Defenseman Jake Furlong was on the outside looking in last season. He didn’t even make the honorable mentions for the 2023 Top 25 Under 25 list. But stock in the San Jose Sharks’ 140th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft continues to climb. All that hard work has paid off and he’s now ranked 23rd on our list.
Furlong captained the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, and he was a key piece on the ice for the team until he had to end his season early to have shoulder surgery. Furlong missed the playoffs and the Mooseheads lost in the opening round.
Position: Defense
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 189 lbs.
Age: 20
Date of Birth: March 4, 2004
Draft Year: 2022 (140th overall by San Jose Sharks)
Shoots: Left
2024-25 Team: San Jose Barracuda
Still, Furlong had a very good season individually. He scored 30 points (3 G, 27 A) in 56 games for the Mooseheads and was a plus-18. His strong performance during the season earned him a place on Canada’s World Junior Championship team. While Canada was considered one of the weaker teams defensively, Furlong was leaned on by the coaching staff as one of the top four defensemen.
He had the third-highest minutes for Team Canada at the WJC behind higher-end prospects like Denton Mateychuk and Maveric Lameroux. He ended the tournament with a plus-4 goal differential.
What we like
Furlong isn’t going to quarterback the first power play unit, but he’s reliable, and he could be the first guy you send over the boards on a penalty kill. For a defenseman, that can be just as important.
Furlong is leaning into that defensive defenseman role thanks to a conversation with Mooseheads’ owner Bobby Smith that was recently recounted by the team’s Assistant General Manager Allie MacDonald.
“Bobby told Jake he’s probably not going to reach the NHL based on point total, but rather his overall play,” MacDonald told CHL.com. “He’s [Furlong’s] latched onto that and taken great pride in his defensive play. There’s going to be other defenseman on the team with more of a wow factor, but he’ll be leaned upon for his defensive ability. I’m sure the Sharks are seeing the same thing. Any pro team wants one of those guys on their blue line.”
Furlong’s a smart guy who understands what his role will be if he wants to make the NHL. It’s good to see that it’s his focus moving forward.
Areas of improvement
Like other players low on our list, health will be essential this season. As we mentioned, Furlong had shoulder surgery in the spring. He’s spent the first part of the offseason recovering. Now, he needs to get stronger so that he’s ready for training camp.
After that, it’s going to be a question of how well he adjusts to a higher level of hockey. Furlong has a great chance to make the Barracuda roster this season. If his game is what it was when he made Canada’s WJC team, he should help make the Barracuda blueline a bit more formidable.
What’s next for Furlong?
If he isn’t healthy, Furlong will be sent to the Wichita Thunder in the ECHL. He’s technically too old to return to the Mooseheads for another season. (There might be a way as an overage player, but it’s more likely the Sharks would send him to the ECHL instead.)
Once he’s recovered well enough from his shoulder surgery, he’ll be recalled to the Barracuda, where he’s expected to be a stalwart on the blueline. Look for Furlong to play most of the 2024-25 season with the Barracuda.
Highlights
For those looking for what Furlong can bring offensively, expect shots from the point. He’ll pile up the assists more than the goals because of tips and rebounds, but every now and again, one will sneak through, like this one when Furlong was playing on Team Canada in the WJC. It was the game-tying goal in the quarterfinal game of the tournament.
TIE. GAME! Jake Furlong's (#sjsharks) point shot beats a screened Michael Hrabal (#Yotes) and Canada draws even with Czechia! #2024IIHFWorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/MTGUmJfUub
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) January 2, 2024
Then, of course, there are plays like this one, where Furlong reads the play and makes the right move to stop a scoring opportunity.
What a nice play by Jake Furlong pic.twitter.com/xjCHqpRzRH
— JD Young (@MyFryHole) November 29, 2023
