After ranking the top 100 NHL prospects for 2015-16 and ranking each team by organizational depth, ESPN Insider Corey Pronman ranks the top 10 prospects for each NHL team. Here is his entry for the San Jose Sharks. Extended write-ups on prospects ranked in the top 100 can be accessed here.
After being at the bottom of farm-system rankings for a number of years, the tide has shifted in San Jose. A few solid first-round picks, strong development from middle-round players and some quality free-agent signings have elevated the pipeline as they look to rebuild/retool/re-try to win again, or whatever it is they're doing.
Julius Bergman had a solid first season in North America as he gets set to turn pro with San Jose's AHL affiliate. He's a skilled puck mover who also shows a good-to-great physical game. Bergman's play can be inconsistent, but he flashes top-end play at both ends at times. However, at those other times, his decisions and overall reads lead to turnovers and improper defensive positioning.
Joonas Donskoi was a former Florida prospect who went unsigned a few years ago. He had a big season in Finland and at the IIHF World Championships. He's a skilled playmaker who plays with pace and has lot of creativity to his game. His defense and physical play will underwhelm you, and he might need to be a little sheltered in the NHL, but he has the potential to get onto a No. 2 NHL power-play unit.
There are some reasons to like Dan O'Regan, due to his hands and great vision as a playmaker. His production took big strides forward this season, but he also got a lot of ice time with super prospect Jack Eichel that might have caused a bigger bump than his talents suggest. O'Regan's poor physical game and size hold him back, on top of not being overly dynamic. Noah Rod didn't produce a ton in the Swiss pro league but was very good at the IIHF World Junior Championships. He's quick, wins battles and is quality defensively. He'll show you a little in terms of playmaking, but his offensive hockey sense isn't too impressive.
I've watched Kevin Labanc closely for three seasons, and the one from 2014-15 might as well have been put in by his evil twin brother, because he looked like a completely different player. Instead of being a simple chip-and-chase defensive grinder, Labanc was attacking with speed and good (but not great) skill. Those additional elements to his game have turned him into a real NHL prospect.
Some honorable mentions for San Jose would be Dylan DeMelo (11th) and Nikita Jevpalovs (12th). DeMelo is a very heady two-way defensemen who isn't the quickest or the flashiest puck handler but is sound in his positional play and puck movement. Jevpavlovs had a huge overage season in the QMJHL, showing above-average skill, particularly for a forward with size.
Noteworthy prospect
Dylan Sadowy trended up in a big way this season, notching 42 goals in his 18-year-old OHL season. He's a sturdy forward with good two-way awareness. His hands aren't elite, but his skill is a tick above average, to combine with a quality wrist shot and a fantastic work ethic. His skating is the major flaw in his tool kit right now.
2015-16 impact
Donskoi could push for an NHL job right out of camp, possibly even a top-nine job. Nikolay Goldobin went late into the NHL camp process last year, so it's at least plausible he could break with the team this season, although an AHL stint seems more likely. Potential AHL call-ups to fill out the bottom of the roster include DeMelo and forward Ryan Carpenter. Jeremy Roy -- the first pick of the 2015 second round -- will likely go for more seasoning in the QMJHL.