Mock Drafts Think Sharks Will Pick Defenseman in 1st Round

With last week’s NHL Draft Lottery now complete and the first 16 selection positions set, it’s officially NHL mock draft season!

As for the San Jose Sharks, picking 11th overall, there is a wide variance of opinions on who should be putting on the teal sweater in Montreal this summer.

Chris Peters (Daily Faceoff) has suggested Pavel Mintyukov as his selection at this early date, while both Ryan Kennedy (The Hockey News) and Cam Robinson (EP Rinkside) have named Ryan Chesley. Marco D’Amico (Montreal Hockey Now) and Brandon Holmes (FCHockey) both offered up Kevin Korchinski. Corey Masisak/Corey Pronman (The Athletic) selected Brad Lambert. Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale (NHL) picked Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Pavel Mintyukov, respectively.

Of the five draft-eligibles named above, three are defensemen (Mintyukov, Chesley, Korchinski) and two are forwards (Lambert, Lekkerimäki), and six of the eight mock drafts here have San Jose looking to the back-end. The question is whether or not the San Jose Sharks decided to add to the up-and-coming forward depth, led by William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau, or to bolster the blueline even further.

Korchinski’s 61 assists this season with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds gave him the most assists of any draft-eligible defensemen in over 30 years and he’s been steadily rising on many draft boards.

The Saginaw Spirit blueliner Mintyukov has been recognized as a future power play staple and has had more success finding goals than Korchinski during his time in the OHL.

However, Chesley seems to be the wild card of the three defensemen, having not produced as notably as Mintyukov and Korchinski. But as a right-shot defenseman, he is a playing a premium position. He could be a steal in years to come and both Kennedy and Robinson may be on to something picking him up in their mock drafts.

Lekkerimäki would already have a familiar face in San Jose, having spent part of the 2021-22 season on Djurgårdens IF in the SHL with Eklund. While his numbers in the SHL this season may not impress at first glance, many Sharks fans know that Djurgårdens struggled as a team, and yet some of the players still managed to impress, including Lekkerimäki.

Finally, a name most draft-watchers are familiar with, Lambert split his season with a few teams. The Pelicans and JYP in Finland’s Liiga were where he spent most of the year, where he played with men but did struggle to produce. Should he be available to the Sharks at 11th overall, he would likely be the most obvious choice for Team Teal to pick up.

In regards to Lambert though, his stock is falling in some eyes. Peters thinks Lambert will go in the first round, but not in the lottery:

Who Will Sharks Pick at No. 11? Chris Peters Talks 2022 Draft

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Joachim Blichfeld (#86) recorded a hat trick today for Denmark at the #MensWorlds. Blichfeld also had a hat trick for Denmark against Great Britain on May 8 #SJSharks https://t.co/pHjqyZF1f3

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Learn more: https://t.co/vWv5hSSVk6 pic.twitter.com/3vv7AtEHiS

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AROUND THE NHL…

It's been 14 years since the Calgary Flames last played a Game 7…April 22, 2008 in San Jose.#Flames lost 5-3.

Jarome Iginla, Owen Nolan & Wayne Primeau scored. Adrian Aucoin had two assists & Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 26 of 30 shots.

The game winner? Scored by Joe Pavelski.

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LA Kings recall goaltender Matt Villalta on an emergency basis. (Mayor’s Manor)

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