Corey Pronman’s deep dive into the farm system of every NHL organization includes a ranking of all of the team’s prospects, broken into tiers based on their projection; the impact on the upcoming season and an overall ranking of all players under 23. Further explanation of Pronman’s system and the complete ranking of all 31 teams can be found here.
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The Sharks’ system is an interesting one. Ryan Merkley keeps them out of the basement, as I’m a big believer in his upside. However, their system moved over the year for me due to the progression of several players. There are quite a few guys in their system I have in the “Have a Chance” category that have intriguing skill sets, even if they are long-shots. Overall, I like the depth a lot here even if the top could be better.
Team’s 2017 ranking*: No. 30
Prospect Rankings
HIGH-END NHL PROSPECT
1. Ryan Merkley, D, Guelph-OHL
Merkley is one of the best passers I’ve ever seen at his age. He has the vision to attempt and execute plays most players don’t think about and has the composure to move the puck at an elite level. When he’s on his game, he makes everyone around him look better. While he won’t attempt end-to-end rushes, Merkley can make a highlight-reel skill play to open up space for his vision. He skates very well, but he’s more of an elusive skater with great edge-work than a guy who blazes through the neutral zone, though he does possess above-average speed. Merkley is small and can be a headache defensively with some of his decisions, coverage and physicality — although I’ve seen him lay out a huge hit here and there. He has severe ups and downs, where he looks dominant one game and can be a major negative another. He also can let his emotions get the best of him.
LEGIT NHL PROSPECT
2. Alexander Chmelevski, C, Ottawa-OHL
Chmelevski’s numbers weren’t off the charts this past season, but I was very impressed when I watched him. He was one of the best playmakers in the OHL in games I saw. He has legit high-end puck skills and hockey sense. Chmelevski can break a shift open and has the vision to run a power play. He makes unique plays and can make those tough plays at a quick pace. He’s not a perfect player by any means, as he’s an average skater who is not great at winning one-on-one battles and is just decent defensively. He has top-six forward upside if he puts the pieces together though and looked like a better two-way forward at the World Junior camp.
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3. Josh Norris, C, Michigan-Big Ten
Norris had a decent freshman season. His main asset is his hockey sense. He’s a very smart two-way player who can play on both special teams. Norris has skill, but I wouldn’t call it high-end. There are stretches where he can fade into the background offensively, and then he’ll stand out with a very nice pass or deke. He skates well, but he doesn’t have a ton of pace to his game. I find him as a very steady all-around center who lacks a game-breaking element but has good athletic traits and is more of a long-term bet.
4. Rudolfs Balcers, LW, San Jose-AHL
Balcers had a great first pro season, as the best player for the Barracuda, and had a decent World Championships with Latvia. Balcers is a skilled forward, but what stands out the most to me is his hockey sense. He has great vision and overall offensive instincts. He can play at a pro pace and show the intellect to make plays at both ends of the rink. He’s not a big forward and only an average skater, but he makes defensive plays due to his work ethic and hockey IQ. I have some skepticism on his overall upside when I pick apart his skill set, but he keeps producing at a high level.
HAVE A CHANCE
5. Dylan Gambrell, C, Denver-NCHC
Gambrell has been one of the better forwards in the NCHC the past few seasons. He doesn’t blow you away, but he’s very well-rounded. Gambrell skates quite well, has good puck skills and impressive hockey sense. He has the vision and offensive instincts to make plays. Gambrell also competes well and has some two-way potential as a pro. I’ve heard some scouts argue he has high-end ability. I’ve seen flashes of it, but I wouldn’t grade him as that.
6. Mario Ferraro, D, Massachusetts-Hockey East
Ferraro had a very good freshman season, keeping scoring pace with last year’s fourth-overall pick, Cale Makar, who was his teammate at UMass. Ferraro is a fantastic skater, with the explosiveness to get up the ice and stay with the faster forwards. He also competes as hard as anyone I watched this season and, despite not being the biggest guy, he wins a lot of battles. Ferarro’s skill level is just OK, but he makes plays due to his feet and above-average hockey sense.
7. Jeremy Roy, D, San Jose-AHL
Theoretically, Roy is a great prospect, but he can’t stay on the ice to consistently prove that. He’s suffered multiple serious injuries, including several knee issues, that have deprived him of most of the last two seasons. When healthy, I see Roy as a very smart two-way defenseman with the vision and skill to make plays at the NHL level. As a junior, I thought he was a fine skater even if not spectacular, but we’ll see how mobile he is after the latest knee surgery. Before his injury, he looked very good at the AHL level as a rookie pro despite the missed time.
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8. Maxim Letunov, C, Connecticut-Hockey East
Letunov is a fascinating prospect. A former second-round pick by the Blues in 2014, he’s been traded twice, eventually landing in the Sharks system. He hasn’t put up big numbers, but scouts rave about his tools. He’s big and has a lot of skill. Letunov can make high-end plays and is a good passer, as well. His issues are a lack of foot-speed, and he’s not the most engaged battler either. If he had more consistency in his play, he could become a top NHL prospect.
