GRAND FORKS — The San Jose Sharks are getting to know UND’s defensive corps pretty well this week.
The Sharks took UND defenseman Keaton Verhoeff to dinner on Wednesday night at the NHL Combine in Buffalo, N.Y. They’re scheduled to take incoming UND freshman defenseman Carson Carels to dinner Thursday night, according to San Jose writer Sheng Peng.
The Sharks have the No. 2 overall pick in the NHL Draft, which will begin with the first round on June 26.
The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the first pick.
This is the fourth year in a row the Sharks have held a top-five pick.
In 2023, they selected Boston College forward Will Smith at No. 4 overall. In 2024, they took Boston University center Macklin Celebrini at No. 1 overall. Last year, they took Ontario Hockey League forward Michael Misa at No. 2.
With a loaded group of forwards, San Jose seems likely to turn to the blue line in this draft, where a number of promising players are available.
Most online mock drafts have Michigan State commit Chase Reid going No. 2 overall to the Sharks.
But NHL scouts have told the Herald that opinions vary greatly on the top blue liners — Verhoeff, Carels, Reid, Alberts Šmits of Latvia, and Denver-bound Daxon Rudolph.
Choosing to spend nights at the NHL Combine with Verhoeff and Carels indicates a level of interest from the Sharks.
The highest-drafted UND players of all time are Jonathan Toews at No. 3 (2006) and Jake Sanderson at No. 5 (2020).
The NHL Combine ends Friday.
UND has four representatives among the 90 players there — Verhoeff, Carels, incoming freshman defenseman Ethan MacKenzie and 2027 forward commit Cooper Williams, who will play for the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League this season.
All four are expected to be selected in the 2026 NHL Draft.
UND has two others who are on NHL teams’ radars — 2027 defenseman commit Brayden Klimpke and incoming freshman winger Connor Davis.
2026 NHL Draft
When: 6 p.m., June 26, first round.
Where: Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: ESPN.
UND’s first-round hopefuls: D Keaton Verhoeff, D Carson Carels.
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.