The Sharks grabbed the second pick in the NHL Draft at the lottery on Tuesday night. The Sharks will make their selection after the lottery-winning Toronto Maple Leafs make the first pick on June 26 in Buffalo.
San Jose had had the ninth-best odds to win the lottery before the first draw was made. It is the third-straight season the Sharks will pick in the top two after selecting Macklin Celebrini No. 1 in 2024 and Michael Misa No. 2 in 2025.
The Sharks took a big step this season, improving from 52 points to 86 points in the standings. That improvement was led by a breakout season from Celebrini, who had 45 goals and 115 points to finish third in fourth in scoring in the NHL. Now the Sharks will have a chance to add another elite talent as they look to snap a seven-year playoff drought.
Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg has been projected to go second overall in most mock drafts in recent months. He’s been in a season-long battle with Penn State winger Gavin McKenna for the top spot.
Stenberg had 11 goals and 22 assists in 43 games for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League this season.
He also helped Sweden win gold at the world junior championship, notching four goals and six assists in seven games.
The full order of the draft after the lottery is as follows:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Vancouver Canucks
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5. New York Rangers
6. Calgary Flames
7. Seattle Kraken
8. Winnipeg Jets
9. Florida Panthers
10. Nashville Predators
11. St. Louis Blues
12. New Jersey Devils
13. New York Islanders
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. St. Louis Blues (via Detroit Red Wings)
16. Washington Capitals