Following the 2026 National Hockey League draft, the San Jose Sharks had the pick of the litter with three first-round picks – and came home with building blocks for a dominant future. Draftees and prospects hit the ice at Sharks Ice in San Jose yesterday: first-round picks Ivar Stenberg (No. 2), Keaton Verhoeff (No. 9) and Ryan Lin (No. 21) stole the show.
Led by Barracuda Head Coach John McCarthy, alongside Sharks legends Joe Thornton and Evgeni Nabokov, day one was a plate full of excitement for the rookies, with a side of tempering.
“They come in ready to work,” McCarthy said. “You can tell the guys that have had success in the past and will continue to have success … the guys that come in can process things in real time; they can apply it on the ice. It’s what’s led to their success so far, and will continue.”
This draft is a huge turning point for San Jose, as they have been inching closer and closer to clinching a playoff spot, and these young stars may be pillars supporting another run towards the Stanley Cup.
For many of the newcomers, the first day in teal was everything they imagined.
“It’s been super cool, super fun for sure,” second-overall pick Stenberg said. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment my whole life, and I’m here.”
The excitement wasn’t limited to the top of the draft board. Seventh-round defenseman and 7’1″ Alex Karmanov described arriving in San Jose and seeing the organization’s facilities for the first time as another reminder of what he’s working toward.
“When you see all the professional stuff, you just want to work more and more just to get here,” Karmanov said. “It’s really great when you’re seeing all those professionals and all those opportunities.”
The renovated Sharks facilities also left an impression on several players, with prospects repeatedly describing the environment as “high-class” and “top-notch” as they got their first taste of life in the organization. Returning prospect Haoxi Wang noticed the difference in the room immediately.
“It feels good,” Wang said. “Definitely second year coming in, feeling a little bit more comfortable … Good to see all the guys, and this year’s draft picks.”
He believes the newest class has injected another level of excitement into an already promising prospect pool.
“We got younger talent like Ivar, Ryan, all the exciting prospects that came in,” Wang said. “Getting to know them and see what they’re about, it’s really exciting.”
McCarthy echoed that sentiment, pointing to the rarity of having three first-round selections on the ice together.
“With the way the draft went, we have those three guys here, and we don’t typically have three first-round picks here,” McCarthy said. “That’s the biggest difference.”
Still, the focus of the development camp isn’t just showcasing talent. McCarthy said the week is about seeing how quickly players process information, respond to coaching, and compete in game situations before they eventually report to training camp.
“It’s been fun,” McCarthy said. “A lot, a lot to be excited about.”
For one day, at least, that excitement was shared throughout Sharks Ice, where the organization’s newest wave of talent took its first strides toward what everyone hopes is a bright future in San Jose.
