Sharks take defenseman Keaton Verhoeff with No. 9 pick at NHL draft
- On Friday, June 26, the San Jose Sharks selected defenseman Keaton Verhoeff ninth overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, making him the highest-drafted player ever from the Victoria Royals organization.
- General Manager Mike Grier acquired the ninth overall pick from the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, securing the 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-shot defenseman the Sharks had long targeted.
- A standout freshman at the University of North Dakota, Verhoeff recorded 20 points in 36 games; scouts describe the 18-year-old as an athletic skater with potential to develop into a player like Alex Pietrangelo.
- Verhoeff plans to return to UND for his sophomore season, joining an organization featuring superstar forward Macklin Celebrini and other young talents building toward playoff contention.
- The Sharks are building a contender through the draft, having already added Swedish-born winger Ivar Stenberg earlier this year as the organization aims to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Schlossman: Keaton Verhoeff waited, then landed in ideal situation
GRAND FORKS — Keaton Verhoeff may have waited a few minutes longer than he expected Friday night. But sometimes, good things come to those who wait. The UND freshman defenseman was selected No. 9 overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo's KeyBank Center. It may not have been in the top five, which was a possibility entering the night. But Verhoeff joined an organization with one of the most intriguing young cores in the NH…
Sooke News Mirror
Port Alberni Valley NewsFormer Victoria Royals defenceman Verhoeff selected 9th overall in 2026 NHL draft
A towering defenceman has shattered the Victoria Royals franchise record at the NHL entry draft. The San Jose Sharks selected Keaton Verhoeff ninth overall in the first round of the 2026 draft on Friday (June 26), making the right-shot blue-liner the highest drafted player to ever come through the Victoria organization. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) The selection eclipses the previous benchmark …
Sharks select Keaton Verhoeff No. 9 overall in 2026 NHL Draft - Daily Faceoff
One of the 2026 NHL Draft class’ most well-rounded blueline prospects has a new team. The San Jose Sharks selected Keaton Verhoeff, 18, with the No. 9 overall pick Friday night at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. Verhoeff falls into the physical archetype every NHL team covets: he’s a 6-foot-4, 208-pound, right-shot defenseman who moves well and can play loads of minutes in all situations. Already built like a man by his age-17 season, he left the WHL…
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