Sharks Among League’s Worst at Drafting Goalies

Quick, name the last San Jose Sharks-drafted goalie to make the NHL.

You’ve got to go back 15 years to answer that – 2008 fourth-round pick Harri Sateri.

That’s a long time, so long in fact, it’s a league-worst.

That’s right, every team – including the six-year-old Vegas Golden Knights, but not the two-year-old Seattle Kraken – has had a more recent goalie Draft pick appear in an NHL game than the Sharks.

Since Sateri, the San Jose Sharks have selected Fredrik Bergvik (2013), Mike Robinson and Jake Kupsky (2015), Zachary Emond (2018), Ben Gaudreau (2021), and Mason Beaupit (2022). Now that’s not a lot of netminders drafted, but that’s also zero success.

It’s a mark of an organization that hasn’t been able to figure out their goaltending in a while, whether via the Draft, free agency, or trade.

The recent decision for Gaudreau to re-enter the 2023 Draft is just another example of that.

AGENT: Ben Gaudreau Re-Entering Draft

2021 No. 81 Gaudreau, by the way, was the highest Sharks goaltender pick since No. 55 Terry Friesen in 1996. That also makes Gaudreau the second-highest San Jose-drafted goalie ever, followed closely by Robinson (No. 86 in 2015), Timo Pielmeier (No. 83 in 2007), Tyson Sexsmith (No. 91 in 2007), Thomas Greiss (No. 94 in 2004), Vesa Toskala (No. 90 in 1995), and Dan Ryder (No. 89 in 1991).

But back to Harri Sateri!

Pulling up at the rear with the Sharks and 2008 in drafting goalies futility are the Chicago Blackhawks (2010: Kent Simpson), Detroit Red Wings (2010: Petr Mrazek), Los Angeles Kings (2011: Christopher Gibson), and Winnipeg Jets (2013: Eric Comrie).

Another telling piece of history: The last significant netminder drafted by the San Jose Sharks was Alex Stalock in 2005, “significant” loosely defined as a keeper who’s played 20-plus games in an NHL season.

That’s also a long time ago too, with only the Blackhawks (2003: Corey Crawford), Montreal Canadiens (2005: Carey Price), and Kings (2006: Jonathan Bernier) suffering a similar drought.

All this is to say, the San Jose Sharks need to draft a good goalie, and fast. Will this be the year?