San Jose Sharks: 2 Prospects Who Could Make The Team Next Season

Having a strong prospect pool is such an important thing, as it helps determine the future success of all NHL franchises. Although it is always nice to be competitive now, things changes rapidly and it truly is a young man's league. Therefore, it feels right to start a 32-team segment covering them. During it, we will be looking at two prospects from every NHL franchise who could become NHL regulars next season.

For this piece, we will be focusing on the San Jose Sharks. When looking at the Sharks' current state, it is apparent that they are struggling. They have multiple bad contracts and have failed to make the postseason the past two seasons. They may look to utilize more of their prospects next season because of this. It is never a bad thing to add some youth to the lineup, so they should consider it. Here are two specific prospects who could play for the NHL club this upcoming season.

Ryan Merkley D: The Sharks took Ryan Merkley in the first round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He is a very gifted offensive defenseman who performed quite well during his time in the OHL. He just played his first season with the San Jose Barracuda this past year, too. In 31 games, he scored a goal and recorded 11 points. Although those are not the best of numbers, the Sharks could very well give him a chance next season. Even if it only a short-term call-up, Merkley's high potential may be enough for them to pull the trigger with this. This is especially the case if he has a strong start to the AHL season and/or if many injuries arise on their backend.

Joachim Blichfeld RW: Over the last two seasons, Joachim Blichfeld has suited up in 8 games for the San Jose Sharks. In them, he has recorded an assist. It seems quite possible that the 23-year-old will have more chances with the team next season and could become a mainstay in their bottom-six. He also had a solid season with the Barracuda, too, as he scored 12 goals and recorded 22 points in just 25 games. The Sharks are in a position where they can test out their younger players, and Blichfeld seems like a worthy candidate.