Sharks’ Trade Signals Likely Draft Direction, Leaving Canucks With Crucial Choice at No. 3
The San Jose Sharks may have provided a major clue about their plans for the upcoming NHL Draft after sending winger William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
The move could have significant implications for the Vancouver Canucks, who hold the third overall selection and may have seen one of their preferred targets slip out of reach.
San Jose already gained an advantage over Vancouver by winning the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, pushing the Canucks down one spot. Until recently, there was speculation that the Sharks might bypass highly regarded Swedish prospect Ivar Stenberg due to the organization’s abundance of young offensive talent.
With emerging forwards such as Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Michael Misa, and Igor Chernyshov already in the system, many believed San Jose could prioritize strengthening its defense corps instead.
However, Eklund’s departure changes that outlook considerably.
Eklund and Stenberg share several similarities. Both are skilled Swedish forwards known more for creating offense than finishing plays, relying on vision, puck distribution, and creativity. By moving Eklund, the Sharks appear to have opened a pathway for a player they may view as an even more impactful version of that archetype.
Many scouts project Stenberg as having a higher ceiling than Eklund. Although both are undersized by NHL standards, Stenberg’s long-term potential as a playmaking winger has generated significant excitement.
The trade also gave San Jose additional flexibility. As part of the deal, the Sharks acquired Ottawa’s ninth overall pick, a selection that originally came from Florida in the Brady Tkachuk transaction.
That extra first-round pick could allow general manager Mike Grier to address multiple needs in a single draft. San Jose would be able to select Stenberg at No. 2 and still have the opportunity to add one of the draft’s top defensemen at No. 9.
Considering the organization’s relative lack of high-end defensive prospects, that scenario would help balance its prospect pool without sacrificing elite offensive talent.
For Vancouver, attention now shifts to what remains available at third overall.
One player drawing considerable interest is Caleb Malhotra, though the Canucks could also choose to focus on defense if they determine that strengthening the blue line is the more pressing priority.
The decision carries added importance given the state of the franchise.
Vancouver endured a difficult season, finishing last in the NHL with a 25-49-8 record and a goal differential of minus-100. The club surrendered 316 goals, exposing significant roster deficiencies that extended beyond coaching concerns during Adam Foote’s first season behind the bench.
Compounding matters, franchise centerpiece Elias Pettersson struggled to reach his usual standards, recording 51 points in 74 games while posting a minus-30 rating. At 27 years old, he is coming off the least productive campaign of his NHL career.
A successful draft selection won’t immediately reverse Vancouver’s fortunes, but a missed opportunity could prolong the team’s rebuilding process.
The margin between progress and stagnation remains razor-thin. The Canucks lost three of four meetings against the Sharks this season, with most of those games decided by a single goal or requiring overtime.
While San Jose appears positioned to address multiple organizational needs and maximize its draft capital, Vancouver faces a defining decision. The answers will begin to emerge when the draft gets underway on Friday.
