San Jose Sharks rank No. 13 in NHL Pipeline Rankings for 2023
Emma Valentine
Published Apr 07, 2026
Things have been tough in San Jose lately but they are starting to put together a strong collection of prospects. Tomas Hertl, Will Smith and Filip Bystedt are a group of centers the Sharks can win with. They need to add more on the blue line over the next few years, though.
Key additions: Shakir Mukhamadullin, William Smith, Quentin Musty, Kasper Halttunen
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2022 ranking: No. 21
2023 NHL Draft grade: A-
Full 2023-24 NHL Pipeline Rankings
Player Ranking
1. William Smith, C
3/17/20005 | 6-feet | 180 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 4 in 2023
Tier: NHL All-Star
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: High-end
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Smith is a dynamic offensive player who stands out every game with his talent. He has tremendous puck skills, vision and overall offensive creativity and projects to be a major asset on an NHL power play. He skates well and makes so many high-difficulty plays at a strong pace, which lends well to his pro projection. Smith is a high-end passer who is also able to finish chances from the dots. The only real wart in his game is that I wouldn’t call him an overly physical or high-energy player. I don’t think he lacks effort. He’s around the puck a ton whenever he’s on the ice and even at times killed penalties for the program.
2. William Eklund, LW
10/12/2002 | 5-foot-11 | 181 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 7 in 2021
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Skating: High-end
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: After a tough season in Sweden in 2022, Eklund looked more like himself in the AHL this past season being a top player for his club. Eklund has some dynamic qualities between his skating and puck play. He has excellent edges and quickness. He will be able to evade NHL pressure constantly and beat defensemen wide. He makes a lot of difficult dekes and passes on the move and has a very creative offensive mind as a playmaker. Eklund isn’t that big, but he competes hard off the puck, and gets to the net to score. You’d like to see a little more natural finish in his game but he can shoot the puck well enough. He projects as a quality top-six wing.
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3. Shakir Mukhamadullin, D
1/10/2002 | 6-foot-4 | 178 pounds | Shoots left
Acquired via trade
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Mukhamadullin was a key part of the Timo Meier trade at the deadline between New Jersey and San Jose. He’s been quite good in the KHL of late and has the looks of a top-four defenseman between his large frame, his impressive mobility and his good albeit not outstanding puck play. He has strong hands and vision. He can create offense off the rush, from activating off the blue line and from his point shot. Mukhamadullin defends fine due to his length and feet but he’s not the hardest player to play against physically. He could be a solid second-pair defenseman.
4. Filip Bystedt, C
2/4/2004 | 6-foot-2 | 187 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 27 in 2022
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Bystedt had a great season. He was the best rookie in the SHL. He was a top player for Sweden at the world juniors and got some time with Sweden’s national team as well. He looks like an NHL forward with how well he skates for a big man while also being highly skilled. He has the soft hands to beat pro defenders 1v1. He has good vision, and shoots the puck well too. What I liked about Bytsedt this season was how much he created at the net and showed more compete than what I thought he had in his draft season. His trajectory now looks like a player who could be a legit top two-line center in the NHL.
5. Quentin Musty, LW
7/6/2005 | 6-foot-2 | 200 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 26 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
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Analysis: Musty is a player with a lot of offensive touch in his game. He’s a highly-skilled puck handler who can make difficult plays with the puck at a high rate. He tries to make things happen and shows a strong level of creativity. Musty is a good passer who can hit open lanes and has the patience to pull up and make plays. He can score goals and is a shot threat from range but is certainly a player with a pass-first mentality. His effort is fine, he can use his big body to win battles but his game-to-game consistency isn’t the best. He’s a one-way winger, which combined with his so-so skating ability, is a concern for higher levels. There may be times you want more from him, but I think he will score so much that he will be a top-six wing.
6. Thomas Bordeleau, C
1/3/2002 | 5-foot-10 | 175 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 38 in 2020
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Bordeleau was a top player for the Barracuda and got eight games with the Sharks as well. He’s a talented scorer with legit NHL speed and skill. Bordeleau is able to pull away from pro defenders and has strong in-tight quickness as well. He’s a highly creative offensive player with the skill, vision and shot to be a threat on the power play and anytime he gets near a puck in the offensive zone. His size and lack of physical play are issues and may end up pushing him off the center position eventually. He projects as a middle-six forward, whether at wing or center is to be determined.
