

What comes next?

The Sharks' trajectory is pointing up, with the team finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with 86 points, just four back of the Los Angeles Kings.

The team's wins and points were the most since they last made the playoffs in 2018-19, and the new additions are expected to help the team make a push for the playoffs.

The Sharks' lineup also includes 2025 No. 2 pick Michael Misa, 2023 No. 4 pick Will Smith, and defenseman Sam Dickinson, who was picked No. 11 in 2024.