Max Miller
The San Jose Sharks still have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL, even after most of the new core has graduated from prospect status.
For this ranking, players who spent the entire 25-26 season in the NHL will not be considered prospects. Michael Misa technically didn’t, with his brief conditioning stint and WJC appearance, but won’t be considered a prospect.
Many of these players have opportunities to crack the Sharks lineup for 26-27, but they need to put on a great performance when training camp opens next month. Some players won’t be at training camp, NCAA players, but there is always a chance they could sign towards the end of the season.
This list is not a list of which prospects are the most NHL-ready.
No. 1 – FWD Ivar Stenberg
It is obvious who the San Jose Sharks’ top prospect is heading into the 2026 training camp. Ivar Stenberg, the second-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, poses an elite offensive game with extremely high upside. The Swedish winger already signed his ELC and appears to have an opening-night roster spot locked up.
Playing against men in Sweden has already prepared him for the NHL better than other 2026 NHL Draft prospects. While Stenberg will still need to adjust to the North American rink size, he has a chance to win the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year.
Unlike in past years, the Sharks have a formidable lineup that will let their top prospect ease into the NHL. Macklin Celebrini had to face the hardest matchups right away, and although he was up for the task, not every player is Macklin Celebrini. Stenberg could start the season on the wing with Misa or Alexander Wennberg on the third line. Where he starts won’t matter; his upside as a long-term producer for the Sharks is sky-high.
No. 2 – DEF Keaton Verhoeff
The Sharks desperately needed to add top-end talent to their blue line in their prospect pool. They did that at the 2026 draft with Keaton Verhoeff. While the 6’4 RHD won’t play in the NHL this season, he certainly poses big potential to become a top NHL player. His size, skill, and instincts are top-notch. The drawback: skating. Verhoeff knows it too.
During the Sharks’ 2026 development camp, Verhoeff told reporters that he plans to continue to work on that aspect of his game at North Dakota. If that improves, the young d-man could truly be a force to be reckoned with at the NHL. He was the youngest player in the 2026 Draft, so he will take time, but the potential for stardom is in his hands.
No. 3 – FWD Igor Chernyshov
There is an argument to be made that Igor Chernyshov isn’t a prospect anymore. In almost every 2026 San Jose Sharks projected lineup out there, Chernyshov makes the team. The fact of the matter is, he’s still a prospect. He’s still exempt from waivers and has only played 28 NHL games.
The 20-year-old has terrific hockey sense and is a dog on a bone every time he is on the ice. His footspeed issue out of the draft is gone, and his forechecking ability proved to be a nice addition to a line with Celebrini. After a hot start to his NHL career, Chernyshov did cool off. In those 28 games, the winger had nine goals and 10 assists.
There is no reason to believe he’s not ready for the NHL, but a poor showing at training camp might raise an eyebrow. A poor showing isn’t expected, but until he proves otherwise, there’s always a chance.
No. 4A – DEF Ryan Lin
Ryan Lin was yet another 2026 NHL Draft first-round pick that San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier knocked out of the park. He most likely won’t play in the NHL this season. The RHD will have a major role with one of the NCAA’s best programs in Denver.
Lin could fill the role left by Erik Pohlkamp, which made him a Hobey Baker Award nominee. Lin is a great skater with top-notch offensive instincts. At 5-foot-11, Lin needs to be the best skater on the ice. The Sharks’ defense is big, which will help insulate Lin over time; you’ll see that phrase again soon.
The only reason why he’s not a top-three prospect on this list is that Chernyshov could play a top-six role this season, whereas Lin is projected to be over a year away from turning pro. Lin’s first season in the NCAA will be closely watched. Verhoeff struggled during his freshman year at ND after leaving the CHL. Lin joins the NCAA a year older than Verhoeff, which will help.
No. 4B – DEF Luca Cagnoni
Making Luca Cagnoni the 5th best Sharks prospect didn’t seem right given what his projected opportunities are this season. The Sharks reshaped their defense this season with the additions of Michael Kesselring, Jacob Trouba, and Darnell Nurse. Like Lin, the size the Sharks added will help insulate him in the lineup.
“He’s had two good years in the AHL, and when he came up, he played well at the end of the year,” Grier said about Cagnoni. For him, we got some size back there now, so if he does make it, the team would probably insulate him a little bit.”
Despite the additions on defense, the Sharks clearly left a spot open on their blue line. As it projects, Cagnoni has the best chance of taking the No. 6 defenseman role. Getting a power-play QB is essential to unlocking the offense’s full arsenal, and for years now Cagnoni has looked like the best PP1 QB in limited opportunities.
