Sheng Peng
Why did the San Jose Sharks just sign 2021 draft picks Ethan Cardwell and Artem Guryev to three-year entry-level contracts?
I spoke with two NHL scouts from outside the Sharks organization who shared their insights about the OHL prospects.
Ethan Cardwell, 20, was the San Jose Sharks’ fourth-round pick in the 2021 Draft. The 5-foot-11 winger is in the midst of a breakout campaign, leading the Barrie Colts with 43 goals and second with 90 points in the regular season.
The Colts currently have a 2-1 series lead over the North Bay Battalion in the second round of the OHL playoffs.
“Cardwell has come along really well. Late-blooming due to the lost COVID year, even though he killed it in Sweden,” a scout told San Jose Hockey Now.
“Excellent, excellent skater. Difference from this year to last year is simply maturity and growing stronger a bit. Older player on that team, he and [leading scorer Evan] Vierling really stepped up and started contributing more consistently.
“Real assertive as well.”
So what’s the 2023 Sharks Prospect of the Year’s NHL ceiling?
“Legit chance he can be a bottom-[six] forward,” the scout offered.
Artem Guryev, 19, was the San Jose Sharks’ fifth-round pick in the 2021 Draft. The 6-foot-4 defenseman had eight goals and nine assists over 47 games with the Peterborough Petes and Flint Firebirds.
The Firebirds were eliminated in seven games by the Saginaw Spirit in the first round of the OHL playoffs.
“Guryev was traded straight up for Brennan Othmann in the OHL,” an NHL scout told SJHN, “that shows his value in that league already.”
Othmann, the 2021 New York Rangers first-round pick, was Flint’s leading scorer in 2021-22 and to begin the 2022-23 season, when he asked for a trade for personal reasons. In November, the Firebirds sent him to the Petes for Guryev, a 2024 second-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick, and a 2026 third-round pick.
“Those are very low picks in the OHL, most trades in that league for an NHL first-rounder [like Othmann] would include [OHL] first-rounders and already-drafted top prospects,” the scout explained.
So don’t sleep on Guryev, and his combination of size and toughness, if he keeps improving.
“He’s got NHL qualities and had a really good season,” the scout said.
Guryev, at the moment, profiles as a possible bottom-pairing NHL defender.