How league scouts grade, assess Sharks’ 2024 NHL Draft class originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
LAS VEGAS — How does the rest of the league see the Sharks’ 2024 NHL Draft?
San Jose Hockey Now reached out to multiple NHL scouts and league sources, all from outside the Sharks, to get their thoughts and grades on Macklin Celebrini and beyond.
Before we get to their overall grades (and mine), let’s hear some of their thoughts, in draft order, about center Celebrini, defenseman Sam Dickinson, winger Igor Chernyshov, defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius, winger Carson Wetsch, goalie Christian Kirsch, defenseman Colton Roberts, defenseman Nate Misskey, and goalie Yaroslav Korostelyov.
Sharks director of scouting Chris Morehouse and director of player personnel Scott Fitzgerald also lent some perspective.
Macklin Celebrini (Pick No. 1)
The 6-foot center, compared favorably to Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby, is responsible for an excitement among Sharks fans that I pretty much haven’t seen since I started covering the team in 2018-19. The 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs marked the last time Sharks fans were so excited about anything.
“Not a better organization [to join] now,” Wetsch said about being drafted by the Sharks. “It’s going to be the best.”
I honestly don’t think that the 18-year-old would say that if the Sharks hadn’t picked Celebrini. Celebrini, who projects to be a franchise player, makes people believe.
Let’s see if he can live up to the immense hype.
Sheng’s grade: A–plus
Sam Dickinson (Pick No. 11)
Dickinson or Zeev Buium will be hotly debated in the years to come.
It’s the new Will Smith or Matvei Michkov for Sharks fans.
A league source does believe that the 6-foot-3 Dickinson is somewhat “topped out,” that his ceiling isn’t as high as Buium’s.
Scout No. 1 concedes that possibility, but with one caveat: “Depends on if his shooting translates to the NHL … He can rip it.”
There is some question whether Dickinson’s offense will translate to the NHL, and that’s what’s likely to cap his ceiling.
“Solid all-around D,” Scout No. 2 said, before predicting, “He’ll be a top pair for you guys in 3-5 years.”
Expect Dickinson in the NHL sooner than that, though.
“He’s close to…