Max Miller
There is a lot of debate about who the San Jose Sharks will take at No. 2 at the 2026 NHL Draft, but what about No. 27?
GM Mike Grier used the 20th-overall pick, originally property of the Edmonton Oilers, to acquire Michael Kesselring and the 27th pick from the Buffalo Sabres.
If the Sharks end up taking Ivar Stenberg with the second pick and opt to keep the 27th selection, then a defenseman is almost a must-draft. Although it won’t be a guarantee that a defenseman is the pick, here are two d-men and one forward to keep an eye on.
Tommy Bleyl – RHD – Moncton Wildcats
Tommy Bleyl, a 6-foot right-handed defenseman, is all about offense and puck-moving. The New York native had a terrific offensive season in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats. In 63 games this season, Bleyl had 13 goals and 68 assists during the regular season. In 21 playoff games, Bleyl had six goals and 22 assists.
“Shaking defenders left and right, dancing at the offensive line, and skating around the offensive zone, Bleyl slips in tight gaps in coverage and breaks open defenses. He’s nearly impossible for forecheckers and defenders to catch. One wrong move leaves them a step behind the accelerating Bleyl, who seems to own the ice in some shifts, transitioning pucks up ice at light speed and generating shots in waves,” Elite Prospects Draft report says.
The San Jose Sharks desperately lacked a strong skating defenseman who could move the puck forward quickly. Although Bleyl isn’t the biggest, his skating makes up for it. If selected, he won’t be close to the NHL or even the AHL for a few years. Bleyl is set to play for Moncton again in 26-27 before going to Michigan State University for the 27-28 season.
Picks like this will help the Sharks in the long term. For a team wanting to take the next step, picks like this strengthen the case for trading No. 27 for a solid roster player.
Juho Piiparinen – RHD – Tappara
Juho Piiparinen might not be the flashiest name, but he also could turn into a terrific two-way player. Finland hasn’t produced the most offensive D-men, and Piiparinen can do it, but his focus is on defense.
The 17-year-old is listed at 6-foot-3, 203 lbs. He’s still growing and has been playing in Finland’s top division with Tappara. He only had three assists in 20 games, but he was playing against men. He won’t come to North America right away, but he’ll have a chance to make the jump to at least the AHL in 27-28.
“At his heart, Piiparinen is a puck-mover first and foremost. He excels at breaking the puck out from under pressure, often inviting forecheckers in before dishing pucks through them. In particular, his ability to hook pucks to the middle or across the ice from near the boards and under heavy pressure stood out consistently. He defers to others when it’s the right play and moves the puck with pace, but also knows when to slow down and regroup,” Elite Prospects Draft report says.
While he may not provide the offense the Sharks are looking for, having a defenseman like Piiparinen to defend and break out the puck will do the trick. Sam Dickinson, Luca Cagnoni, and even Eric Pohlkamp have enough skills to take on a power-play QB role.
Niklas Aaram-Olsen – LW/RW – Örebro HK
Niklas Aaram-Olsen is a power winger who loves to shoot the puck. The Norwegian isn’t as big as San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen, but Aaram-Olsen can shoot a puck. He plays in Sweden’s top division against men but failed to register a point this season.
He doesn’t have the strongest name recognition because of his nationality. Norway was not in the top flight of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. They took part in the D1A division and, in five games, scored six goals and recorded four assists.
According to Elite Prospects, Aaram-Olsen is set to play in the U20 division in Sweden for Örebro HK U20. He played 29 games in this division during the 25-26 season, registering 20 goals and 20 assists. In 13 playoff games, Aaram-Olsen had five goals and three assists.
“At his best, like when he played with Norway’s men’s national team in February, Aaram-Olsen consistently flashed legitimate checking ability, took his defensive responsibilities seriously, and played with more pace with the puck. At his worst, he mostly became an off-puck shooter with limited impact at 5-on-5, being inefficient with the puck and fading into the background for large stretches at a time,” Elite Prospects Draft report says.
Aaram-Olsen might be a boom-or-bust draft pick, but the Sharks’ scouting department has done a good job finding high-ceiling players. Haoxi (Simon) Wang was a project pick for San Jose in the 2025 NHL Draft. Aaram-Olsen could be in a similar spot if the Sharks opt to take a forward at No. 27.
The 2026 NHL Draft will start at 4 p.m. PT on Friday, where all eyes could be on what the Sharks do with their two first-round picks.
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