The first pick for the San Jose Sharks on day two of the 2021 NHL Entry draft wasn’t until the third round, where they initially held pick number 71 overall. They exchanged that pick with the St. Louis Blues, who treated the team to pick 81 overall, as well as a sixth-rounder, 177 overall.
With the 81st pick, the Sharks selected goaltender Benjamin Gaudreau from the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League.
Of course, the last year has not been easy for the 18-year-old netminder. The Sarnia Sting were unable to play in the 2020-21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and attempts to find somewhere to play in Europe on loan were unsuccessful.