The Sharks currently have the 30th pick, acquired from the Stars in exchange for Mikael Granlund at this year's trade deadline at the end of the 1st-round, as well as their own second-round pick at 33, while it's possible to trade up with their capital assuming they stay where they are and use their current picks what players could they look at with these picks. Today, I will look at potential defencemen available in this range as it is the Shark's most significant organizational need.
Henry Brzustewicz
Henry Brzustewicz is a right-handed defender who plays for the London Knights of the OHL. He is the brother of Flames prospect Hunter Brzustewicz. Henry leans more toward his defensive game than his more offense-leaning older brother. According to Elite Prospects, “Brzustewicz plays a quiet and supportive style of game.” Brzustewicz has connections with the Sharks leading up to the draft, as he played the entire season next to the Sharks’ top defense prospect, Sam Dickinson. Dickinson is coming off a historical OHL season, winning top defenseman honors. If the Sharks believe Brzustewicz and Dickinson can carry their chemistry into the NHL, he is projected to go within their range with either 30 or 33 at this year’s draft.
Jacob Rombach
Jacob Rombach is a towering defender out of the USHL, where he played with the Lincon Stars this past season. Standing at 6’6, Rombach has all of the physical tools needed to succeed in the NHL. Rombach is generally viewed as a mid-second-round prospect, but Elite Prospects thinks highly of him, having him rated at the end of their first round, and have spoken highly of him. “Rombach is a 6-foot-6 defenceman with a near-complete defensive toolkit and high-end puck retrievals.” With Rombach’s physical tools, I don't think it is a stretch to see him go at the end of the first or early second. The Sharks also need to add size on the backend in a bad way, and while Rombach will almost certainly never be much offensively at the NHL level, he has the potential to be a capable shutdown defender with the ability to move the puck out of the zone. Rombach is committed to playing in the NCAA for Minnesota next season.
Sascha Boumedienne
Sascha Boumedienne is a Swedish defender who plays for Boston University in the NCAA. Although he only managed 13 points in 40 games for the Terriers this past season, Boumedienne is known for his offensive mind and passing ability. Part of this is because he played behind older prospects in Cole Hutson and Tom Willander, who took most of the offensive load away from Boumedienne. Boumedienne thinks the game at a high level, and with good size and skating at 6’2, he could become a solid NHL defenseman. Elite prospects said this on Boumedienne. “Boumedienne’s a very attentive player, he scans non-stop and proactively picks up rotations and switches. Intensely fights for positioning, getting inside when possible and bringing players into the wall when not.” The Sharks love taking players out of Boston University and could make Boumedienne the selection at 30th overall.
These are just some options available at the back half of the first and second rounds; this draft is very wide open this year, and it will be interesting to see how the pieces fall; either way, it will be a big day for the Sharks, to add pieces to their young core.