With the 53rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks selected center Cole McKinney from the U.S. National Team Development Program. He will be headed to the University of Michigan next season, and while he might not have been a flashy first-rounder, McKinney brings a super dependable and strong game that Sharks fans might come to appreciate in a big way.
So…who is this guy? What makes him click? And how might he fit in San Jose down the line?
Let’s dive in.
Cole McKinney, C – U.S. National U18 Team
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 201 pounds
Age/DOB: 18, March 16, 2007
Shoots: Right
USNTDP Juniors (USHL): 23 games, 26 points (15 G, 11 A)
U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP): 60 games, 61 points (27 G, 34 A)
World Junior Championship U18 Team: 7 games, 5 points (3 G, 2 A)
The first thing you’ll hear about McKinney is that coaches love this guy. He’s a center you can trust to be out there in pretty much any situation. Penalty kill, late defensive zone draw, you name it. His reads are clean, his routes are polished, and he’s just seemingly always around the puck. Elite Prospects described him as “a pain to play against” and one of the most consistent defensive forwards in the draft class.
McKinney also has a great stick for breaking up plays, and he’s a sneaky kind of strong. Even when he’s going up against bigger guys, he wins battles down low and finds ways to maintain his possession. That kind of high-effort playing is part of what makes him such a center for the Sharks.
Oh, and he scores too
Despite being hyped mostly for his shutdown game, McKinney can produce offensively. He finished the season with 27 goals and 61 points in 60 games with the NTDP, leading the team in scoring. Most of his offense comes from the forecheck. winning pucks back, extending plays, and grinding it out..
He thrives when he’s close to the net or working the cycle. There’s a good chance the points don’t translate 1:1 to higher levels, but if he can keep improving his skating and add a little more pace, there’s a huge upside here.
What scouts are saying
Here’s the rundown from around the scouting world:
Steven Ellis (Daily Faceoff) called McKinney a “detail-oriented two-way guy” and predicted he’ll become “a matchup center who wins draws and kills penalties.”
The Hockey Writers praised his defensive IQ and said he’s “one of the most sound defensive forwards in the class.”
Most outlets note that his skating and shot need more development, especially if he wants to play a top-six role in the NHL.
Still, the sense and consistency are big selling points for him, and his ceiling could end up higher than expected if he takes another step in college.
What’s next?
McKinney is heading to the University of Michigan, where he’ll likely step into a big role pretty early. That’s a great development environment for him, especially in terms of building up speed and offensive polish.
For the Sharks, he fits the mold of what they’ve been targeting lately: smart, responsible players who can play with pace and compete hard. He may not be the flashiest pick, but he’s the kind of center who could quietly work his way up the lineup and become a coach’s go-to guy in most or even all situations.
Keep an eye on McKinney over the next couple of seasons. He might not make the highlight reel right away, but he’s the kind of player you notice when he’s not on the ice. And for a Sharks team trying to build a deeper, harder-working group down the line, he might end up being a perfect fit.
