San Jose Sharks: Initial grades for the 2019 NHL Draft class
By Justin Fried
Round 2, Pick 55 — Dillon Hamaliuk, LW, WHL
While the Sharks traded down to draft Kniazev, San Jose packaged their No. 82 and 91 picks to move up and acquire Seattle Thunderbirds winger Dillon Hamaliuk.
Hamaliuk is a true power forward who moves very well for a player of his size — 6-foot-3. He has the ability to carry the puck into the neutral zone effectively and can also play down low near the net.
For a second-round pick, that’s some pretty versatile value.
However, Hamaliuk played in just 31 games this past season after suffering a season-ending lower-body injury in December. Still, the 18-year-old Alberta native scored at an impressive rate totaling 26 points in those 31 games including 11 goals.
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Hamaliuk was considered a big riser in the draft community, although his untimely injury likely halted that rise. By most scouting rankings, this is considered a reach but a lot of that is likely due to the uncertain nature of the injury he suffered.
For what it’s worth, Sharks Director of Scouting Doug Wilson Jr. indicated that he believes Hamaliuk is fully healthy now.
It’s unlikely we see either of the Sharks second-round picks in the NHL for quite some time and perhaps we will never see them. But Hamaliuk has first-round talent upside and could project as a solid second or third-line power forward in the future.