Last season, Brandon Coe registered 12th on our list of 25 Sharks’ players under the age of 25. This year, he squeaks in at number 25. Some of this has to do with the addition of new faces to the Sharks’ prospect pool. The talent level has taken a step forward in the last 12 months. However, Coe’s fall also has to do with his recent performance.
Position: Right Wing
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 188 lbs.
Age: 21
Date of Birth: December 1, 2001
Draft Year: 2020, 98th overall by the Sharks
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: San Jose Barracuda
Coe showcased explosive offensive play in 2021-22 with the North Bay Battalion of the OHL. He scored 101 points (62 G, 34 A) in 62 regular season games and added another 20 points (7 G, 13 A) in 12 playoff games. The work earned Coe the title of Sharks’ Prospect of the Year.
However, that firepower did not carry over to Coe’s 2022-23 season in a higher league. During his first full professional season playing with the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL, Coe struggled. The 21-year-old scored just 16 points (5 G, 11 A) in 56 games with the Barracuda last season.
Despite those struggles, Coe did have periods of time where he was a solid contributor to the team. For example, in his second game of the season, Coe scored two goals to help the Cuda to a 4-0 win over the Henderson Silver Knights. There was also a stretch in March 2023 when he scored 7 points (2 G, 5 A) in 7 games.
However, Coe struggled with consistency. Even when he was performing well, he had a difficult time stringing together games in which he registered at least one point. During the seven game stretch mentioned above, there were two games where Coe was kept off the scoresheet.
What we like
While Coe still has a lot of his game to refine, there’s one thing that they simply cannot teach. Size. Coe is large and he’s starting to bulk up. According to the Sharks’ website, the 21-year-old is 6-foot-4 and 188 pounds. General Manager Mike Grier drafted a lot of big-bodied forwards at the 2023 draft, and Coe will fit right in with these new prospects. We’ll assume that Grier is happy with Coe’s size.
Moreover, the forward knows how to use his big body. In its 2020 draft guide, Elite Prospects highlighted Coe’s physical game.
“Defence is the strongest element of his game. What he lacks in energy, he makes up with intelligent positioning. He’s always above the play in the offensive zone. An advance physical game allows Coe to win battles, establish body positioning, and escape with possession,” wrote Elite Prospects.
Coe has the skillset and the body to make things happen, he may just need some time to adapt to playing against men who also have the size.
In other words, as Dobber Prospects puts it, Coe could use some refining.
“Coe possesses the size, skating, and skill that make coaches salivate. There is still some refining to be done but he could provide solid middle-six minutes,” wrote Dobber Prospects.
Areas of improvement
Consistency and compete are two things that Coe will have to work on if he wants to make the jump this season from the AHL to the NHL. He did not impress in training camp last season and was among some of the first prospects sent back to their teams. It will be interesting to see if he comes back hungrier this season.
When asked by The Athletic in the spring, Barracuda Head Coach John McCarthy said the consistency will be huge for Coe.
“The upside is huge with (Coe),” McCarthy said. “He’s 6-foot-4. He can skate. With him, consistency is the first word that comes to mind. He’s going to play on the wing. He needs to get up and down his wing. He needs to win his battles, protect pucks down low, play more of a power forward type of game.”
Highlight
This highlight shows Coe’s ability to make the proper move. He takes the puck out of his team’s zone and attacks.
As you can see, he moves the puck out of the Barracuda zone and then pushes the play forward. Even though he does not have the puck, Coe is still engaged in the play. He goes to an open area of the ice for an easy, tap-in goal.
Coe also has great hands, as seen in this highlight from December 2022.
One on four, and Coe fools everyone, including the goaltender.
As many of you know, Fear the Fin is an independent site run by Sharks fans for Sharks fans. Help keep Fear the Fin independent by contributing to our