The Sharks have drafted numerous prospects over the years, with some flourishing and raising their stock, while others have stagnated and have a lot to prove this coming season to secure a future role with the Sharks. In this article, I'm going to be looking at three prospects who could be on their last chance to make an impact in San Jose if they don't have a strong season this upcoming year.
Ethan Cardwell
Ethan Cardwell had an interesting season last year. He had a good training camp, was the first call-up for the Sharks, scored his first goal in the NHL, and improved on his scoring rate in the AHL with 48 points in 63 games; overall, a productive season. He was, however, a healthy scratch and generally pushed down the lineup in the playoffs, signaling a lack of trust in Cardwell. With more young players coming to the Sharks, Cardwell needs to continue to improve his game in order not to get lost in the shuffle. He has the potential to be a bottom-six guy, but that won't happen if the coaches can’t trust him on the ice.
Mattias Havelid
Havelid is entering his first pro season in North America, so it may not be fair to say he is on his last chance, but things have not been going well for the former 2nd-round pick. He has dealt with injuries and has struggled at the top level in Sweden since being drafted. The diminutive defender needs to show that his game can work at the pro level. He is already up against the odds at his size, and the lack of development is highly concerning, especially since he was taken over similar defenders in Seamus Casey and Lane Hutson. Havelid needs to take the next step, and soon, or it will continue to be a massive whiff for the Sharks.
Oskar Olausson
The Sharks recently acquired Olausson for Danil Gushchin, and he is in the truest sense on his last chance. Entering the final year of his deal, the former first-round pick is getting a chance at a fresh start, and if he can impress, he could see some looks on a weak Sharks team throughout the year. The big winger can skate and has intriguing NHL-caliber tools, but his scoring has struggled to translate to the pro level, and if that continues, his career in North America is likely nearing an end. If he can find his scoring with the Cuda, he could be an interesting call-up option, but there likely won’t be a 3rd chance anytime soon if he can’t.
Not every prospect works out, but in the same vein, not every prospect develops at the same rate. Heading into another development year, it will be interesting to see which prospects surprise and raise their stock in the organization.