9. Ivan Chekhovich, LW, Baie-Comeau-QMJHL
Chekhovich had a fine second season in the QMJHL but really turned heads toward the end of the year in the AHL, where he averaged a point-per-game in 10 contests. He’s got a lot of skill, and can make creative plays off the rush and from the half-wall. He has good vision and excels as a playmaker. He works hard, but is undersized and needs a lot of strength building. His skating is just OK, and he does lack a dynamic gear for a guy his size.
10. Joachim Blichfeld, RW, Portland-WHL
Blichfeld is an intriguing prospect who hasn’t had fantastic numbers in the WHL but has shown flashes of high-end talent. He’s a big winger with good hands, good vision and a big shot. There are moments where that combination of attributes can lead to some high-level plays on the ice that blow you away. Blichfeld has the potential to be a legitimate goal scorer in the pro ranks. His foot-speed is poor though and there are times he fades in the background and you wish he was more consistent.
11. Radim Simek, D, San Jose-AHL
Simek crossed the pond after several impressive seasons in the top Czech league and with their national team. He was good in the AHL last season, as well. Simek is a mobile defender who moves the puck well and plays hard. I don’t know if he’s dynamic enough at his size to play real NHL minutes, but if not, he’s close.
12. Jake McGrew, RW, Spokane-WHL
McGrew missed his entire draft season due to injury. He had an OK bounce-back campaign, with hopefully better things to come. He’s a very good skater who plays with pace and works hard to pressure defenders. He doesn’t have a ton of skill, but it’s average with flashes of above-average. He plays physically and competes well for pucks.
13. Vincent Praplan, RW, Kloten-NLA
Praplan started drawing interest last season after a great World Championships. I liked him when he was an OHL player due to his skill level, but he had trouble off the puck. I haven’t watched him much this season, but scouts I’ve talked to praised his play versus men in the NLA. Praplan has above-average speed, skill and vision, and he has improved his defensive play.
14. Noah Gregor, C, Victoria-WHL
When he was a draft-eligible player, I was a fan of Gregor’s game. He’s not dynamic, but I saw a player with a lot of above-average qualities. He’s skilled, he makes plays, he skates fine and he has some two-way ability. Gregor hasn’t produced incredibly well in the WHL, especially for a 19-year-old, and isn’t dynamic offensively, but I think there’s enough talent for him to possibly carve out an NHL career.
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DEPTH NOTES
15. Vladislav Kotkov, LW, Chicoutimi-QMJHL: Kotkov is a big man with skill and a good shot. His feet and conditioning are a concern, but his strong play in Sharks camp earned him a contract immediately after going undrafted.
16. Linus Karlsson, C, Karlskrona-J20 SuperElite: Karlsson was the top scorer at the Swedish junior level. He’s got above-average skill and playmaking, with decent size and plays hard, but he has a heavy stride.
17. Rourke Chartier, C, San Jose-AHL: Chartier is a solid two-way forward with good speed and hockey sense who works hard. He has some skill, but I’m not sold it’s enough to be a true power play guy in the NHL.
18. Jacob Middleton, D, San Jose-AHL: Middleton has always been a mobile, physical, shutdown defender, but the offense he showed this season in the AHL was intriguing. He got some PP time and put up more points than he did in all but one OHL season.
19. Jayden Halbgewachs, LW, Moose Jaw-WHL: Halbgewachs had a monster overage season in the WHL, scoring 70 goals. He’s got great hands and instincts and is a natural goal-scorer. He’s very small, though, and while a decent skater, he could be faster for his size.
20. Kyle Wood, D, Tucson-AHL: Wood had a down year after being an AHL All-Star last season. He has a big shot and frame, and he can move the puck fine, but his skating is a major issue.
21. Josef Korenar, G, Dukla Jihlava-Czech Extraliga: He has some things to clean up in his technique, but Korenar can make the tough save and has good hockey sense.
2018-19 Impact
I expect Balcers and Gambrell to get long looks, even if AHL time early on is the likely scenario. Simek could also be an opening day guy for the Sharks depending on how his camp goes. Chartier could be a mid-year call-up option, too.
Organizational Top 10 (23 and Under)
- Ryan Merkley, D
- Timo Meier, LW
- Kevin Labanc, RW
- Alexander Chmelevski, C
- Josh Norris, C
- Rudolfs Balcers, LW
- Dylan Gambrell, C
- Mario Ferraro, D
- Jeremy Roy, D
- Maxim Letunov, C
Meier showed nice growth this season, hitting the 20-goal mark. He’s a great skater who plays with pace and has skill. The question with him is how dynamic is that skill in terms of whether he can evolve into an impact guy, but regardless, I think he winds up a good NHL player for a long time. Labanc continues to impress and provide great value as a late-round pick. When he was a teenager I never thought he’d be quick enough or skilled enough for the NHL, but he keeps proving me wrong.
* – 2017 ranking is from my work at ESPN
(Top photo of Merkley: Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
