The San Jose Sharks are locked into the top spot in the upcoming NHL draft. There is no world where Fear the Fin sees General Manager Mike Grier trading that pick. None. And, as we explored yesterday, the only possible pick in that number one overall spot is Macklin Celebrini.
That said, there’s still a second pick in the first round that belongs to the Sharks. San Jose currently holds pick 14, thanks to the Erik Karlsson trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s a good pick, but with the depth of defensemen in this draft and the lack of defensive depth in the Sharks’ prospect pool, this is an excellent year to trade up.
All this, of course, hinges on whether trading up is a real possibility or a pipe dream. Wanting to trade up and actually trading up are two different things. Just because you want to move up in the draft, it doesn’t mean that another team wants to help you out.
So, is there an opportunity this season for the Sharks to move up in the draft?
Pick 2 – Chicago Blackhawks
The best way to get a future elite NHL player is to possess a top-five pick in any draft year. Chicago doesn’t have the prospect pool depth to trade away this opportunity. This pick isn’t on the table.
Pick 3 – Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim is likely the only team in the top five of this year’s draft that has a prospect pool deep enough to consider trading away the third overall pick. The price, however, is likely insanely high. It would start with Pittsburgh’s first-round pick this season and likely include one of San Jose’s first-round picks next season, as well as a quality prospect. That’s a hit San Jose cannot afford to take.
Pick 4 – Columbus Blue Jackets
Like Chicago and San Jose, Columbus is in no position to simply trade away a top-five pick. There’s likely no scenario where this pick gets moved to San Jose.
Pick 5 – Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens are gunning for a top forward, while most of the other teams are looking for a defenseman. Montreal might be willing to trade back if the forward the team wants looks like he’ll be available later in the draft.
The trouble for San Jose is that 14 is probably too far for Montreal to trade back to. If the Sharks had a top-ten pick, this deal might get done. As it stands, it’s not happening.
Pick 6 – Utah Hockey Club
Utah is in a great place for this year’s draft. The team has 13 picks, and 7 of them are in the first three rounds. That said, the team only has one pick in the first round, so trading back doesn’t seem like an option. There’s a huge difference between picking 6th and picking 14th.
If the Sharks were able to finagle a deal for the 6th overall pick, it would have to include a top prospect or two, something San Jose can’t spare. Utah is rebuilding, too, and with new owners who want to win ASAP, the team is likely listening to offers. However, any deal would have to include top-end young NHL or near-NHL-ready players, something San Jose doesn’t have a lot of.
Pick 7 – Ottawa Senators
The Sens have decided to keep pick seven this season, pushing back the need to forfeit a pick because of the Evgenii Dadanov trade bungle in 2021. As a result, it’s tough to see the Sharks prying this pick out of Ottawa’s hands. It’s obvious Ottawa covets this pick.
If there’s a deal, we’re starting with the Penguins’ 14th pick, adding San Jose’s early second-round pick and a top prospect. Like the previous scenarios, grabbing the 7th overall pick is too rich for San Jose’s blood.
Pick 8 – Seattle Kraken
This is likely San Jose’s first real opportunity to move up in the draft.
Seattle only has one pick in the first round but the team is likely leaning towards a forward. If there are still several defensemen on the board and two or three top end forwards, Seattle might gamble to get more picks later in the draft.
The trade for this pick would have to include San Jose’s 14th and 33rd overall picks. Seattle is without a fifth round pick this draft. San Jose has two, so if San Jose can get away with trading the better of the two picks here, that’s a win. That said, it’s hard to say what price Seattle has put on this pick.
If it also requires one of San Jose’s 2025 first-round picks, there’s no way this deal gets done.
Pick 9 – Calgary Flames
This is one of those draft-day trades, if it happens at all. Most people have Tij Iginla pegged to go to the Flames at 9th overall. Tij, son of former Calgary great Jarome, has the skill to warrant the pick. He’s launched up the draft board this past year and is expected to go in the top ten. If he makes it to 9th, many expect Calgary GM Craig Conroy, a former teammate of Jarome’s, to pick Tij.
Of course, if Tij gets drafted higher, as some experts predict he might, then the need to pick 9th might not be as urgent for the Flames.
If Sharks management has its eye on pick number nine, it might take a first-rounder, a second-rounder and a later pick to get there.
Pick 10 – New Jersey Devils
Pick ten is where we start to get into “Is it worth it?” territory. Jumping four spots in the draft is only important if there’s a specific player that you’re targeting, and you think he’ll be gone in the next four picks.
With just six picks in the 2024 NHL draft and four picks in 2025, the Devils might be looking to make a deal. Plus, Grier and Tom Fitzgerald have done plenty of deals together over the past few seasons, so the relationship between the two is warm.
New Jersey could be willing to trade this pick for the Pittsburgh first, the Devils’ own 2024 second-round pick, and a 2024 fifth-round pick. The deal might also work if San Jose offered a 2024 fourth-round pick in place of the 2024 fifth-rounder.
Pick 11 – Buffalo Sabres
When it comes to prospects, the Sabres are incredibly deep. It’s why The Athletic ranked Buffalo’s prospect pool as number one this spring. While every team could use more NHL lottery tickets, Buffalo is one of the few teams that can afford to trade back a few spots.
Given how close the two picks are in the draft, it might not take much for the Sharks to move up to 11. This might only take the Pittsburgh first and a second-round pick.
Pick 12 – Philadelphia Flyers
With the loss of top prospect Cutter Gauthier, the Flyers’ prospect pool became a little shallower this season. Philly has two picks in the first round, with the 12th overall pick being the first of the two. It also has two picks in the second round.
If the Sharks want to trade up, picks might not be what the Flyers are looking for. It might take a top prospect, along with the 14th pick, to pry pick 12 from the Flyers’ hands.
Pick 13 – Minnesota Wild
Finally, we arrive at the Minnesota Wild. Moving up one spot truly doesn’t do the Sharks any good unless the team thinks that the Wild will snag the player Grier and company want. And, of course, if that’s the player Minnesota wants, why would it move down to let San Jose have him?
A trade for 13 just doesn’t make sense.
Can the Sharks trade up in the NHL draft?
Jumping into the top five isn’t an option. It’s either too pricey or the other teams aren’t looking to make a deal. Picks eight, nine and ten are likely San Jose’s best targets for moving up. After that, it might not be worth the deal.
The first round of the NHL draft is on Friday, June 28, in Las Vegas. Fear the Fin will have complete coverage of the draft.
