Back in May, I ranked my top 15 prospects in the Sharks system. Since then, the Sharks have added a host of new prospects to the organization via the 2025 draft. With both training camp and rookie camp on the horizon, it’s a great time to revisit the exercise and see the state of the pool heading into the 2025-26 season. I will release my top 15 over the course of three articles, starting with 15-11 and working my way up from there.
Regarding eligibility, my cut-off for what I consider a prospect will be 50 NHL games played for Skaters and 25 games played for Goalies, with an age cut-off of 24. This is the same cut-off I used for the prior ranking. Let's get into the list. Today, we are looking at prospects 10-6!
10 - Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D, 2nd round 2024 (53)
I watched a lot of Sahlin Wallenius over the summer and have become a big fan of his game. I dubbed him the Sharks' most underrated prospect earlier this summer, and he kicks off the top 10 in what is the deepest pool in the NHL, in my opinion. Wallenius will spend the year in the SHL, and hopefully, he doesn’t get bounced around like he was last year. Wallenius is a smart, smooth-skating defenseman who uses his skating to fuel his defensive game, and I could easily see him developing into a top-4 option for the Sharks down the road. The defensive pool for the Sharks is often regarded as weak compared to the forwards, but there is still a strong group of defenders in the system, and Sahlin Wallenius is a key part of that.
9 - Josh Ravensbergen, G, 1st round 2025 (30)
The Sharks made Ravensbergen the highest-drafted goaltender in team history, taking him 30th overall in the 2025 draft, and for good reason. Ravensbergen boasts elite size at 6'5", and although his numbers were not elite last year, his combination of size and athleticism is rare, making him the top goaltender in the 2025 class on most lists. Ravensbergen’s long-term future in San Jose is a little interesting with Askarov poised to take over the crease, but you never know what is going to happen in the future, and having two high-potential goalies is a good problem to have. This is what Elite Prospects said about Ravensbergen in their 2025 draft guide.
“An imposing 6-foot-5 goalie who moves well and has elite play reading, Ravensbergen doesn’t have to look flashy because he’s always in the right position. He challenges shooters appropriately, which can lead to situations where he simply engulfs the entire net because of his size.”
8 - Luca Cagnoni, D, 4th round 2023 (123)
Heading into his second professional season, Cagnoni will have more pressure on his shoulders. His 52 points in 64 games at the AHL level as a 19-20-year-old was a significant surprise. Still, he struggled in his six-game NHL cameo and needs more time in the AHL to refine his defensive game. That’s ok though, defenders take longer to develop, especially when they're 5’9. Cagnoni is one of the smartest players in the Sharks system, and his NHL upside is legit. Cagnoni has defied the odds at every level he has played at, and I fully expect him to do so at the NHL level, even if it isn’t this season.
7 - Collin Graf, W, Undrafted
Graf was able to instantly translate his college success to the professional game last year, with 35 points in 40 AHL games, and added 11 points in 33 NHL contests. The former undrafted college star has a high floor in the Sharks system, and I fully expect him to graduate from this list next season. Graf will be competing for a bottom-six job in camp, and while there is a lot of competition this year, I expect him to secure an NHL job by the end of camp. Graf has upside on both special teams and has already shown signs he can be a useful Top 9 NHL forward. It will be interesting to see how he builds on his first professional season.
6 - Quentin Musty, W, 1st round 2023 (26)
Falling out of the top 5, we have Quentin Musty, who, after a weird hold-out and an injury-riddled final year of Junior Hockey, is gearing up for his first professional season. The 2023 first-round pick has first-line talent and could easily be a top 6 forward for the Sharks as soon as this season, but has been plagued by concerns of consistency and effort since his draft year. The jump to the AHL is a much-needed step for Musty, who needs to be challenged after spending the last few seasons dominating junior competition. It will be fascinating to watch how he navigates his first full professional season. And if he can show his game can work at this level, he could easily climb back up the Sharks' prospects rankings.