Cole McKinney is one of the exciting newcomers heading into the San Jose Sharks’ system. He was drafted in the second round, 53rd overall, in 2025 by the Sharks. He came off an impressive season with the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP), where he led the team in scoring and proved he’s more than just a puck-chaser. Since he’s brand new to the organization, he didn’t rank on our list last season, meaning he’s a total newcomer to our Top 25 Under 25 list.

Position: Center
Height: 6”0″
Weight: 201 pounds
Age: 18 
Date of Birth: March 16, 2007
Draft Year: 2025 (53rd overall by the San Jose Sharks)
Shoots: Right 
2025–26 Team: University of Michigan

What we like

McKinney brings a smart, well-rounded energy to the ice, which is exactly what you want in a young forward. First off, he’s a high-IQ two-way center. He separates himself by forcing turnovers, working hard in puck battles and showing up in his own zone. EliteProspects called him a “two-way center” and “face-off specialist” who consistently makes the other team look sloppy.

His offense this season was real. With 61 points in 60 U.S. NTDP games, 27 goals and 34 assists, he wasn’t just scoring; he was doing it in multiple ways. And that’s just the beginning! He added 26 more points in 23 USHL games. It’s that kind of balanced production that shows he can do damage at both ends.

The best part? He brings all that detail and focus to every game. Scouts noted that he’s never not engaged. Every shift, he’s digging, disrupting and creating plays for his teammates. That consistency is rare and super appealing for a player his age.

Areas of improvement

Even with his clean two-way game, McKinney, of course, still has room to grow. For starters, his skating and pace aren’t yet elite-level just yet. Compared to higher-picked draft peers, he’s solid, but not yet smooth enough to zoom by NHL defensemen. Cranking up his foot speed and acceleration will be key once he arrives at Michigan and eventually the NHL. Offensively, his creativity still needs some polishing. His scoring comes from smart positioning and effort, not flashy moves or highlight plays yet. Adding more vision, creativity to his entries, or passing unpredictability, would make his offensive game that much scarier to opponents.

Lastly, while he’s well-built for his age, beefing up strength will help him win battles at the dot and in front of the net, especially against physically strong college and pro players. A structured conditioning program at Michigan should help him achieve this goal.

What’s next for McKinney?

Next season, McKinney heads to the University of Michigan, which is a fantastic environment for the growth he needs. He’ll get top-tier coaching, minutes and the chance to sharpen his skating and more offensive creativity against that tough competition. That college experience could be a turning point for how quickly he adjusts to pro-level speed and structure.

McKinney will be playing with other NHL draftees such as 2025 Pittsburgh Penguins first-round pick Will Horcroff and 2024 Montreal Canadiens first-round pick Michael Hage. He’ll also have a series of NHL-drafted defensemen on the backend feeding him pucks. There’s talent there for him to work with and help him grow his game.

Looking ahead, McKinney could emerge as a reliable depth NHL center. He can be someone you trust in high-pressure situations, on faceoffs and in defensive matchups. He might not be the flashy 80-point scorer, but his balanced and dependable game has the potential to make him a key piece or a penalty-kill anchor. If he keeps developing his pace and adding some polish, he could become a core part of the Sharks’ future depth.

Highlights

Here it is: McKinney can make those high-IQ plays. He sets up plays like these for his teammates and squeezes in when it’s clearly needed. All he needs is to add a touch of unpredictability, being more fancy, and reacting at faster speeds. When all is said and done, he will play a huge role in the Sharks’ rebuild.

Previous Top 25 Under 25 Posts
22. Zack Ostapchuk
23. Mattias Havelid
24. Egor Afanasyev
25. Carson Wetsch
Honorable Mentions: Joey Muldowney, Jake Furlong, Brandon Svoboda, Nate Misskey, Gabriel Carriere