San Jose Sharks: Top 8 prospects worth getting excited about
Which San Jose Sharks prospects are worth keeping an eye on?
The San Jose Sharks were without a doubt one of the most disappointing teams of the 2019-20 season. After being one of the leagues most dominating teams throughout the last decade, it seems that age is starting to hinder them, as many of their top players are in their mid to late thirties.
Missing the playoffs is certainly an odd feeling for this organization, as it is just the second time it has happened in the last 15 seasons.
To make matters even worse for the Sharks, what would have been their third overall pick belongs to the Ottawa Senators as a result of the Erik Karlsson trade made during the 2018 offseason.
However, they were able to get a 1st round pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Barclay Goodrow, which was a great trade for general manager Doug Wilson given how deep the 2020 draft is.
The one positive for the Sharks moving forward is that despite the down year, they still have many great pieces that should allow them to rebound for 2020-21 season. However, if they do struggle again, Wilson may have to make some big trades as they do not currently have many top-end prospects in their system. Despite that, they do still have a few young pieces that should be able to help them in years to come.
As mentioned in the other top 8 prospects articles, any player who has played more NHL games in a season than any other league, regardless of the season, will not be included. For example, Noah Gregor, who played 25 AHL games and 28 in the NHL this past season. With that said, here are the top 8 prospects in the Sharks organization.
8. Artemi Kniazev
While he remains very much a project at this point, Artemi Kniazev looks like a nice pick for the Sharks so far. The 48th selection at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has spent the past two seasons with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL, where he has posted solid offensive numbers for a defenceman.
In 51 games this season, the 19-year-old put up 11 goals and 43 points in 51 games. While the goals took a slight hit from the 13 he scored a season prior, he still upped his point total by nine, despite appearing in four fewer games.
While he lacks size for a defenceman at just 5-foot-11 and 183 lbs, he is very skilled and should have Sharks fans excited. It will be interesting to see what numbers he will put up in what is likely his final year of junior hockey next season.
7. Lean Bergmann
Lean Bergmann is a player who seems to keep defying the odds. The undrafted German centerman hasn’t come anywhere close to being a point per game player during his last five seasons of hockey, three of which have come in the USHL, one in the DEL, and this past season which saw him play in both the AHL and NHL.
Despite not producing big numbers, he has been able continue grinding his way to the next level, and was able to play in his first 12 NHL games this season. Given that he is just 21-years-old, he may still be given some more time in the AHL to try and further develop his offensive game, but it is clear that the Sharks management think highly of him.
6. Alexander True
Danish centerman Alexander True, who, in his third AHL season with San Jose Barracuda, finally received his first ever NHL call up. He was able to appear in 12 games with the Sharks, where he posted four assists. It has been quite the progression for the now 23-year-old, who only had a career high of 40 points in the WHL during his three years in the league.
Since becoming a professional hockey player, True has really developed his offensive game. In 40 AHL games this past season, he was able to put up 11 goals and 25 points. While these are solid numbers, it was somewhat of a disappointment compared to the 24 goals and 55 points in 68 games he had the year prior.
Regardless, he has improved a ton over the past few years and has become one of the Sharks better prospects. Though it will take a very good camp, he has a chance to make the teams opening day line up this next season.
5. Sasha Chmelevski
The San Jose Sharks made what appears to be one of their better late round picks in quite some time when they selected centerman Sasha Chmelevski in the 6th round (185 overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
After being drafted, the Huntington Beach, California native played two more seasons in the OHL for the Ottawa 67’s, where he put up solid offensive numbers including his final season of 35 goals and 70 points in 56 games.
Fast forward to this past season, which marked Chmelevski’s first as a pro, and his offensive talent was on display. Despite being just 20-years-old for the entirety of the season, he was able to put up 11 goals and 27 points in 42 games. While those numbers will need to be improved upon next season, it was an impressive start to his professional career.
4. Joachim Blichfeld
Another solid looking late round selection the Sharks have is in Joachim Blichfeld, who was selected in the 7th round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The Danish left winger played in three seasons with the Portland Winterhawks after being drafted. While the first two didn’t offer much to get excited for, the final season did as he went off for 53 goals and 114 points in 68 games.
That was it for his junior career, as the now 22-year-old spent most of the 2019-20 season in the AHL. It was a very solid rookie campaign for Blichfeld, as he put up 16 goals and 16 assists in 44 games. He also earned a call up with the Sharks and appeared in three games. He will likely start off next season in the AHL again, but a hot start could have him called up to the big club early.
3. Alexei Melnichuk
Though he isn’t the highest ranked prospect on this list, Alexei Melnichuk is the most important. While the Sharks struggled as a team this season, a large portion of the blame falls on goaltender Martin Jones. Since signing his six-year, $34.5 million contract, he went from being a very solid starting goalie in the league to a big liability.
With little to no cap room to be able to sign a free agent goalie, the Sharks are relying on Melnichuk. While the undrafted 22-year-old is still a few years away, he looks very promising so far. In 16 games this past season with St. Petersburg SKA in the KHL, he posted an incredible 1.68 goals against average along with a .930 save percentage.
2. John Leonard
What a season it was for UMass-Amherst centerman John Leonard. While his first two years of college hockey were both solid, he was on a different level this past season, posting a ridiculous 27 goals and 37 points in 33 games. While his assists dropped off significantly from the season prior, the nearly goal per game pace more than made up for it.
Leonard was yet again another late round pick by the Sharks, being taken in the 6th round (182 overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The recently turned 22-year-old will become a professional hockey for the 2020-21 season, and while he will likely start at the AHL level, that could soon change if he is able to continue producing the offence he appears capable of.
1. Ryan Merkley
The number one prospect on this list also happens to be the most controversial. Ryan Merkley likely would have been selected much higher than where the Sharks were able to grab him with the 21st pick if it weren’t for his supposed bad attitude. While he is known for his extremely high-end offensive abilities, he is also known for his lack of maturity and fights with both coaches and teammates.
The 20-year-old Merkley played for three teams in the OHL during his four-year tenure in the league, likely in part due to his attitude issues. However, he produced offensively for all three, none better than this past season with the London Knights, where he posted 15 goals and 76 points in just 60 games.
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He will now move on to professional hockey, where the hope is his offensive game can continue and have him become a real threat in the NHL sooner than later. It will be interesting to see how it plays out with him, but there is no doubt the talent is there.