When Eric Pohlkamp was drafted 132nd overall in 2023, he was a surprise pick that no one was really sure about. But he worked hard and every season, he seemed to work his way up in the eyes of Sharks fans everywhere. This past season was perhaps his biggest jump in development yet.
The defenseman scored 39 points (18 G, 21 A) in 43 games for the University of Denver and was undeniably the team’s number one defenseman. His18 goals were the most among all defensemen in the NCAA, but Pohlkamp achieved something even bigger than that. He helped lead the Pioneers to an NCAA title.
All of that hard work paid off in the individual awards department too. Pohlkamp was a Hobey Baker “Hat Trick” Finalist in 2026, an award given to the three top college hockey players in any given season.
Position: Defenseman
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 205 pounds
Age: 22
Date of Birth: March 23, 2004
Draft Year: 2023 (132nd overall by San Jose Sharks)
Shoots: Right
2026-27 Team: San Jose Barracuda/San Jose Sharks
Pohlkamp was 15th on our Top 25 Sharks Under 25 list last season; he was 20th on our list in 2024.
What we like
You can’t talk about Pohlkamp without first talking about his shot. He has a booming shot from the point that makes him a dangerous force from the blueline. As of right now, there’s no other defensive prospect in the Sharks organization that offers that kind of power from the blueline, which makes him nearly invaluable from a prospect standpoint.
Right now, the Sharks have puck-moving defensemen that will shimmy and shake to create offense, but Pohlkamp offers something a little different. He’s the defenseman that will fire it from the point and, in the NHL, that can beat goaltenders, create havoc in front of the net, or create the perfect opportunity for a tip play if the forward is positioned correctly.
While size tends to be an issue for a lot of sub-six-foot defensemen, that’s not the case with Pohlkamp. That’s because he’s not built like your typical small defenseman. While many of them look to elude pressure and contact, Pohlkamp looks to create it. He initiates contact more often than not. He’s stocky and strong, and as The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler writes, “… he uses that strength to play a physical, competitive and aggressive style offensively (taking charge with his shot) and defensively (playing to win bumps and engagements).”
One thing we’ve always liked about Pohlkamp is a maturity seemingly beyond his years. When the Sharks drafted him, he wasn’t at the draft; he was at the gym. In fact, he had to video chat to find out the team had drafted him. He worked hard to move from Bemidji State and earned his way to one of the top Division I college hockey programs in the country at the University of Denver. Then he set his sights on winning a National Title before turning pro. The Pios won in April; he celebrated for about a week before he signed his professional contract.
Pohlkamp’s confidence and poise off the ice are also exemplified on the ice when he has the puck on his stick. He makes smart choices and, while he takes risks, they are often calculated ones that create opportunities for his team.
Areas of improvement
Professional hockey is when all of your flaws are exposed. It’s when players who were stars up until this point suddenly look like fools who cannot skate. Even the most exceptional of junior and college players can look like peewee hockey players if they’re not careful. And that could very well happen to Pohlkamp, who has so far risen to the challenge at every level he’s played at.
The Athletic’s Corey Pronman highlighted some of Pohlkamp’s flaws in his August prospect report. In it, Pronman writes, “His defending versus college players was good. As a pro, it will be a question. His skating is fine, but it’s not great for his size.”
That said, there’s something about Pohlkamp’s attitude that makes me think he might triumph over it all. I could be wrong, but there’s a fire there that just feels like he might find a way to succeed in spite of not being fast enough, a good enough skater or big enough. Pohlkamp has worked hard every single day and it’s hard to see him stopping now when he’s so close to achieving his dream.
What’s next for Pohlkamp?
Pohlkamp signed his entry-level contract in April. It’s a two-year contract with a $1.05 million AAV. Look for Pohlkamp to get a look at training camp, but he’s most likely bound for the San Jose Barracuda. The Sharks have the right side of the defense set at this point of the season, and it will do Pohlkamp some good to learn the game at the AHL level first.
That said, if there’s an injury on the defense, Pohlkamp could be one of the first players called up depending on the need. If it’s Jacob Trouba or Dmitry Orlov injured, I could see the Sharks turning to Pohlkamp first to fill that role versus a Mattias Havelid or a Leo Sahlin Wallenius.
Highlights
We talked about Pohlkamp’s shot; this is what it looks like. Pohlkamp is just firing bullets from the blueline, and it’s tough for goaltenders to stop them.
And the record-breaker! 🚨🤩🚨@PohlkampEric becomes the first #NCHChockey defenseman ever to score 1⃣6⃣ goals in a season with his 2nd of the night for @DU_Hockey!
— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) January 25, 2026
📺: https://t.co/ZyUdpPa7bb // #theNational #GoPios // @SanJoseSharks https://t.co/9IYIHOk1Pj pic.twitter.com/JcYoG4PrjR
Pohlkamp also knows how to read plays and take advantage of opportunities in the offensive zone. You saw him do that yesterday against the Anaheim Ducks, leading to his first professional goal, even if it was in the preseason.
A 🚀 from Eric Pohlkamp to get us started! #TurnItAllTeal pic.twitter.com/H91KcPQA7t
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 20, 2026
Notice how Pohlkamp drives the net, going to the hard area of the ice and then uses his shot to score.
2026 Top 25 Under 25 countdown … so far
14. Quentin Musty
15. Filip Bystedt
16. Zack Ostapchuk
17. Leo Sahlin Wallenius
18. Cam Lund
19. Ethan Cardwell
20. Nolan Allan
21. Haoxi Wang
22. Cole McKinney
23. Carson Wetsch
24. Mattias Havelid
25. Christian Kirsch
Honorable Mentions: Joey Muldowney, Teddy Mutryn, Andre Gasseau, Brady Knowling and Alexander Karmanov
Editor’s Note: More than 100 people voted in our fan poll this year, though admittedly, not everyone filled out the entire form, i.e., all 25 spots and the honorable mentions. In some cases, some people filled out their top ten and left the rest blank. While it makes the math a bit harder, we found the fairest (and easiest) thing to do was average the scores based on the total responses received. While blank scores counted as zero, it didn’t seem to skew the results too badly. Ultimately, this isn’t an exact science, but I think you’ll find it’s a pretty good list.
