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REPORT: Sharks Want to Upgrade Goaltending Prospects?

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Credit: Hockey Shots/Dean Tait

The San Jose Sharks are looking to add goaltending prospects.

That’s according to Elliotte Friedman in his latest 32 Thoughts: “As part of reshaping their franchise, San Jose is asking about goaltending prospects. They drafted OHL Sarnia’s Benjamin Gaudreau 81st overall in 2021. He was the backup on Canada’s recent World Junior gold medallists, but the Sharks seek to add more depth.”

The insider also had interesting thoughts about both Timo Meier and Erik Karlsson in his informative-as-usual piece.

It’s worth noting that Friedman didn’t tie a goaltending prospect into the San Jose Sharks’ ask in a potential Meier trade. There are just a handful of premier netminding prospects out there, and they’re not necessarily available.

Anyway, it makes sense for GM Mike Grier to have the organization’s goaltending future in mind, as there’s no clear-cut Sharks goalie of the future, even as soon as next season.

Up top, the San Jose Sharks have struggled in net – they’re 31st in the NHL in Save %. 34-year-old James Reimer is a UFA, trade rumors surrounding him, while heir apparent Kaapo Kahkonen, signed for next season too, hasn’t seized the reins in goal.

In the AHL, 23-year-old Eetu Makiniemi, acquired by Grier in the Brent Burns trade, has been a competent 1A, while Strauss Mann has bounced between the San Jose Barracuda and ECHL affiliate Wichita Thunder, but at the moment, they’re not considered high-ceiling hopefuls.

The jury is out on college and junior prospects Gaudreau, Mason Beaupit, and Magnus Chrona. 2018 sixth-rounder Zachary Emond is also in the system, but his entry-level contract expires after this year, and he’s only appeared for the Thunder this season. We’ll see if the Sharks sign University of Denver starter Chrona to an NHL deal.

Of all the goalies in the system, only Makiniemi and 2022 fourth-rounder Beaupit were acquired under Grier’s watch.

So it makes sense that the goaltending pipeline is just the next area where the new San Jose Sharks regime might be looking to dig up.

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