The San Jose Sharks are set for the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft on Friday night. They hold eight selections, which include three in the first round. The draft is at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

As per the updated numbers posted by The Sharks on X, full draft includes the second, ninth, and 27th picks in the first round, the 62nd in the second, the 120th and 127th in the fourth, the 174th in the sixth, and the 201st in the seventh.

This early selection allows general manager Mike Grier to add multiple prospects over the weekend.

San Jose secured the No. 2 overall pick by winning the NHL Draft Lottery in May. They got the No. 9 pick on June 23 when the Sharks traded forward William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators with two prospects.

The No. 27 pick came on June 17 with the Buffalo Sabres, in which San Jose got defenseman Michael Kesselring.

Rather than looking for short-term fixes, San Jose has prioritized the rebuilding the roster with a young core led by Macklin Celebrini. He finished fourth in the NHL this past season with 115 points. The Sharks led by 34 points in 2025-26 and narrowly missed the playoffs.

Before Friday's first round, there are two players who’s name kept appearing in projections linking San Jose to the No. 2 selection. The Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg’s name has been pushed from several mock drafts to play alongside Celebrini.

Defenseman Chase Reid of the OHL's Soo Greyhounds has also been mentioned, with people saying that he’d complement Sam Dickinson.

The draft board is still fluid, with nothing confirmed, and San Jose has not publicly said anything about the direction they are headed.

Grier Open to Make a Big Move

Mike Grier has made clear the Sharks are open to listening to offers. When he was speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he confirmed that there is a serious trade interest in the No. 2 pick.

"It's something we're not afraid to do," Grier said as reported NHL.com. "I think we're at the right spot in our path here to possibly add a big piece."

Any deal that is made would really be a young and established player in return. Someone with the capability of contributing immediately and who will remain for the long term.

"There's probably been five teams that have been very consistently serious about it," he said. "We've received a couple of legitimate offers that we've had to really think through and have conversations about."

With the No. 9 pick also available and additional second-round calls already coming in, San Jose has a lot to plan before Friday's round begins.

Whether the Sharks use the second-overall selection to add another elite player to their young roster or trade it for an established NHL player, they need to have a clear philosophy and a plan before heading into the weekend.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi