SHARKS CONCLUDE 2019 NHL DRAFT WITH FIVE SELECTIONS
Jun 23, 2019VANCOUVER, BC - The San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) concluded the2019 NHL Draft today with Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson and Director of Scouting Doug Wilson Jr. making five selections overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
San Jose opened Day Two of the 2019 NHL Draft by trading their second-round selection (41st overall from Philadelphia) to the Vegas Golden Knights for a second round selection (48th overall) and a 2019 third round selection (82nd overall). With the 48th overall selection, the Sharks chose Artemi Kniazev from the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL. The defenseman appeared in 55 games for the Sagueneens, scoring 34 points (13g, 21a) in his first QMJHL season. The five-foot-ten, 182-pound blueliner finished seventh among first-time eligible CHL defensemen in points-per-game and ranked third among Chicoutimi rookies in points. He was ranked 41st overall in the NHL Central Scouting, North American skaters and 58th overall by The Hockey News. According to elite prospects: "A puck-moving offensive defenseman, Knyazev has a very fluid skating stride and displays seamless edges and great acceleration."
The Sharks then traded up in the second round to acquire an additional second round selection (55th overall) from New Jersey in exchange for two 2019 third round selections (82nd overall, acquired from Vegas and San Jose's own 91st overall selection) to choose left wing Dillon Hamaliuk from the Western Hockey League. The six-foot-three, 194-pound winger finished his third season with the Seattle Thunderbirds, recording 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 31 games played. He won a WHL Championship with Seattle in the 2016-17 season.
Prior to the start of the fourth round, the Sharks traded forward Francis Perron and a 2019 seventh round selection (215th overall) pick to Vancouver for a 2019 sixth round selection (164th overall) and forward Tom Pyatt.
In a separate, fourth-round trade, San Jose acquired a 2019 fourth round selection (108th overall) from Montreal in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round choice and drafted forward Yegor Spiridonov from the Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk of the MHL. The six-foot-two, 190-pound centerman played in 43 games, recording 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists). He appeared in the MHL All-Star game, helped his native country win a bronze medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and later added a silver medal in the 2019 U-18 World-Junior Championship, earning six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games.
Spiridonov was ranked 18th overall in NHL Central Scouting (European Skaters) and according to Eliteprospects: "He does a lot of dirty work along the boards, using his big frame well to win puck battles and also protect the puck when he has possession."
The Sharks traded their 2019 fifth round selection (153rd overall) to the Washington Capitals for a 2019 seventh round selection (211th overall) and a 2020 seventh-round pick.
With their first sixth round selection (164th overall, from Vancouver), the Sharks selected Timur Ibragimov from the SKA-1946 St. Petersburg in the MHL. Last season, the left-winger registered 41 points (17 goals, 24 points) in 63 games with a plus-22 rating. The six-foot-one, 183-pound forward finished tied for fourth in points and tied for fifth in goals on St. Petersburg.
With their original sixth round selection (184th overall), San Jose selected defenseman Santeri Hatakka in the sixth-round. Hatakka appeared in 43 games with the Jokerit U-20 team, scoring 13 points (four goals, nine assists) with a plus-eight rating in the Jr. SM-liiga. He also appeared in three contests in the Junior SM-sarja league, earning one assist. The six-foot, 174-pound defender was ranked 72nd overall by NHL Central Scouting (European Skaters). Hatakka also represented his club internationally in the 2019 U-18 World Junior Championship and was named a WJC Top-3 player on Finland with his effort over five games, recording a plus-five rating.
In the seventh round, the Sharks traded the 211th overall pick, acquired earlier from Washington, to Pittsburgh for a 2020 seventh-round selection.
In addition to the five players drafted, the Sharks have added several other prospects as free agents for the upcoming summer, including Danil Yurtaykin,Lean Bergmann, Joel Kellman, Jeffrey Viel, Tony Sund, and Andrew Shortridge.
Here is a comprehensive look at the Sharks selections in the 2019 NHL Draft.
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