The San Jose Sharks have secured a top-four pick in the 2024 NHL Draft after their recent loss to the Arizona Coyotes. This means they are guaranteed to finish no higher than 31st in the standings. With four games left in the season, the Sharks have the league’s worst record and have a chance at the No. 1 overall pick.
Despite their struggles in recent seasons, the Sharks have never had the opportunity to draft first overall in their 32-year history. The last time they came close was in 2023 when they selected center Will Smith with the fourth pick.
The team is hoping to find a spark with a top pick like they missed out on with Connor Bedard last year. Forward William Eklund, their seventh-overall selection in the 2021 draft, has shown promise and is seen as a key piece for the team’s future. Collaborating with recently acquired forward Collin Graf, the Sharks are looking to build a strong foundation for the seasons to come.
While a high draft selection offers hope for the future, returning to the playoffs will not be an easy task for San Jose Sharks. They have missed out on postseason appearances for four consecutive years following a streak of four straight playoff appearances. The team will need to make significant improvements if they want to break this slump and get back into playoff contention.
The San Jose Sharks are currently struggling with their performance on ice, but with four games remaining in this season, there is still hope that they can turn things around and secure a better seeding before entering next year’s NHL Draft.
In addition to having an opportunity at selecting first overall pick in this upcoming draft, it will also give them an opportunity to rebuild their roster and bring back some of their past glory days. With many talented young players on their current roster and some promising prospects coming up from their minor league system, it is possible that this team could make significant strides over these next few years.
As always, it will take time and hard work from both management and players alike to return this franchise back into contention but with patience and determination, anything is possible.
In conclusion, while securing a top-four pick gives hope for future successes for San Jose Sharks fans, it will take more than just one player or one season for them to return to playoff contention. However, with some talented prospects joining up with promising young players already on board and determination from management and players alike, there is definitely potential for great things ahead for this storied franchise!
-1)