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Top 3 San Jose Sharks prospects to watch out for in upcoming seasons feat. Macklin Celebrini
The San Jose Sharks are in the midst of a total rebuild, but the light at the end of the tunnel could be coming much sooner than expected. After a fantastic haul in the 2024 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks are poised to become one of the top teams in the Western Conference.
The Sharks’ potential rests on the impact of the team’s deep prospect pipeline. In particular, three prospects stand out as potential high-end NHL players. Here’s a closer look.
San Jose Sharks' top 3 prospects to watch out for
3. Sam Dickinson
Dickinson was San Jose's second first-round draft pick in this year's NHL Draft. Selected at 11th overall, Dickinson projects as a top-pairing NHL defenseman given his size and playmaking ability. Opponents have a difficult time trying to get the puck past him.
Offensively, Dickinson has the potential to apply pressure on the forecheck, while carrying the puck out of the zone if the opportunity arises. His offensive upside is considerable, given his 70 points in 68 games played with the OHL London Knights this past season.
The 18-year-old should spend another year in the junior level before potentially turning pro next year, making his ETA to San Jose as early as the 2025-26 season.
2. Will Smith
Smith was the Sharks’ first-round selection in 2023. As the fourth overall pick, Smith projects as a top six forward with the potential to become a legitimate No. 1 center. His puck handling and passing skills are superior, allowing him to make the most of the opportunities to transition from offense to defense.
Overall, Smith looks to make the team following an extremely successful stint with Boston College where he racked up 71 points in 41 games. While it’s possible that Smith may start next season in the AHL, it will only be a matter of time before he gets a call-up to the big league.
Smith is still only 19 years old, so there’s still plenty of time for him to evolve into a solid NHL player.
1. Macklin Celebrini
There is little doubt that Celebrini is the top prospect in the Sharks’ system. Celebrini was the first overall pick in the 2024 Draft, making it clear he was the best player in his class.
After tearing up the NCAA with Boston University, scoring 64 points in 38 games, Celebrini should get every opportunity to impact the NHL right away. Earlier this year, he became the youngest player to ever win the Hobey Baker Award—given to the best NCAA men's hockey player in the nation.
At just 18 years old, Celebrini is already projected to make the team out of training camp; though there could always be the possibility that he starts the season in the AHL. While it would be surprising to see him start the year in the minors, the Sharks have no need to rush him. As it stands, he is the early favorite to take next year’s Calder Trophy.
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