STOCKTON, CA – The San Jose Sharks system has a decent history in developing good, young, defensive players such as Doug Murray and Christian Erhoff. With the salary cap an issue in today’s NHL, the need for developing quality defensemen in the future will become the norm rather than the exception.
Here’s a look at some of young defensive prospects that are showing potential in the Sharks system these days. 1) Derek Joslin At the top of the list is blue-liner Derek Joslin, a 21 year old native of Richmond Hill Ontario (Canada) currently assigned to the Worcester Sharks (AHL). He was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round (149th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Joslin’s size is about average among defensemen (6’ 1″, 215 pounds), but it hasn’t hindered his ability to make his presence known at both ends of the ice. Last season, Joslin played in 80 games with Worcester, racking up 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists) with 44 penalty minutes. This season, Joslin has 20 points (7goals, 13 assists) and was ranked first among the Worcester defense in points, and third overall on the team when he was recalled to the Sharks in early January, making his NHL debut on January 3rd against the Islanders. He has yet to score a points in his eleven games in San Jose to date. Joslin was selected as a member of the Canadian AHL All-Star team this year. In the All-Star Skills Competition, he won the Reebok “Hardest Shot” event with a 98.6 mph shot. 2) Nick Petrecki Another defenseman on the Sharks radar is Nick Petrecki, who was drafted in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (first round, 28th overall). He is sophomore at Boston College (Hockey East), and leads his team in penalty minutes with 118. Petricki has five points to date, all assists. Petrecki’s size surely makes him promising and conforms to the Sharks size standards (6’ 3″, 215 pounds). 3) Julien Demers Demers was selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, by San Jose in the fifth round, (146th overall) and has been assigned to the Ottawa 67’s (OHL). Demers looks to be a promising defender, and is average in size for a defensive player (6’1″, 215 pounds). The 19 year old is leading his team with a plus 19 rating. In 53 games Demers has 7 goals and 29 assists, with 52 penalty minutes in the season. He ranks fourteenth in the OHL among defenseman in scoring, and leads the 67’s blueliners in points, and is tied for second on the team in assists. Demers was also part of the Eastern Conference All-Star team this year too. 4) Jason Demers Though he is not related to Julien Demers, Jason Demers is also a promising defender. Jason is a twenty year old native of Dorval, Quebec (Canada), and was drafted by San Jose in the 2008 Entry Draft in the seventh round (186th overall). Demers has been assigned to the Worcester Sharks (AHL) this season and has played in 55 games to date and has two goals and 19 assists with only 34 penalty minutes. 5) Samuel Groulx Groulx is a fourth round draft pick of the Sharks in 2008, and is a quality defenseman who is currently in the QMJHL playing under Patrick Roy for the Quebec Remparts. This is his third season in the Q, and has improved his offensive output in every season. He currently has 2 goals and 20 assists in 57 games. If he can add four more points he will surpass his career best of 25 points he set last season. Contact the author at shellie.lima@prohockeynews.com
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