Locked On Sharks
Our Reaction to Sharks’ Draft

Kyle, Erik, and JD have finished watching 48 straight hours of William Eklund highlights and react to the San Jose Sharks’ 2021 Draft. We grade their total draft, talk about the defenseman they drafted (7:30), and our favorite picks (13:00). Then we get into if William Eklund could make the San Jose Sharks this season (19:00), rank the prospect pipeline (25:00), and how we feel about Doug Wilson Jr.’s work this year (30:00).
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Puistola (20) was a bad example to use. he’s not an NHL player…yet. he played in Liiga this season, and considering his limited minutes on a bad team there, he scored well and improved on his projection. he’s actually got a higher % chance of making the NHL than their top pipeline LW (Nybeck) and his comparative upside isn’t that big of a difference. even the probability that Gaudreau was rated a 2nd round pick, he wasn’t rated as high as Simon Robertsson was, and that’s who was available at their original pick position (71), and the player their trading… Read more »
I love the defensemen in this draft, granted they’re not top pairing but they are bangers and this is where the Sharks are severely lacking. As we saw what happened to VGK against MTL, Vegas had trouble with MTLs big bodies on defense. The defense are mainly bottom pairing potential guys. I give this draft a B just on the E5 pick alone, if Gaudreau pans out this draft becomes a A-, if one of the defense or wingers come out as NHL regulars the draft becomes a A. Getting a top line forward, starting goalie and depth D/F is… Read more »
not really fair to rank drafting based on future results. did anyone have Labanc rated above the 6th round? i don’t think so. yet, in re-drafts he’s a 1st round pick (10th on NHL.com’s Kimelman’s list in 2019). i think the NHL combined rankings had him as high as pick #156 at the time. see what i mean?
They wouldn’t really admit it, but it seems like there was an emphasis on adding size and physicality to defensive prospect pipeline. Sharks mgmt did refer to a better blend in the back-end after this draft.