How the Sharks will approach the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
It is widely assumed that the Sharks will select Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, but how will San Jose approach its No. 14 pick?
Talking about the “NHL Draft Class Podcast,” Sharks director of amateur scouting Chris Morehouse revealed the front office’s preliminary strategy, specifically in an area of the draft where each team’s selections could become much more difficult to predict.
“It’s a hard question to ask,” Morehouse said. “I still think in this area of the draft you’re still gravitating toward the talent aspect.
“I think there are some situations where you start with need versus want versus the best talent available. You also want to recruit a kid who is going to be put in the best situation to be successful.”
Last summer, the Sharks acquired the No. 14 selection from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the trade of Erik Karlsson.
And while Morehouse wasn’t clear on the direction the Sharks will take after presumably drafting Celebrini, the director admitted it’s his and his team’s job to debunk draft projection lists that are heavily influenced by members of the media.
For him, the Sharks will do what makes sense for the organization and the player at all levels of the game – on and off the ice – and not just let the best factor available decide.
“The general consensus’ idea of the best player available may not be ours,” Morehouse added. “So that’s where you get the ‘Why did they do that?’ Well, if you think about it, we’re trying to form a team. We are not necessarily thinking about this value, this player.
“In our team, [it] It might not have the same value if you take that player and put him somewhere else.”
With a rebuild underway, it remains intriguing how the Sharks will pursue the franchise’s first No. 1 pick in the NHL draft.
What to expect from San José, now under new coach Ryan Warsofskyon June 28 at Sphere in Las Vegas, is to continue building better days at SAP Center.
