There are levels to this whole “being a general manager” thing, and right now, San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier is operating on a plane of existence that nobody else in the NHL - or, frankly, anyone in any sport - can fathom. With the Sharks knocking on the door of not just the playoffs, but a legitimate window of serious contention in the coming years, Grier is making waves.
A major factor in this promising outlook is a young talent named Macklin Celebrini. But Friday night’s first round of the 2026 NHL Draft might just have been Grier’s masterstroke, where he artfully placed the final pieces of his elaborate puzzle on the board.
There were whispers and rumors about what might unfold, but the reality was even more astounding. How Grier navigated the complexities of the draft to make such a night happen is, quite frankly, beyond comprehension.
Just weeks ago, the Sharks faced a classic draft-day dilemma: should they select Swedish phenom Ivar Stenberg - arguably the most NHL-ready prospect available - or address a critical need by picking a young defenseman at No. 2 overall? It was a decision that could paralyze many general managers. But not Grier.
Instead of agonizing over positional value, Grier crafted his own reality, bending the draft board to match his vision. He made shrewd moves to add veteran depth on the blue line, providing the perfect insulation for bringing in a dynamic winger like Stenberg. This strategic maneuver allowed him to take the best player available without hesitation.
Stenberg is a scoring machine who dominated the Swedish Hockey League as a teenager. He’s a player who not only dazzles in highlight reels but also impresses with his full-game prowess. His intelligence and skill are so well-rounded that he might even transition to center in the NHL, excelling there as well.
But Grier wasn’t done yet. By trading William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators for the No. 9 overall pick, he not only cleared a winger spot for Stenberg but also set the stage for one of the greatest draft-day 1-2 punches in recent NHL history. With that second first-round pick, he snagged Keaton Verhoeff, a massive defender who projects to dominate the defensive zone for years to come.
Verhoeff, a year or two away from the NHL, is the kind of player who could anchor a power play and lock down opponents with his size and two-way prowess. Despite a challenging year at one of the top college programs, his potential remains sky-high, and he’s poised to be a top-pairing guy soon.
In the modern NHL, you hoard great players until the league forces you to stop. And no one has stopped Grier yet. With these moves, he’s finalized a terrifying nucleus of young talent that’s set to be a nightmare for the rest of the Pacific Division - and soon, the entire NHL.
Stenberg will be expected to hit the ground running, likely joining the big boys on opening night. Meanwhile, Verhoeff will be worth the wait. With a core that includes Celebrini, Will Smith, Collin Graf, Igor Chernyshov, Michael Misa, Sam Dickinson, Stenberg, Verhoeff, and Yaroslav Askarov in net, San Jose has assembled one of the greatest collections of young talent in NHL history.
If this core doesn’t get the job done - and I mean the big job - then it’s simply not happening in San Jose. This is a team to be reckoned with, both now and in the future.
When this core fully matures, the rest of the league will look back at Friday night and wonder how they let Grier get away with grand larceny. The man had a vision and executed it flawlessly.
That’s how you general manage.
In Other News...
Sharks Fans Are About To Have Feelings Over Brent Burns New Deal
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His latest deal is built around a modest base salary with performance bonuses tied to games played and average ice time, a structure that suggests both flexibility and one more chance to stay in the lineup and contribute. Burns also enters the year chasing the one prize that has eluded him, and for Sharks fans, that familiar pursuit is exactly why this update is going to stir up a few feelings. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Just Made A Telling Decision About Their Blue Line
San Joses blue line is already starting to take shape, and Michael Kesselring is now part of the long-term plan. The Sharks locked up the restricted free agent defenseman on a three-year contract after acquiring him from Buffalo on June 17, a move that brought another young, NHL-tested piece into a defense group that has been in flux all offseason.
The timing matters because the Sharks do not have much certainty behind him. Kesselring, Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson are the only defensemen with notable NHL experience currently signed for next season, while Shakir Mukhamadullin remains unsigned and several others are headed toward free agency or still in contract discussions. For a team still sorting out what its back end should look like, this was a pretty clear signal about which players it wants to build around. [Read more 🡒]
Former Shark Alexander Barabanov Reportedly Has A New Overseas Landing Spot
Alexander Barabanovs next stop overseas appears to be taking shape after his return to the Kontinental Hockey League following his time with the Sharks. After leaving San Jose, the winger signed a two-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan and settled back into familiar KHL territory, giving that club a veteran scorer who could still tilt a lineup with his pace and finishing touch.
Now, after 131 games in Kazan and another productive run in Russia, Barabanov is reportedly on track for a new chapter with a club trying to climb a little higher in the standings. The deal is said to carry a hefty salary and is tied to a future season, a sign that his market remains strong even as Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg continues adding pieces in hopes of finally making a deeper playoff push. [Read more 🡒]