San Jose Sharks: Ranking every draft class from the 2000s
By Matt Hawkins
2006 – 1/3 isn’t too bad
Total games played for the Sharks: 292 games
Player with the greatest impact for the Sharks: Jamie McGinn (204 games)
For the 2006 draft, the Sharks had six selections, a first, second, fourth, fifth, and two seventh-rounders. This draft was mostly a disaster, but the picks of left wing Jamie McGinn (36th overall) and left wing John McCarthy (202nd overall) partially saved it.
McGinn and McCarthy were the only two players from this draft to play in any games for San Jose. McCarthy played in 88 games and scored six points (three goals, three assists), McGinn played in 204 games and scored 49 points (27 goals, 22 assists).
Without the emergence of McGinn, this draft could’ve been a lot worse and probably would’ve ended up on “The Terrible” slide.
2004 – A lot of picks, not so much success
Total games played with the Sharks: 343 games
Player with the greatest impact for the Sharks: Torrey Mitchell (280 games)
The Sharks made 10 picks at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. This was the last NHL draft that had over seven rounds as a part of the new CBA was the agreement of only seven rounds for the draft.
Out of the 10 selections, only four have played for the Sharks. These players are right wing Lukas Kaspar (22nd overall), goalie Thomas Greiss (94th overall), center Torrey Mitchell (126th overall), and center Steven Zalewski (153th overall).
Mitchell played the most games for the Sharks, playing in 280 games. In those games he scored 73 points (30 goals, 43 assists). If it wasn’t for Mitchell, I might’ve had to make a different category for this draft class that would be between terrible and alright.
Must Read. 3 players you forgot played for the San Jose Sharks. light
2008 – A couple of late-round gems
Total games played with the Sharks: 637 games
Player with the greatest impact for the Sharks: Tommy Wingels (337 games)
The 2008 NHL draft saw the Sharks make seven picks, but this didn’t include a first or second-round pick. Their first-round pick was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in a deal to acquire defenseman Brian Campbell.
With the Sharks not having their first or second-rounder, they wouldn’t make a selection until the third round. However, none of their selections would play for them until their sixth-round pick of center Tommy Wingels (177th overall).
In addition to Wingels, their first of two seventh-round picks, defenseman Jason Demers (186th overall) would also play for them. Both players suited up for at least 300 games for the Sharks, Wingels played in 337 games and scored 122 points (51 goals, 71 assists) and Demers played 300 games and scored 98 points (16 goals, 82 assists).