Sharks Make Key Draft Pick
San Jose Sharks Select North Dakota Defenseman Keaton Verhoeff with No. 9 Pick in NHL Draft
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The San Jose Sharks made history at the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday, selecting University of North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff with the No. 9 overall pick at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. The pick gave San Jose two top-10 selections in a single draft — completing a high-stakes plan to rebuild their blue line alongside an already elite group of young forwards. Mercury News reported the Sharks now have both a top forward and a top defenseman from the draft class.
The Sharks paid a steep price to get there. General manager Mike Grier traded 23-year-old forward William Eklund, prospect Kasper Halttunen, and additional rights to Ottawa just three days before the draft to secure the No. 9 pick from the Senators, according to The Hockey Writers. Grier called the deal a move to find "a big, right-handed defenseman" to anchor the franchise.
Sharks Traded a Proven Star to Land Verhoeff
The path to the No. 9 pick started June 21, when Ottawa acquired the pick from Florida as part of a blockbuster trade sending captain Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers. Two days later, Grier moved fast. He sent Eklund — who scored 53 points in 2025-26 and carried a $5.6 million cap hit — to Ottawa for that same pick, according to Daily Faceoff. It was a dramatic pivot for a team usually focused on collecting young assets.
Grier said the trade "came together fairly quickly" and that landing Verhoeff gave San Jose "a little bit of flexibility" heading into free agency. By replacing Eklund's $5.6 million contract with a cheap entry-level deal, the Sharks freed up cap space to pursue veteran defenders this summer, per Yardbarker.
Who Is Verhoeff? A 6-Foot-4 Defender with an Unusual Past
Verhoeff is 6'4" and 212 pounds — a rare right-shot defender with long reach and strong skating. He posted 20 points in 36 NCAA games at North Dakota in 2025-26, adding 43 blocked shots. But his backstory sets him apart. He originally played goalie before switching to defense at age 12. Scouts say that background sharpened his puck-tracking and positioning instincts, according to Daily Faceoff.
He also became one of the youngest players in men's college hockey history when he joined North Dakota at age 17. In junior hockey with the Victoria Royals, he recorded the third-most goals by a defenseman age 16 or younger in WHL history. Verhoeff described his on-ice style to NHL.com simply: "I'm an alligator — calm until it's time to attack and time to battle."
Scouts Split on Ceiling: 'Top-Pair Lock' vs. 'High-Risk Swing'
FloHockey's Chris Peters called Verhoeff's overall ceiling the highest of any defenseman in the draft class. Peters compared him to Florida Panthers star Aaron Ekblad, pointing to Verhoeff's skating, puck play, and athletic ability as "all NHL assets at this point." One scout told San Jose Hockey Now that Verhoeff is "absolutely a top-4 D in the NHL" because of his physicality and reach.
Not everyone is sold. Daily Faceoff analysts noted that Verhoeff struggled with defensive transitions in the NCAA Frozen Four, raising questions about his hockey sense under pressure. The debate among scouts came down to taking high-floor prospect Alberts Smits versus the higher-ceiling Verhoeff. Grier chose upside — a bet that Verhoeff becomes a cornerstone rather than a safe pick.
San Jose Now Has a 'Big Three' Plus a Future Defensive Cornerstone
The Sharks entered the draft holding three first-round picks: No. 2, No. 9, and No. 27. They used No. 2 on Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg earlier in the evening. With Verhoeff at No. 9, San Jose now has a core of five young cornerstones: forwards Macklin Celebrini (No. 1, 2024), Will Smith (No. 4, 2023), and Stenberg, plus defensive prospects Verhoeff and 2024 draftee Sam Dickinson, according to The Hockey Writers.
Verhoeff is not expected on the NHL ice immediately. He plans to return to North Dakota for his sophomore season in 2026-27 and is projected to play a key role for Canada at the 2027 World Junior Championship, per Daily Faceoff. He is also the second cousin of NHL forwards Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens and Colton Dach of the Edmonton Oilers, adding some notable bloodlines to the Sharks' rebuild.
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