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2018 NHL mock draft: Western Conference teams

By Derek Grochowski

WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 25: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Michigan Wolverines skates the puck against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Final at the DCU Center on March 25, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Wolverines won 6-3 and advanced to the Frozen Four in Minnesota. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quinn Hughes
WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 25: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Michigan Wolverines skates the puck against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Final at the DCU Center on March 25, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Wolverines won 6-3 and advanced to the Frozen Four in Minnesota. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quinn Hughes /
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PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 14: Bode Wilde #15 of the USA Nationals skates up ice against the Czech Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 14, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. The Czech Republic defeated the USA Nationals 6-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Bode Wilde
PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 14: Bode Wilde #15 of the USA Nationals skates up ice against the Czech Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 14, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. The Czech Republic defeated the USA Nationals 6-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Bode Wilde /

21. San Jose Sharks – Bode Wilde

The run of defensemen to Western Conference teams continues with Bode Wilde. Wilde is another product of the USNTDP and had a phenomenal season. This is a defenseman who does it all. He can run the offense from the blue line while shutting down other team’s top opponents. Wilde is set to join the University of Michigan next season to continue growing his game. One day soon he will be an impact player in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks.

He is not a game-changing player on the ice. He does a lot of things well, but he will not break a game open offensively. Wilde is the type of defenseman you love to have on your team because you know exactly what you’re getting. The Sharks will be getting a smart player who can read plays in every zone, use his feet to make plays and is consistent. He has above-average size for his age which makes him an even more exciting prospect. His time at Michigan will help his game even more, depending on what Quinn Hughes does it could be the best pairing in college hockey.

The San Jose Sharks would love to add a prospect like Wilde to their organization. Brent Burns is the star of that blue line but, for the most part, their team is built with Bode Wilde-type players. Marc-Eduard Vlasic is a steady defenseman who eats a lot of time. The same can be said about Justin Braun and Brenden Dillon. The Sharks, in general, do not have a lot of star power in the prospect pipeline. Jeremy Roy is the closest thing to a star prospect in the organization. Adding a player like Wilde should excite fans about uniting him and Roy for the future as a top defensive pairing.

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