Although Sharks fans can certainly recall some crushing low points over the last three decades, there’s arguably never been an iteration of the team as hopeless on the ice as this version seems to be. But there’s also a small silver lining to the years of futility, in that the team’s prospect pool has arguably never looked better.
At Fear The Fin, we’ve decided to focus on one of the few positives for the franchise by doing a monthly Prospect Power Ranking series, where we rank the top eight prospects for the club. In assembling the list, we use a mix of current form, ability, and overall potential. This means that you’re probably not going to see Will Smith drop down to 9th overall if he ever hits a three-game pointless streak. No player is ever guaranteed to be anchored to a certain spot, regardless of their talent level.
To qualify as a prospect, players must fit the NHL definition of rookie, which states that “a player must not have played in more than 25 NHL games in any preceding seasons, nor in six or more NHL games in each of any two preceding seasons. Any player at least 26 years of age (by September 15th of that season) is not considered a rookie.”
By this definition, Thomas Bordeleau and William Eklund are not rookies, though Henry Thrun still is one.
1. Will Smith (C)
Age: 18
Team: Boston College (NCAA)
Statistics: 8 games, 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists)
Will Smith is probably the most highly-skilled prospect that the Sharks have ever produced and the only one that even has a chance of turning into an NHL superstar, and his continued progress will be critical to the team becoming competitive again at some point during the Mike Grier era.
To that end, his seamless adjustment to the NCAA will gladden the hearts of Sharks fans and management alike; in the first 8 games of the season, Smith has been the best player on the ice for the Boston College Eagles, with 11 points in 8 games. Tied for the team lead in scoring, Smith seems to be getting better each week, and his breathtaking ability to generate offense has led the team to a scarcely believable 7-1-0 start.
2. Quentin Musty (C)
Age: 18
Team: Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Statistics: 9 games, 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists)
Smith might have been the big prize for San Jose during the June draft, but Quentin Musty was nothing to scoff at either. Built like an NHLer at 6’2”, Musty’s size might cause one to initially overlook his true value: his pure offensive ability. With an ability to thread lanes that most junior players would struggle to identify, the young center made a strong impression on the Sharks coaching staff during the preseason and has continued to play well for the Wolves upon his reassignment to juniors. If he can sustain his progress, this will almost certainly be his last season there.
3. Daniil Gushchin (RW)
Age: 21
Team: San Jose Barracuda (AHL)
Statistics: 9 games, 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists)
Gushchin’s gigantic leap forward might be one of the few bright spots for the Sharks this season. With 13 points (including 11 at even-strength) in just 9 games, he currently happens to be the de-facto offensive leader of the Barracuda, and his well-rounded game has continued to evolve with key additions to his skillset. His numbers aren’t a function of pure luck either — with an astounding 43 shots on goal in just 9 games, Gushchin’s ability to generate offensive volume has also taken another step forward this year.
It would be a surprise to not see him get ice-time with the NHL club at some point this year, and only injury or a desire to protect the 21-year-old could conceivably see him kept down at the AHL level. If he keeps this up, he might be too good to stay down there for too long.
4. Luca Cagnoni (D)
Age: 18
Team: Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Statistics: 13 games, 19 points (2 goals, 17 assists)
One of the most promising players taken by the Sharks in recent memory, Luca Cagnoni is putting up numbers that are barely believable for any defenseman, let alone for a 5’9” one. With 19 points in just 13 games, Cagnoni is a key player and leader for a strong Winterhawks team and is currently second among all WHL defenders in scoring. His defensive game appears to have taken a couple steps forward as well, and his passing and smooth skating have already combined for some scarcely believable highlights.
This isn’t normally supposed to be possible for a 5’9” defender, but Cagnoni continues to prove everyone wrong. Sharks fans may remember a brief flirtation with another pocket-sized dynamo in Brian Campbell, during the 2007-08 season. Cagnoni might just be of a similar ilk.
5. Shakir Mukhamadullin (D)
Age: 21
Team: San Jose Barracuda (NHL)
Statistics: 9 games, 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists)
Arguably the main prize in the Timo Meier trade, Mukhamadullin has continued to make strides in his all-round game with the Barracuda this season, away from the toxicity enveloping the NHL club at the moment. His six points in nine games hint at his continued progress, but perhaps the most eye-popping number is his incredible shot generation numbers — through 9 games, Mukhamadullin has generated 22 shots on goal, a startling increase from his 13 shots in 12 games last season. His improving ability to tilt the ice in his team’s favor bodes well for his near-inevitable debut spell with the Sharks, but one can only hope that it doesn’t come too soon for him.
6. Cameron Lund (C)
Age: 19
Team: Northeastern (NCAA)
Statistics: 5 games, 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists)
Acquired with one of the “other” picks given to the Sharks in exchange for the 11th overall pick in 2022, Cam Lund has had one of the more impressive starts to the season for Northeastern University in the NCAA. Leading the team in scoring, with 7 points in 5 games, Lund has shown some impressive offensive growth in his sophomore campaign. He’ll need to keep it up if he ever wants to become anything more than a tweener in the NHL, but if he can, the NHL may not be long in waiting.
7. Filip Bystedt (C)
Age: 19
Team: Linköping (SHL)
Statistics: 17 games, 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists)
After a quietly excellent sophomore campaign, Bystedt’s early-season regression will probably concern the Sharks, who were hoping for another leap forward in the center’s offensive game to complement his tantalizing physical skillset. The 6’4” Bystedt has failed to make much noticeable progress in the SHL, despite Linköping’s solid start to the season.
Bystedt will probably make it in the NHL, but if he is to ever play as an effective top-six center in this league, he will have to significantly improve his offensive skills. The start of the SHL campaign suggests that he’s just not there yet.
8. Henry Thrun (D)
Age: 22
Team: San Jose Barracuda (AHL), San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Statistics: 7 games, 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) (AHL); 2 games, 2 assists (NHL)
There’s not much to fault Thrun for regarding his demotion to the Barracuda, as the move was almost certainly designed to get him out of an increasingly demoralizing environment in San Jose. He looked at home in his brief glimpse of NHL action and provided assists on two of the team’s twelve goals this season. During his time with the Barracuda, he’s continued to play solidly and looks like a useful future NHLer, able to play as a #4 or #5 defenseman and effectively quarterback the second powerplay unit.
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