Can Keaton Verhoeff Become the Sharks' Future #1 Defenseman?
A look at Verhoeff’s NHL projection and whether he has what it takes to become a top pairing force.
On June 26, 2026, the San Jose Sharks used their 9th overall selection to draft 18-year-old right-handed defenseman Keaton Verhoeff.
Keaton Verhoeff was arguably this year's most polarizing prospect, as scouts couldn't seem to agree on where he should fall in the draft or what his ceiling truly is. Rankings ranged from as high as third to outside the top 10, making him one of the biggest wild cards in this year's class.
So what exactly are the Sharks getting? At the end of the day, Verhoeff was still a top-10 pick, which is no easy feat in itself, so that must mean he has some elite qualities, right?
Verhoeff is the definition of a toolsy player. He brings a 6-foot-4, 216-pound frame at only 18 years old, and despite showing some offensive flashes with his incredible shot in his D-1 season with the Victoria Royals of the WHL, he really improved his defensive play over at the University of North Dakota while facing tougher competition and a much more physical style of hockey.
With Verhoeff, the floor is high. You can almost guarantee a player who fits somewhere in your top four, or at worst, slots in as a fifth or sixth defenseman who lays the body and brings physicality. So what exactly makes scouts so indecisive about his game, and whether it can translate to the NHL?
As I'm sure most have heard by now, Verhoeff has to improve his skating. Physically, he showed this year that he could lay the body if needed. He was a force to be reckoned with on the ice and loved finishing his checks whenever he had the chance. With such a big frame at a young age, it was really nice to see him use his tools to his advantage. However, even though he has some decent edges, his skating is nothing to write home about. He struggles with acceleration, and this causes him to cheat at times defensively because if a forward beats him with speed, he can't recover well enough to break up the play. That's a legitimate concern when projecting him to the NHL.
Offensively, although he packs one of the best shots in this year's draft class, he still has a ways to go. At times, he takes questionable shots and doesn't always choose the best lanes. When a shot does get through, though, it usually creates problems for the opposing team. There is also some concern with his puck handling. Often, he turns the puck over because he doesn't have the smoothest or quickest hands, which limits some of his offensive options. If he wants to become that PP1 quarterback of the future, these are things he'll have to adjust.
Now, I think it's important to highlight what Keaton could become at the NHL level. We have to keep in mind that Verhoeff took great strides this year at North Dakota as one of the youngest defensemen in the NCAA. He finished second in points among U19 defensemen, trailing only Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Jackson Smith.
2025-26 NCAA REGULAR SEASON POINTS (U19 DEFENSEMAN)
Credit: EliteProspects
I do believe Verhoeff can still take another step offensively. We already saw improved passing and decision-making this year. There are flashes where Verhoeff looks incredible and makes a split-second decision. His highs are high, and his lows are low, and unfortunately, it seems to swing between the two more often than not. The biggest question mark is the consistency, which will need to improve if he’s going to develop into a true No. 1 defenseman.
There are many comparables out there, but I keep coming back to Aaron Ekblad. Ekblad was also known as a big two-way defender with an incredible shot who wasn't necessarily the greatest skater. While he may not have become the dominant No. 1 defenseman many expected, he's still had an outstanding NHL career. Needless to say, if Verhoeff can become even 70% of the player Ekblad has been, the Sharks will have themselves a very good defenseman.
It feels like the Sharks organization was the perfect landing spot for Verhoeff. He brings the type of game Mike Grier absolutely adores. Verhoeff already plays with a level of poise and maturity that's impressive for his age. With a huge hole on the Sharks' right side, I really wouldn't be surprised to see Keaton in the NHL sooner rather than later. Take Sam Dickinson, for example. He made the jump earlier than most expected, and I don't think it's too crazy to see Grier giving Verhoeff some NHL minutes when he feels the time is right, even if that means starting as a sixth defenseman and slowly building his game at the NHL level.
Will Verhoeff become the Sharks' future No. 1 defenseman? The tools are there. But perhaps not quite what a #1 defenseman is considered in today’s game. If he continues making the strides we’ve seen, he could become a minute-munching, top-pairing guy that does not need to be the star defenseman to be valuable. If he doesn't, they'll likely still have a reliable defender for years to come, which is a pretty valuable outcome for the ninth overall pick.