The San Jose Sharks have some big decisions to make after landing the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. With consensus top pick Gavin McKenna off the board, General Manager Mike Grier faces a pivotal choice that could shape the franchise's future for years to come.
Right now, NHL experts are zeroing in on two standout prospects. The conversation is heating up between Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg and Canadian defenseman Matthew Reid, and analysts are split on which direction the Sharks should go.
Stenberg, a 5-foot-11 winger from Sweden, has been turning heads with Frölunda HC in the SHL this season. In 43 games, he's posted 11 goals and 22 assists, and his international play has been equally impressive. At the U-20 World Juniors, he tallied 4 goals and 6 assists in just 7 games. Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff calls Stenberg "strong with the puck" with "fantastic shot" and argues he might have the second-best hockey sense in the entire draft behind McKenna. He projects as a versatile, all-around first-line winger who could slot in immediately.
On the other side, Matthew Reid has been making waves with the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL. In 45 games, he scored 18 goals and added 30 assists, showcasing both offensive flair and defensive reliability. He's already committed to Michigan State for the fall and is reportedly training with the team. Several top analysts, including Chris Peters from FloSports, Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet, Scott Wheeler from The Athletic, and Craig Button of TSN, see Reid as the Sharks' best bet at No. 2.
Wheeler describes Reid as "tailor-made" to be the Sharks' future right-handed defenseman and power-play quarterback. Peters adds that while Stenberg is a strong pick, adding a cornerstone defenseman like Reid could give San Jose a formidable one-two punch on the blue line, with Reid taking the lead role.
Interestingly, some experts suggest the Sharks might even trade down from the No. 2 spot to target a defenseman later in the draft. But for now, the buzz is clear: Stenberg and Reid are the names to watch. Whether the Sharks go for a dynamic forward or a franchise defenseman, this pick could define their rebuild for the next decade.