Should the San Jose Sharks trade for Zach Werenski?

Jason Demers shares his thoughts on what the cost might be.

Demers also talks about potential trade or free agent targets to improve the San Jose Sharks’ defense.

What will unlock Michael Kesselring’s potential? Should the Sharks hand Eric Pohlkamp a spot?

Demers also shares his thoughts about free agents Rasmus Andersson, Mason Marchment, Jamie Oleksiak, and Ryan Shea? How about trading for Morgan Rielly or Mason Lohrei?

Who are the San Jose Sharks’ top-five untouchables in a potential Werenski deal?

Dan Boyle and Demers also commented on Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin’s tape. Demers is also full of praise for Ivar Stenberg.

(00:00:00) Intro / We’ve Made a Huge Mistake
(00:03:12) Jason Demers Talks Up Michael Kesselring
(00:13:44) Why Trade William Eklund?
(00:17:33) How Should Sharks Add to Defense?
(00:20:52) Rasmus Andersson Concerns
(00:29:08) What About Morgan Rielly?
(00:33:20) Sharks Are on Two Timelines
(00:35:53) Should Sharks Chase Zach Werenski? Top-5 Untouchables in Trade?
(00:43:49) Demers’s Free Agency Targets
(00:44:52) Should Sharks Sign Mason Marchment?
(00:48:21) Dan Boyle on Keaton Verhoeff & Ryan Lin
(00:57:10) Demers Teases Doing More Sharks Coverage
(01:04:31) What Would Mason Lohrei Cost?
(01:05:18) How Does Eric Pohlkamp Fit Into Sharks’ Plans Next Year?
(01:14:47) Would You Make Quinn Hughes-Like Trade for Werenski?
(01:19:42) Demers Bullish on Ivar Stenberg
(01:35:38) Zubair Loves Lin
(01:44:20) Keegan on Brady Knowling, Jake Gustafson, Alexander Karmanov

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back and Bladetech Hockey.

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The San Jose Sharks just blew up draft week!

Mid-recording — right as we were rolling on our pre-draft special — Elliotte Friedman dropped the bomb: Sharks GM Mike Grier had traded William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators. So you get our genuine, unscripted, live on-air NHL reaction to the chaos as it broke!

The full return: The San Jose Sharks sent Eklund, Kasper Halttunen, and the rights to Brandon Svoboda to Ottawa for the ninth-overall pick in the 2026 Draft — a pick the Sens had just landed from Florida in the Brady Tkachuk deal. That leaves the Sharks holding the No. 2, 9, and 27 picks heading into Friday's draft

But before all that craziness, an exclusive: Our sit-down with Laila Edwards, the first draft pick in PWHL San Jose history, taken fourth-overall out of Wisconsin. A 2026 Olympic gold medalist and the highest-drafted black woman in PWHL Draft history — she gets into being a role model, her mom's "fire" fashion sense, her planned move to the Bay, some of her biggest personal influences, and what she brings to an expansion roster. She also jokes about moving into Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith's mansion.

Then co-host Dan Boyle re-joins us from vacation with his insights on Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and the big decision for the Sharks at No. 2 — and the domino it sets off right behind them.

To close — lost in the chaos but recorded the day before the Eklund trade — Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects joins us for the definitive prediction on the San Jose Sharks' pick at No. 2...Ivar Stenberg, the Frölunda winger projected as a future 80-90 point NHL forward.

00:00:00 Intro / Cold Open
00:02:59 Laila Edwards Interview: PWHL San Jose's First-Ever Draft Pick
00:23:45 Dan Boyle Returns: Sharks at No. 2 & the Canucks Domino (Reid, Carels)
01:02:00 Friedman Drops the Bomb: Sharks Trade Eklund to the Senators
01:17:27 The Full Trade Return — Live Reaction to the Chaos
02:21:41 Cam Robinson (Elite Prospects) on the Sharks' No. 2 Pick

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back and Bladetech Hockey.

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Post-Combine, Scott Wheeler jumps on to talk about the 2026 Draft!

Joshua Ravensbergen also comes on to talk about Prince George Cougars teammate and potential San Jose Sharks No. 2 pick Carson Carels!

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back and Bladetech Hockey!

(00:04:12) Scott Wheeler shares why he has a “hunch” that the Sharks will pick Ivar Stenberg at No. 2.

(00:10:39) How does Wheeler look back at Michael Misa vs. Anton Frondell last year?

If the Sharks select the Swedish winger, Wheeler explains why he wouldn’t be so quick to trade from the Sharks’ excess of forwards for defensive help.

(00:19:13) If the Sharks pick a defenseman, have Chase Reid and Carels set themselves apart from the rest of the field?

Wheeler has been arguing with fellow Athletic draft guru Corey Pronman on their podcast about the potential value of Reid versus Stenberg. How does Reid rank amongst recent top blueline picks like Artyom Levshunov, David Jiricek, Simon Nemec, Zayne Parekh, Zeev Buium, and Sam Dickinson?

(00:26:44) What are strong San Jose Sharks’ options at No. 20? Wheeler selected defenseman Tommy Bleyl to San Jose in his most recent mock.

What are Sharks’ draft trends under GM Mike Grier? Which Sharks prospects are most likely to help the big club next year?

(00:44:13) Why do Keegan, Sheng, and Zubair still think that the San Jose Sharks will pick a defenseman at No. 2?

What about Joe Pavelski interviewing for the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach job?

Sheng talks more about his brutal AirBNB story.

(01:30:11) Who was the best prospect to chat with at the Combine?

(01:34:50) What can the San Jose Sharks learn from Stanley Cup finalists Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes?

Some free agents Mario Ferraro, Vincent Desharnais, Ryan Reaves, and Philipp Kurashev talk.

Should the Sharks trade for Darnell Nurse, Morgan Rielly, Marcus Pettersson, or Filip Hronek?

(02:17:30) Would you do this Hronek trade?

PWHL San Jose has signed its first players.

(02:31:45) Finally, top San Jose Sharks prospect and 2025-26 WHL Goaltender of the Year, Joshua Ravensbergen!

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