The San Jose Sharks weekend was both eventful and uneventful at the same time, as we continue to try and decipher exactly what direction it is that Doug Wilson is heading with this team going forward. So lets take a minute to look at the draft picks that were made as the Sharks start looking to next season and beyond.
Draft Selections
1st Round (9th overall) – Timo Meier – Right Wing – Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Nation: Switzerland, Shoots: Left, Height: 6’1″, Weight 209 lbs.
Ian’s Grade: A-
Ian’s Take: The Sharks seem to have a real affinity for Swiss born players as they have taken 2 others in recent drafts (Mueller, Rod). Meier is described as a physical player who is great with his stick, has a solid shot and can make excellent passes. He thinks the game at a high level and can find spaces on the ice where he can make an impact. He has a pretty good 2 way came and can be used in a variety of rolls. Some have compared his potential in the NHL to being a Hossa like player but a guy he reminds me a lot of is Jerome Iginla in his prime. So why the A-? Well although the Sharks probably wanted one of the defenceman (Provorov/Werenski) that was not an option. While Meier was a slight reach at 9, it would have been a far bigger reach to take a defenceman like Zboril (14th overall to the Bruins). It is also important to note that Meier plays with a very good Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG) who may have inflated his numbers somewhat and finally born a few weeks earlier and he would have been eligible for next years draft. As with any prospect there is risk but I think the Sharks made a great selection even if it was not one of my top choices in their position that definitely fills a need in the Sharks forward depth going forward. Timo Meier could see time as a San Jose Shark in as early as a year although 2 may be more realistic.
2nd Round (31st Overall) – Jeremy Roy – Defence – Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)
Nation: Canada, Shoots: Right, Height: 6’0″, Weight: 188 lbs.
Ian’s Grade: A+
Ian’s Take: The Sharks started day 2 of the draft in a big way trading the the 39th pick, a 2nd in 2016 and a 6th in 2017 to move up to the 31st spot and select Jeremy Roy. Roy joins a decent prospect pool of D men that also includes Mirco Mueller, Julius Bergman and Dylan DeMelo. And while he is not an immediate solution to the sharks back end issues it allows Doug Wilson to look for a short term stopgap to fill the holes while giving some of the prospects more time to develop. As for Roy he is a very smart 3 zone defenceman who has an amazing hockey IQ he is very good at just seeming to know where his teammates are and is able to get them with an excellent passing ability. In my mind this is San Jose’s next Dan Boyle based on how he moves and his ability to quarterback a power play. On the downside his shot could use some work and he is going to need to add some weight to his frame but this is a common critique of most draft picks. Has Boston not lost their mind Roy would have been an easy late 1st round pick making this an absolute steal for the Sharks although the price may have been a touch high it didn’t cost the Sharks anything off the roster. He will probably need 2-3 years of development but should end up as a top pairing defenceman.
3rd Round (86th Overall) – Mike Robinson – Goalie – Lawrence Academy (USHS)
Nation: United States, Catches: Left, Height: 6’4″, Weight: 201 lbs.
Ian’s Grade: D-
Ian’s Take: The Sharks gained this pick from Edmonton as compensation for the hiring of Todd McLellan to their coaching staff and the reason I give it a D is because its frankly 2 rounds too soon at best. Robinson entered the draft ranked 8th North American goalie by central scouting and I feel there was frankly better goalies on the board at this time (Callum Booth). Who knows maybe this pans out but I kinda like the guy we took in the 7th a little better. Now I have not seen the kid play with my own eyes so I will simply hope for the best but trusted opinions have me worried. His CHL rights are own by the Rimouski Oceanic but it appears he is set to play with the University of New Hampshire in the NCAA Hockey East Division next year. If he can do well in probably the most elite division in the NCAA I may owe Robinson and Doug Wilson an apology.
4th Round (106th. Overall) – Adam Helewka – Left Wing – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Nation: Canada, Shoots: Left, Height: 6’1″, Weight: 201 lbs.
