San Jose Sharks
2026 Top-20 Mock Draft: 16 Beat Writers Make the Picks
It’s mock draft season!
The San Jose Sharks have two picks, No. 2 and 20, in the first round of the 2026 NHL draft.
San Jose Hockey Now has asked 15 beat writers and one guest GM to make selections for their teams for this top-20 mock draft. SJHN will make the San Jose Sharks’ picks.
Thanks to Mark Masters of TSN, Thomas Drance of The Athletic, Ben Pope of Chicago Sun-Times, Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic, Ryan Pike of Flames Nation, Keegan McNally of the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now, Nick Kieser of Lower Broad Hockey, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now, Stefen Rosner of the Elmonters, Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch, Sammi Silber of the Hockey News, John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor, and Cole Bagley of KSL Sports for helping out.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
Mark Masters selects winger Gavin McKenna: “John Chayka says they will pick the best player available. Gavin McKenna is the best player available.”
2. San Jose Sharks
Sheng Peng selects…
Read the Full Article at NBC Sports Bay Area
Wonder if the Sharks will package Eklund and the 20th overall pick to move up and get Gustafsson. If they retain on Eklund, 20th + Eklund at 50% retained might get them into the 9th overall territory where a least one of Gustafsson, Smits or Verhoeff is likely available.
The idea of leaving the draft with, say, Smits + Reid would sure make the blue line of the future look very promising.
Would hurt to lose Eklund, but fixing the blue line isn’t going to come cheap.
That seems like a pretty major overpay. Eklund was a seventh overall pick and is already a legitimate NHL contributor with room to grow. A proven quantity plus another first to get a single shot in the 8-9 range? Why so much? Even if they get the player they want in that range, they’re 2-3 years out from contributing and you’re another top six forward short. Resetting the timeline makes absolutely no sense when you’ve already drafted Macklin Celebrini. Trade Eklund for help on D, fine, but it needs to be someone who can help now and later, not just… Read more »