![]() Ryan Merkley, San Jose Sharks, 2018 NHL Draft, Dallas Texas, J( Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers) Slotting between Eklund and Wiesblatt, the 2018 fourth-round pick will slot alongside two recent first-round picks. The excitement around Weatherby will result in his status as the top-line center in the Rookie Faceoff. Weatherby’s junior season saw him score 14 goals and 24 points in 29 games while holding a 57 percent win rate in the faceoff dot. At 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, the center could add size to a current NHL roster that lacks it in their bottom-six. The 23-year-old is more noted for his defensive game and size. He also finished his final college season with an impressive run of 11 goals in his final 12 games. ![]() He greatly impressed and will forgo his senior year at the University of North Dakota to opt for professional hockey. ![]() The biggest riser from the recent rookie camp surely is Jasper Weatherby. In order to be effective and receive a fair chance to succeed alongside adept teammates, I would recommend the Sharks play him in the team’s top-six or give him first-line minutes in the SHL or AHL.Īt the exhibition, the team’s top prospect will have to play head and shoulders above the competition to appear NHL-ready. His willingness to even play with the San Jose Barracuda makes Eklund particularly fascinating to watch for an NHL spot. However, the Sharks mentioned his status as their second-best player in the draft class and noted his NHL readiness upon selecting him seventh overall. While the club believes Eklund will eventually transition back to center, he will not yet be given that responsibility and will continue on the wing as he did at rookie camp.Īfter scoring over a half-point per game in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) as an 18-year-old, Eklund alerted media prior to the 2021 NHL Draft that he planned on a return to his home club, Djurgardens IF. Per The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, the Swedish forward will play this tournament on the left wing of the top line. With that said, there are a few players, besides Eklund, that appear possibly ready for NHL games. On the flip side, limiting a player’s games or minutes played could see their growth come about too slowly. Rushing a player into the league could see the player lose confidence and never reach their full potential. Making the jump to the top level of North American hockey is not an easy feat, and determining when a prospect is ready for that opportunity can be incredibly difficult. With the Sharks’ preseason beginning in less than two weeks, this next week could show much of the organization’s near and distant future. However, they will not be the only attractions entering these prospect games and precursor to Sharks training camp. Ozzy Wiesblatt of the Prince Albert Raiders (Lucas Chudleigh/Apollo Multimedia) Recent first-round picks for the Sharks such as Ozzy Wiesblatt and Ryan Merkley will also feature at the showcase. ![]() Seeing the Swede face opposing top prospects on North American ice will greatly indicate his status as a possible NHLer. Over four days, the Sharks’ youngsters will battle the best prospects of the Anaheim Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights, and Colorado Avalanche.Īll eyes will be on William Eklund entering these matches, as this extra rookie training camp and game time will serve as a tune-up before his attempt to make the NHL roster out of training camp. Hopefully that optimism will continue, as the team’s top prospects, excluding college athletes like Thomas Bordeleau and Alex Young, will compete in the “Rookie Faceoff” beginning on Sept. From sensational shootout goals, a Gordie Howe hat trick, and score sheets featuring the future of the club, development camp and the ensuing scrimmage allowed a taste of the promising future of the club. The 2021 San Jose Sharks’ prospect scrimmage featured some outstanding moments. ![]()
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