Overview
- The San Jose Sharks, which selected Keaton Verhoeff Saturday, used the No. 9 overall pick to add an 18-year-old, 6-foot-4, 208-pound right-shot defenseman to their prospect pool.
- Verhoeff moved early from the WHL’s Victoria Royals to NCAA Division I at North Dakota and made the NCHC All-Rookie team while registering six goals and 14 assists in 36 games last season.
- He brings an established international resume that includes gold at U17 and U18 events and a bronze medal at the 2026 World Junior Championship, where he provided secondary scoring and limited minutes.
- Scouts praise his physicality, net-front play and puck skills but identify his backward skating and on-ice decision-making as the main development priorities that make him a medium-term project.
- Verhoeff’s selection complements San Jose’s youth-first rebuild after high lottery picks in prior drafts and points to the team keeping him in college and with Canada at the 2027 WJC as the likeliest path to NHL readiness.