BUFFALO \u2014 Here\u2019s what I\u2019m hearing, San Jose Sharks-related, at the 2026 Draft in Buffalo on Friday.<\/p>\n
The San Jose Sharks have, as of 3 PM ET, three picks in the first round, No. 2, 9, and 27.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are looking for D,\u201d one source tells San Jose Hockey Now.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s rather obvious, of course, because they have just two defensemen signed right now, Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson, and two RFA blueliners, Shakir Mukhamadullin and Michael Kesselring.<\/p>\n
Of course, they\u2019re not looking for just any defenseman. So while I believe their first-rounders would be in play for the right blueliner \u2014 20-something and high-impact \u2014 there\u2019s not a lot of that out there in the open market. There aren\u2019t a lot of Bo Byram types out there, and while the Chicago Blackhawks overpaid to acquire him from the Buffalo Sabres, fact is, the Blackhawks are a better team with him than with the No. 4 pick, at least right now.<\/p>\n
Not that I\u2019m saying that the San Jose Sharks should\u2019ve offered up the No. 2 for Byram, but that trade speaks to the lack of young, high-impact defensemen on the market. That scarcity leads me to believe that the Sharks will make the No. 2 and 9 picks.<\/p>\n
So who will they pick? This is a running diary that I will add to, until the beginning of the Draft.<\/p>\n
10:55 AM<\/p>\n
\u201cStenberg lock at No. 2,\u201d a source told SJHN. \u201cThey covet Rudolph. Doubt he\u2019s at No. 9.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yesterday, another source projected that the 2026 Draft would go, barring any trades and in this order, Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Chase Reid, Caleb Malhotra, and Alberts Smits.<\/p>\n
1:23 PM<\/p>\n
If not Daxon Rudolph, could Keaton Verhoeff fall to No. 9? A source believes that Reid, Carson Carels, and Smits seem to have defined themselves as the top-three defensemen in this draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey love [Verhoeff],\u201d a source told SJHN. Another source corroborated this, that Verhoeff believes that San Jose could be a destination.<\/p>\n
If the San Jose Sharks like both Rudolph or Verhoeff, they could just stay put at No. 9, and hope that one falls to them. Gavin McKenna, Stenberg, Malhotra, Reid, Carels, and Smits should be long gone by No. 9. If San Jose is counting on one of Rudolph or Verhoeff, they\u2019ll likely need a team to pick small-but-mighty center Viggo Bjorck in the top-eight.<\/p>\n
6:30 PM<\/p>\n
As I mentioned on @SiriusXMNHL<\/a>, and as @FriedgeHNIC<\/a> & @reporterchris<\/a> have reported, Peterka to Boston is coming. Not officially done yet, but they\u2019ve agreed.<\/p>\n Also, on Werenski. Told Sharks are poking there.<\/p>\n