The 21-year-old will have to beat out some competition at training camp, but he was a late cut in 2025 because of his standout performance. Another year of experience could’ve been all he needed to make the full transition to the NHL in 26-27.
No. 6 – GK Joshua Ravensbergen
Joshua Ravensbergen might be the most underhyped goalie prospect in the NHL right now. The San Jose Sharks selected the netminder in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. He’s going to make the transition to the NCAA in 2026 and play for a program at Michigan State that helped develop top goalie prospect Trey Augustine.
Ravensbergen spent the 25-26 season at Prince George in the CHL, and his skills were very raw. The upside is there for the 19-year-old, but it needs to be refined. With Yaroslav Askarov at the top of his game in the NHL for hopefully the foreseeable future, the Sharks can take their time with Ravensbergen. Goalie development is a careful process, and the pathway is there for him to be introduced slowly at every level.
And yes, he fits the Sharks’ new mold of having an edge, even in net. Like Alex Nedeljkovic, Ravensbergen got into a goalie fight last season.
No. 7 – FWD Quentin Musty
This season could be considered a make-or-break season for Quentin Musty within the Sharks organization. The 2023 first-round pick has bided his time coming up through the ranks into pro hockey. In the second half of 25-26, the 21-year-old started to go off for the San Jose Barracuda.
In 61 games last season, Musty had 21 goals and 24 assists. He started the year slowly, but that was more a mental struggle than a physical one. Musty had a very strong 2025 training camp, but did not make the cut for the opening night roster.
Opportunity within the Sharks forward lines this season is thin, but one thing can be said for the Sharks: if there is no room for a prospect to play, Grier will open a spot for them. Musty must have the best training camp of his life if he wants to make the opening night roster.
If he once again misses out on opening night, he could be this season’s version of Igor Chernyshov and be the top forward for recall if there are injuries or more opportunities. It could be make-or-break for Musty because the Sharks expect to make the postseason in 2027. If they are buyers at the deadline, his player potential could hold a lot of value for a team selling their best players.
No. 8 – DEF Eric Pohlkamp
Eric Pohlkamp might be ranked higher on other Sharks prospect lists. His big shot and good skating as an RHD are nice attributes. Although he has every chance to make the opening night roster like Cagnoni, there is one thing Cagnoni has an edge in: professional games played.
Pohlkamp has played one professional game. It was a playoff-eliminating loss for the Barracuda last season, while paired with Cagnoni. Yes, he was nominated for the Hobey Baker last season and has a strong work ethic, but until he gets more pro experience, he drops down on this list.
By no means should anyone be surprised if he makes the opening night roster, but given the Sharks’ history with other young defenseman who are AHL-eligible, they will want them to get some time there before making the jump to the NHL.
The other reason why he is further down this list is that Verhoeff and Lin usurp his upside. Those guys were first-round picks, while Pohlkamp was a 5th-rounder. That isn’t a knock on Pohlkamp, and he could very well become a superstar in the league, but without any pro action, it is hard to see whether the skills that made him a star in the NCAA translate to the NHL.
No. 9 – DEF Leo Sahlin Wallenius
Leo Sahlin Wallenius could be considered the ‘Sleeper’ prospect in the entire San Jose Sharks franchise. The 53rd overall pick in 2024, Wallenius poses smooth skating and strong defensive IQ. Wallenius could be the least talked about prospect in the system, but he’ll get more attention this year as he joins the Barracuda.
The 20-year-old played in Sweden’s top league last season for Växjö Lakers HC. He is only 6 feet tall, but everyone who follows hockey knows the Swedes are terrific skaters. He’ll play a variety of roles in the AHL next season, and that can give the Sharks a better idea of how his game could translate to the North American ice.
No. 10 – FWD Cam Lund
Cam Lund would’ve played NHL games last season if it weren’t for an injury that cost him his year. The 22-year-old winger often gets high praise from the San Jose Sharks front office. The former second-round pick was on track for a good season in the AHL with 25 points (9 goals, 16 assists) in 37 games before suffering an upper-body injury.
Lund will have a chance to make the NHL this season, whether out of camp or by strong play in the AHL. While his injury kept him out of NHL games last season, it also opened the door for Igor Chernyshov. Lund could be competing with Musty and even Filip Bystedt to be the first forward recalled by the Sharks in 2026-27.
Just outside top-ten Sharks prospects
FWD – Filip Bystedt
DEF – Mattias Havelid
DEF – Nolan Allan
GK – Christian Kirsch
FWD – Teddy Mutryn