The San Jose Sharks walked into this year’s NHL Draft already sitting pretty. They had the No. 2 pick. They had a top prospect locked in their sights. But what happened next felt almost unfair.
Keaton Verhoeff was the guy they wanted all along. Not as a consolation prize. Not as a reach. He was the name high on their board before they even won the lottery to move up to the second spot. And when he was still there at No. 9, they didn’t hesitate.
“Sharks were hoping to land Verhoeff before they won the lottery to move up to No. 2,” NHL Insider Frank Seravalli posted on X. “That he fell in their lap with No. 9 is a coup.”
That’s not hyperbole. It’s a legit rare thing in the draft world when a team gets its guy way later than expected. And for San Jose, a franchise that’s been rebuilding and restocking, this felt like a gift.
What makes Verhoeff special
The scouting report out of ESPN says it plainly. His biggest strengths are the stuff that translates. Puck protection. Clearing the front of the net. Playing a physical, mean style that doesn’t quit. College kids who play that way as defenders usually don’t last long on the board.
“It is exceedingly rare that a player his age performs the way he did in college as a defender,” the ESPN report reads. “His physical game will seamlessly translate to the NHL, pushing opponents off the puck, clearing the net front and killing plays by pinning forwards. His powerful shot and playmaking continued to show in the NCAA. Verhoeff projects as a top-pair defender if his skating and decision-making continue to improve.”
That last part is key. The skating and decision-making part. Every prospect has question marks. But for Verhoeff, the foundation is there. He’s not a project who needs to learn how to compete. He already knows how.
College production that pops
Last season at the University of North Dakota, Verhoeff put up six goals and 14 assists over 36 games. That’s not just solid for a freshman defenseman. That’s the kind of production that makes scouts look twice. And it’s not like he was sheltered. He played real minutes against real competition.
The Sharks have been building something here. They took Macklin Celebrini first overall in 2024. They grabbed Michael Misa second overall in 2025. This year they snagged Ivar Stenberg at No. 2 and then watched Verhoeff fall into their lap at No. 9. That’s three drafts in a row where they’ve walked away with franchise-level talent.
Verhoeff might not be the flashiest name in this class. But the more you watch him, the more you think he’s going to be a problem for the other team’s forwards for a long time.
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