Ian’s Grade: B-
Ian’s Take: This is your classic rags to riches story line as he was undrafted and made the Spokane Chiefs on a try out after going undrafted in the WHL and has been passed over in the last two NHL drafts(2013 and 2014). Despite the disappointment of being passed over especially as the 72nd ranked skater in the 2014 draft he continues to work hard and put up 87 points last year (44 Goals and 43 Assists) in 69 games for 3rd on his team. He’s known for playing a pretty mistake free game and a very high hockey IQ. He needs to work on his constancy and adding to his frame but this might be a sneaky good pick for the Sharks in the 4th.
5th Round (130th Overall) – Karlis Cukste – Defence – HK Riga – (MHL – Russia’s Jr. Hockey League)
Nation: Latvia, Shoots: Left, Height: 6’2, Weight: 203 lbs.
Ian’s Grade: N/A
Ian’s Take: I’m not going to pretend to be an expert or actually know anything about Russian Jr. Hockey for that matter. He currently plays for the feeder team to the KHL’s HC Riga. There is not a lot of information about this guy online that is in English. What I can do is post a video and let you be the judge. From what I see in the video appears to have a good set of wheel and would probably be a good power play guy. Exercise your mute button.
5th Round (142 Overall) Rudolfs Balcers – Left Wing – Stavanger Oilers (GET-ligaen, Top Ranked Norwegian League)
Nation: Latvia, Shoots: Left, Height: 5’11, Weight: 165 lbs.
Ian’s Grade: N/A
Ian’s Take: Again a prospect that I’ll admit I know next to nothing about? I do have a video though. Obviously size is a concern here but when you are this late in the draft you get to swing for the fences… time will tell. You may want to exercise your mute button again.
6th Round (160th. Overall) – Adam Parsells – Defence – Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Nation: United States, Shoots: Right, Height: 6’5″, Weight: 192 lbs.
Ian’s Grade: C+
Ian’s Take: Doug Wilson likes his big defenceman and Adam Parsells fits that mould. He is said to have a good hockey IQ, balance and is very calm and confident for his age. He is said to have a very heavy shot but is more of a first pass defender than a guy who will carry the puck. He needs to work on his assertiveness and play closer to the edge. This could be a real steal so late in the draft but developing big defenceman has not been San Jose’s strongest suit. His CHL rights are owned by the Plymouth Whalers but he is committed to the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA’s Big Ten where current Shark Joe Pavelski once called home as well as goal tending prospect Joseph Rumple.
7th Round (190th. Overall) – Marcus Vela – Centre – Langley Riverman (USHL)
Nation: Canada, Shoots: Right, Height: 6’0″, Weight: 204 lbs.
Ian’s Grade: B
Ian’s Take: Vela is said to be pretty gifted offensively, with good hockey IQ and versatility. He’s said to be a player with solid intangibles and a well rounded game probably would make a good bottom 6 forward. I think this is as solid a pick as you can make in the 7th. round. His CHL rights are owned by the Spokane Chiefs but he is committed to New Hampshire of the NCAA’s Hockey East Division where he will play with fellow 2015 Sharks pick Mike Robinson.
7th Round (193rd. Overall) – John Kupski – Goalie – Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL)
Nation: United States, Catches: Left, Height: 6’5″, Weight: 209 lbs.
Ian’s Grade: B
Ian’t Take: After the Sharks moved Antti Niemi’s rights to the Dallas Stars they picked up one last pick in the draft and with it they took goaltender John Kupski. This continues the NHL trend of goalies basically needing to be 6’5″ and is probably a little bit of “Size Worship”. So why the B? Well he is said to be positionally sound and definitely takes advantage of his large frame and because he has committed to Union College of the ECAC Hockey division of the NCAA who only has one returning goaltender Kupski should see immediate playing time which could hasten his development. There were a couple of better goalies that probably slipped through the draft but its hard to get mad at a 7th round draft pick.
In my mind the Sharks did well at the draft when it comes to the actual draft picks although they did not address needs going into next year especially in goal as they traded Niemi’s rights to the Stars. They did dodge a bullet not trading for Kevin Bieksa though which I will take as a consolation. We won’t know how good this draft is for the Sharks until years down the road but I am very excited by most of our draft class especially Meier and Roy.
