Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to KeynoteUSA 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 view the Sharks’ 2024 NHL Draft?
San Jose Hockey Now reached out to several NHL scouts and league sources, all outside of the Sharks, to get their thoughts and ratings on Macklin Celebrini and beyond.
Before we get to his overall grades (and mine), let’s hear some of his thoughts, in preliminary order, on center Celebrini, defenseman Sam Dickinson, winger Igor Chernyshov, defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius, winger Carson Wetsch, goaltender Christian Kirsch, defenseman Colton Roberts, defenseman Nate Misskey and goaltender Yaroslav Korostelyov.
Sharks director of scouting Chris Morehouse and director of player personnel Scott Fitzgerald also provided some perspective.
Macklin Celebrini (Pick #1)
The 6-foot-10 center, who compares favorably to Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby, is responsible for a level of enthusiasm among Sharks fans that I haven’t seen since I began covering the team in 2018-19. The 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs marked the last time Sharks fans were this excited about anything.
“There’s no better organization (to join) right now,” Wetsch said of being drafted by the Sharks. “It’s going to be the best thing.”
I honestly don’t think the 18-year-old would have said that if the Sharks hadn’t drafted Celebrini. Celebrini, who projects himself as a franchise player, makes people believe.
Let’s see if it can live up to so many expectations.
Sheng grade: A-plus
Sam Dickinson (11th pick)
Dickinson or Zeev Buium will be the subject of heated debate for years to come.
He’s the new Will Smith or Matvei Michkov for Sharks fans.
One league source believes the 6-foot-3 Dickinson is somewhat “over his head,” that his ceiling isn’t as high as Buium’s.
The No. 1 scout admits that possibility, but with one caveat: “It depends on whether his shots translate to the NHL… He can sweep.”
There are questions about whether Dickinson’s offense will translate to the NHL, and that’s what will likely limit his ceiling.
“Solid D all around,” Scout No. 2 said, before predicting, “He’ll be a top pair for you in 3 to 5 years.”
However, Dickinson is expected to reach the NHL before then.
“He’s close to being NHL ready,” said the No. 1 scout. “He’s got great size. Plus, he’s an elite skater.”
Dickinson is a safe pick with a lot of potential – the question is how much.
Sheng’s rating: A
Igor Chernyshov (pick #33)
No one would have batted an eye if the Russian winger had finished in the teens in the first round.
Instead, the Sharks landed the 6-foot-9 winger with the first pick of the second day.
“He has a lot of skill and common sense. When he wants to go all out and compete, he is a physical monster, very difficult to contain,” said Scout No. 2. “The defensive aspect of the game? He wants to go out and score goals and hit people and whatever. Defensive play is not his strong suit.”
No problem. Chernyshov seems like a safe bet, as Quentin Musty did at the end of the first round last year.
Sheng grade: A
Leo Sahlin Wallenius (pick #53)
Sahlin Wallenius is a bit more polarizing.
The 6-foot-3 defenseman skates well and can move the puck, but his defensive and hockey intelligence are questionable.
“I have big concerns about Sahlin Wallenius’ hockey sense, his ability to process the game quickly enough,” Scout No. 3 said.
Of course, at pick number 53, you’ll run into flawed prospects. He is still a true talent.
Sheng Grade: B
Carson Wetsch (pick no. 82)
“He is a rabble-rouser through and through. Some team might like that. You might think this guy is Matthew Tkachuk-lite. “I don’t know,” said Scout No. 2. “He skates very well. He is very competitive. But that’s all. (He is more) like Brendan Lemieux.”
It might be a bit high to pick a Lemieux, a fourth-line firebrand without much offense.
For what it’s worth, though, Lemieux was a second-round draft pick in 2014: Teams always crave potential culture creators.
“He’s a high-energy guy,” the No. 3 scout said of the 6-foot-1 winger Wetsch, “but he’s not that big and he doesn’t have offense, so I don’t see value in that.”
That said, Wetsch finished 70th in Bob McKenzie’s final draft rankings, a poll of 10 NHL amateur scouts, so other teams valued him.
Sheng’s grade: B-
Christian Kirsch (Pick No. 116)
Morehouse said the 6-foot-3 Swiss goalie was the Sharks’ best goalie.
Goalies are voodoo, of course, so it’s great news that the Sharks, who are in dire need of goaltending prospects, have landed their man.
Kirsch wasn’t among the most hyped goalies in the 2024 draft class, but this position is so random that it doesn’t matter all that much.
I wonder if they could have waited for Kirsch?
Kirsch was the third in a streak of three consecutive goalie selections, after Nicholas Kempf and Dmitry Gamzin, so maybe not.
Sheng grade: C-plus
Colton Roberts (Pick #131)
“Roberts is a physical defender, plays hard and with a lot of intensity, but he doesn’t have a very defined game either defensively or offensively. He needs to work on both areas,” said Scout No. 2. “He will be a good stopper if everything goes right.”
The 6-foot-4 blueliner was ranked 84th in McKenzie’s final rankings, so catching him this late seems like solid value.
Sheng’s rating: B
Nate Misskey (Pick #143)
“Misskey is a good senior defender in Victoria. Smart, he moves the puck very well, big, physical, but he has some mistakes and moments of reluctance, both when defending and moving the puck,” said Scout No. 2.
Sheng Grade: B-
Yaroslav Korostelyov (Election No. 194)
Morehouse said the unknown 6-foot-10 Russian goalie was second or third on the Sharks’ goaltending chart.
“He’s a hugely underrated goalkeeper, he had an injury which affected his development a bit,” said the No. 4 scout.
Once again, goaltending is very hit and miss and the Sharks needed to infuse some younger goalies into their organization.
They did it and got two underrated goalies they like: Kirsch and Korostelyov.
You can’t argue with that in the seventh round.
Sheng grade: B
Sharks 2024 Draft Qualifier
What is the consensus among talent scouts? The Sharks really blew out their first picks, so what they did later in the draft wasn’t as crucial.
“At least an A, if not an A+,” said Scout No. 1. “Their first four picks are really good.”
“I would give the Sharks an A,” said Scout No. 2. “Two big contributors in Celebrini and Dickinson. Probably a first-round value in Chernyshov. Wallenius has the potential to be an excellent second pairing player. Wetsch may be a cultural guy. Final round potential in the great goalkeeper Kirsch and the two great defenders.”
“Probably an A,” said Scout No. 3. “The top picks were good.”
Who am I to make waves? I will give the Sharks an “A” grade for their 2024 draft.
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