San Jose Sharks
Mock Draft Check: Who Do Experts Think Sharks Will Pick?
Who do the experts think that the San Jose Sharks will pick?
During Monday’s Draft lottery, the Sharks ended up with the fourth-overall selection in the Draft.
We know Connor Bedard is going No. 1 to the Chicago Blackhawks. Adam Fantilli is likely second-overall to the Anaheim Ducks. The Draft gets more wide open after that with the Columbus Blue Jackets and No. 3, but we’re pretty sure they’re selecting a center.
Let’s see who the best-known Draft gurus in our business have the San Jose Sharks choosing at No. 4.
Jason Bukala/Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet
Will Smith: “Perfectly suited to play at the pace of today’s game with a penchant for making plays at top speed, while presenting a legit scoring threat in tight, off the rush, or net-front.”
Craig Button, TSN
Smith: “He reminds me of Mika Zibanejad.”
Steven Ellis, The Daily Faceoff
Smith: “Smith was often the brains of [his high-scoring U-18 line].”
Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News
Leo Carlsson: “He had great chemistry with Sharks prospect Filip Bystedt at the world juniors.”
Adam Kimelman/Mike Morreale, NHL.com
Smith (Kimelman): “Smith is a game-breaking talent.”
Carlsson (Morreale): “He knows how to manage the puck along the boards and is difficult to knock down in battles.”
Chris Peters, FloHockey
Carlsson: “Some teams are starting to move Will Smith ahead of Leo Carlsson, if you believe the scout rumor mill…That rare combination of size and skill is so hard to pass up [with Carlsson].”
Corey Pronman, The Athletic
Carlsson: “I’m doubtful currently that any NHL team will take [Matvei] Michkov over the consensus premium names in this draft.”
Cam Robinson, Elite Prospects
Smith: “If the massive point production during the regular season didn’t convince teams, Will Smith’s 20 points in seven U18 World Championship games en route to a gold medal and tournament MVP certainly did.”
For the San Jose Sharks at No. 4, that’s five votes for Smith and four for Carlsson…right now. We’ll keep checking how the experts are picking in their mock drafts as we get closer to the Jun. 28 Draft in Nashville.