7. Cameron Lund, C
6/7/2004 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 34 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
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Analysis: Lund’s production the last few years hasn’t blown anyone away, but he projects well due to his great toolkit. He’s a 6-foot-2 forward who can skate, and has legit offensive abilities. He can make skilled plays at full speed, is creative as a playmaker and has a good wrist shot from range. On his best shift, he can be dynamic, but his best shifts are infrequent. He can also drift to the perimeter too much to generate his offense. I think he plays games in the NHL and has the potential to be a middle-six wing but he has to be more consistent to do so.
8. Henry Thrun, D
3/12/2001 | 6-foot-2 | 190 pounds | Shoots left
Free Agent
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Thrun was a top defenseman in the ECAC this season. He then played for Team USA at the worlds. He walked to free agency after finishing his senior season at Harvard and not signing with Anaheim, electing to go to San Jose instead. Thrun is a very smart puck-mover. He can make the tough outlets and shows ability to hit seams from the offensive blue line. The issue in his game has always stemmed from his so-so mobility and whether he could defend NHL speed. As his time in college has progressed Thrun has shown a very strong compete level and some physicality that I think he can make it even with his feet. He projects as a third-pair defenseman.
9. Kasper Halttunen, RW
6/7/2005 | 6-foot-3 | 215 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 36 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end
Analysis: There’s no doubting the offensive ability Halttunen has. Halttunen is very skilled and his shot is a legit threat from range. His wrist shot and one-timer project to beat NHL goaltenders. Combined with the fact he has a large frame and there’s a lot to like. Halttunen has a heavy stride, though, and his compete can be in and out. Sometimes he leans too much on his shot as well as opposed to making a play or taking the puck to the net. When he’s on, he’s a physical presence with offense and doesn’t shy from using his body. He has middle-six if not top-six NHL tools, but I wonder if the way he plays will result in a long NHL career.
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10. Mattias Havelid, D
1/1/2004 | 5-foot-9 | 165 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 45 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end
Analysis: Havelid missed a large part of the season due to injury including the world juniors. He looked like a solid SHL defenseman when healthy though. Havelid is a talented offensive player. He has the skating ability to jump into attacks and activate off the blue line to create offense with his skill. Havelid is a strong passer who makes tough plays and can hit seams. He also has an excellent point shot and can beat pro goalies clean. Havelid will score as a pro, but he’s a tiny defenseman who competes well but not exceptionally so the question will be how well he defends. His feet are excellent and he works hard enough to give himself a real chance to make it in the NHL defensively but it’s not a sure thing.
11. Luca Cagnoni, D
12/21/2004 | 5-foot-9 | 182 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 123 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Cagnoni stands out offensively. He has very good puck skills and offensive IQ, which when combined with a strong skating stride makes him dangerous in a variety of ways. He can lead rushes with speed and skill. He can make creative passes and hit a lot of seams. He’s also a shot threat who can run a power play at a high level. Cagnoni’s only real flaw is his size. In junior I think he defends well enough due to his brain and feet but as he ascends levels that will be his main challenge. If you’re a believer, you see a potential Matt Grzelcyk. Either way, I think he will play in the NHL but I’m not sure if he’s a long-career type yet.
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12. Danil Gushchin, LW
2/6/2002 | 5-foot-8 | 165 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 76 in 2020
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: High-end
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end
Analysis: Gushchin had a strong rookie pro season, being one of the top scorers for the Barracuda. He’s an entertaining and talented forward. Gushchin is an excellent skater with the quick twitch in his feet to explode up the ice and beat NHL defensemen with his speed. He combines his feet with good offensive skills as a handler and passer. He’s a constant threat to score as his shot is very quick and accurate and often beats goalies from way out. Guschin is tiny though and while he works hard enough, the average compete at his size isn’t ideal. I’d like to see more hardness or offense at the net from him to think he will survive in the NHL. His talent gives him a real chance to have a career though and he projects to play games.
