Cam Lund’s first full professional season did not go completely to plan, but he did not let any setbacks derail his progression. The San Jose Sharks’ 2022 second-round pick spent the 2025-26 season with the Barracuda, producing 9 goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 37 games, while replacing an injured Filip Bystedt to earn an AHL All-Star selection. His own season was then cut short by an injury, making the numbers somewhat less representative of his earlier progress. Ultimately, however, Lund showed growth and promise with the Barracuda in an already deep pool of forwards vying to push for San Jose’s forward corps.
The season prior, he finished his final collegiate season at Northeastern with 18 goals and 40 points in 37 games. One could say his offensive production has been relatively consistent as he has moved up.
Keep in mind, Lund has already had an 11-game NHL stint. Back in 2024-25, he scored two goals and an assist in his end of the year debut with the Sharks’ organization fresh out of college. He already had a better sense of the pace he needed to play at coming into 2025-26, and should be well-prepared to understand what’s needed this coming season.
Position: Forward
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 22
Date of Birth: June 7, 2004
Draft Year: 2022 (34th overall by the San Jose Sharks)
Shoots: Right
2026–27 Team: San Jose Barracuda
What we like
At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Lund already has the physical dimensions of an NHL forward. More importantly, his size doesn’t come at the expense of mobility. Scouting reports consistently identify his skating as one of his better attributes.
He is a skater with a smooth stride and speed, as shown in the highlight below. He also has the frame and strength to win puck battles. During his brief NHL stint, Lund was a good net-driver and showed a strong tendency to create chances from right in front, both off the rush and during sustained offensive zone pressure.
Think of what this could mean on NHL ice. His toolkit can help create space for a teammate like Ivar Stenberg, but also provide a safe cushion for linemates in a bottom-six role as well.
He’s a few years out of his draft year now, and he is still seen as a potential forward for the Sharks by the end of 2026-27 – a good sign for his sustainability as a professional.
Areas of improvement
Rounding out his defensive game will go a long way in helping Lund earn a full-time NHL position.
Lund will have to become more engaged along the walls and use his frame to more consistently win puck battles. It is typical of a forward in their first year as a professional to have to worry more about their defensive game to move forward. Attributes like this take time to learn at a higher level, and luckily for Lund, he will be well-positioned next season to develop this more.
For a player hoping to establish himself in San Jose’s middle six, that’s great news. Even if he doesn’t make the NHL cut this coming season, he should have a consistent chunk of ice time in the AHL with greater expectations.
What’s next for Lund?
With the depth of San Jose’s prospect pool, Lund doesn’t need to become an NHLer overnight. He needs to become predictable in the ways NHL coaches value while retaining the offensive traits that made San Jose draft him 34th overall.
If he can do that, his chances to be a full-time NHL player start to look better: a 6-foot-2 forward with good straight-ahead speed and a surprising shot, someone who can carry the puck north and engage physically. That’s the kind of player who can fit into a lot of different line combinations.
And there is evidence that the Sharks see that possibility. He got an early stint in 2024-25, and was a primary contributor to the farm team all of his healthy time last season. Another full season in the AHL might be likely for Lund, with some call ups to the Sharks, but this would only stand to help his development overall for a long-term future in teal.
Highlights
For more, here’s his interview with Brodie Brazil from January 2026:
2026 Top 25 Under 25 countdown … so far
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.
