The San Jose Sharks wasted no time turning the first day of development camp into a preview of what their 2026 draft class might become.
At Sharks Ice in San Jose, the organization’s newest wave of prospects got on the ice after the draft, with first-round picks Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin drawing plenty of attention. Stenberg went No. 2 overall, Verhoeff was taken at No. 9, and Lin came off the board at No. 21, giving San Jose three first-rounders to build around.
Barracuda head coach John McCarthy ran the camp alongside Sharks legends Joe Thornton and Evgeni Nabokov, and his message was simple: the players who already know how to process the game tend to separate themselves fast.
“They come in ready to work,” McCarthy said. “You can tell the guys that have had success in the past and will continue to have success … the guys that come in can process things in real time; they can apply it on the ice. It’s what’s led to their success so far, and will continue.”
For Stenberg, the day matched the dream.
“It’s been super cool, super fun for sure,” second-overall pick Stenberg said. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment my whole life, and I’m here.”
The buzz stretched well beyond the top of the draft. Seventh-round defenseman and 7’1″ Alex Karmanov said seeing San Jose’s facilities for the first time sharpened his focus on what comes next.
“When you see all the professional stuff, you just want to work more and more just to get here,” Karmanov said. “It’s really great when you’re seeing all those professionals and all those opportunities.”
Several prospects also came away impressed by the renovated Sharks facilities, repeatedly calling the environment “high-class” and “top-notch.” For returning prospect Haoxi Wang, the second year brought a little more comfort and a lot of familiar faces.
“It feels good,” Wang said. “Definitely second year coming in, feeling a little bit more comfortable … Good to see all the guys, and this year’s draft picks.”
Wang said the incoming class has already added another layer of energy to the group.
“We got younger talent like Ivar, Ryan, all the exciting prospects that came in,” Wang said. “Getting to know them and see what they’re about, it’s really exciting.”
McCarthy said that kind of mix is part of what makes this camp stand out, especially with three first-round picks in the same room.
“With the way the draft went, we have those three guys here, and we don’t typically have three first-round picks here,” McCarthy said. “That’s the biggest difference.”
Even with the spotlight on the top picks, McCarthy made clear the point of the week goes deeper than introductions and early impressions. Development camp is about how players handle information, how they respond to coaching and how they compete before training camp arrives.
“It’s been fun,” McCarthy said. “A lot, a lot to be excited about.”
In Other News...
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For Sharks fans, the name alone may bring back a familiar debate about whether a player with real skill can finally turn AHL success into a lasting NHL role. Barre-Boulet has already gotten a taste of the league with 68 NHL games on his resume, but the next step in San Jose will be proving he can hold that pace at the top level. The contract details have not yet been disclosed, leaving a little uncertainty around how the team plans to fit him in. [Read more 🡒]
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Barre-Boulet is the headliner among the group, bringing a two-year deal and a track record that suggests he can be more than just organizational depth. Leason also stands out as a forward with recent NHL experience, while Keyser adds another goaltending option behind the Barracudas projected starter. For a Sharks team still building out its pipeline, these are the kinds of under-the-radar additions that can matter when injuries hit or call-ups start to thin out the upper levels. [Read more 🡒]