13. Yegor Rimashevskiy, RW
2/1/2005 | 6-foot-2 | 197 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 203 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Rimashevskiy is a good-sized winger with excellent offensive touch. He can make a lot of highly-creative skill plays with the puck and use his reach to maintain possession quite well. Rimashevskiy is a strong playmaker and finisher. He has the strong hockey IQ to see tough passing lanes and knows how to attack defenses in various ways to create chances. The only thing that will hold him back is his skating, He lacks quick twitch in his lower half for the NHL level. His work ethic is good enough. He can kill penalties and gives a strong enough effort to be a bottom-six wing in the NHL.
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Has a chance to play*
Mason Beaupit, G
9/23/2003 | 6-foot-5 | 188 pounds | Catches left
Drafted: No. 108 in 2022
Analysis: Beaupit had a tough season in the WHL. He’s not overly quick, but he’s big and has good enough hockey sense to have a chance to play in the league.
Brandon Coe, RW
12/1/2001 | 6-foot-4 | 188 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 98 in 2020
Analysis: Coe is a tough evaluation. He looks like an NHL forward with his size, skating and skill combination. He doesn’t always score like one though, as his hockey sense is just okay and he lacks a finishing touch. It wouldn’t surprise me if he became a legit bottom-six winger or if he never came close.
Jake Furlong, D
3/4/2004 | 6-foot-1 | 189 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 140 in 2022
Analysis: Furlong is a mobile defender who competes well and played big minutes for Halifax last season. I wouldn’t call his sense/puck-moving great, but it’s good enough to be a decent pro and give himself a chance to make it.
Evgenii Kashnikov, D
12/25/2002 | 6-foot-4 | 200 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 199 in 2021
Analysis: Kashnikov’s puck play is limited, but he’s fairly mobile for a big defenseman and has some hard elements in his game too.
Axel Landen, D
3/29/2005 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 130 in 2023
Analysis: Landen is an excellent defender. He makes a lot of stops due to his skating and physicality. He closes on checks very well with his skating and length. He is one the hardest defensemen to play against in his age group, often finishing his checks with force and never shying away from physical play. The issue with Landen is his puck game. He shows flashes of good puck skill, but his decision-making with the puck is an issue and he doesn’t show much hockey sense. He does have a good point shot, though.
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Gannon Laroque, D
8/20/2003 | 6-foot-2 | 200 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 103 in 2021
Analysis: Laroque missed the entire season due to injury which was tough after he was progressing quite well as a prospect. When healthy he looks like a tall, physical defenseman with some puck-moving ability even if his feet are heavy.
12/4/2000 | 6-foot-1 | 195 pounds | Shoots left
Acquired via trade
Analysis: Okhotiuk is an excellent skating defenseman who plays with a lot of physicality. His offense/puck-moving is a major question for the pro game and whether he can make a first pass at the NHL level.
Tristen Robins, C
11/15/2001 | 5-foot-10 | 176 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 56 in 2020
Analysis: Robins is an excellent skater with good hands and creativity who can shoot the puck well. He’s an undersized forward too who I wouldn’t describe as overly dynamic or competitive so I wonder where he would fit on an NHL team.
Brandon Svoboda, C
2/4/2005 | 6-foot-3 | 209 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 71 in 2023
Analysis: Svoboda is an intriguing athlete. He’s 6-foot-3 and skates well with a toolkit that should work versus better players. He shows flashes of strong offensive skill. His game is quite inconsistent though. I don’t see a ton of hockey sense in him and his effort is just OK. If it ever clicks for him he has potential to be a player and thus I think he’s worth a gamble at some point in the draft because his toolkit is rare after the top group of players.
Alex Young, C
3/22/2001 | 5-foot-11 | 170 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 196 in 2020
Analysis: Young is a highly skilled and creative forward with a high-end shot that projects to beat pro goalies. He is a smaller forward too with so-so footspeed and compete so whether his game will translate is a bit of a longshot.
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*Listed in alphabetical order
Player Eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2023, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.
Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.
Tier Definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.
(Photo of Will Smith: Jari Pestelacci / Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images)
