Sharks extend offers to six players, let three walk

The San Jose Sharks have met the June 1 NHL deadline to extend offers to the prospects the team would like to keep in the pipeline.

The Sharks news release says the team issued “bona fide” offers to six players.

Defenseman Eli Barnett

The Sharks signed 19-year-old Barnett. He played 52 games with the Victoria Grizzlies in the BCHL this season and recorded 9 points (4 G, 5 A) in the regular season. Barnett had 2 points (1 G, 1 A) in 4 playoff games. He also served as the Grizzlies’ captain.

Barnett is a sizeable defenseman at 6 feet, 6 inches and 219 pounds. He was selected 195th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Goaltender Mason Beaupit

San Jose has not drafted well regarding goaltenders, but the team hopes that Beaupit will buck the trend. The 19-year-old split the season between the Spokane Chiefs and Winnipeg in the WHL. He started the season 0-8-0 but turned things around once he arrived in Winnipeg.

Beaupit finished the season with a 16-13-0 record and a .875 save percentage. His goals against average was 3.74. He had one shutout.

He appeared in three playoff games for the Winnipeg Ice. The team made it to the WHL Championship Series.

Beaupit is 6 feet, 5 inches and 188 pounds. He was selected 108th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Defenseman Michael Fisher

The Sharks also signed 19-year-old Fisher. The young defenseman missed most of his season after the 2022 NHL draft with a lower-body injury. Fisher played in 14 games for the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL. The Phantoms won the USHL’s Clark Cup this season.

Fisher is 6 feet, 2 inches and 193 pounds. A Massachusetts native, he is expected to play for Northeastern University next season. Fisher, not to be confused with Carrie Underwood’s husband Mike Fisher of Nashville Predators fame, was drafted 76th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Defenseman Jake Furlong

19-year-old Furlong also signed with the Sharks. He played in 67 games for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Furlong scored 50 points (7 G, 43 A).

“His +47 rating was fifth highest in the league by a defenseman and his point total ranked 10th best by a blueliner,” according to the Sharks’ press release.

Furlong’s play continued in the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Championship series. In 21 games, he registered 11 points (1 G, 10 A).

Furlong is 6 feet, 1 inch and 189 pounds. He was drafted 140th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Forward Reese Laubach

If there’s one Sharks prospect you’d like to see step onto the ice at SAP Center someday, it’s Reese Laubach. The 19-year-old San Jose native signed a contract with the Sharks. He played 50 games this season, with games split between the Youngstown Phantoms and the Omaha Lancers in the USHL.

Laubach had 4 points (2 G, 2 A) in 17 games with the Phantoms but saw his production rise to 20 points (9 G, 11 A) in 33 games with the Lancers. On Dec. 31, 2022, the forward scored a career high 5 points (1 G, 4 A). On April 22, 2023, in the last game of the season, he scored a hat trick.

At 5 feet, 11 inches and 167 pounds, Laubach was drafted 217th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Forward Joey Muldowney

The Sharks signed 18-year-old Muldowney as well. The forward played 61 games for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL. He recorded 29 points (15 G, 14 A) and finished second on the team in goals and fourth in points.

In the playoffs, Muldowney led the team with four points (1 G, 3 A). He is 5 feet, 11 inches and 155 pounds. He was drafted 172nd overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Three players not offered contracts

In addition to the signings, three players did not sign contracts by the June 1 deadline and will re-enter the NHL Draft in June.

The biggest name on the list is Ben Gaudreau, who indicated last month that he was not interested in signing with the Sharks. That was a tough loss for San Jose since Gaudreau would have been one of the team’s top goaltending prospects.

The 20-year-old was a beast for the Sarnia Sting in the OHL playoffs, going 10-5-0 with a 2.52 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.

The Sharks also did not offer contracts to forward Liam Gilmartin of the OHL Erie Otters or forward Max McCue of the OHL London Knights.