San Jose Sharks Draft Ryan Lin 21st Overall – The Hockey Writers – Sharks Prospects

With the 21st pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the San Jose Sharks have selected Ryan Lin from the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL). 

About Ryan Lin

Ryan Lin is an electric two-way defenseman who has been pretty polarizing in this draft cycle. Believers in Lin see a slightly undersized player with excellent hockey IQ and think he could be on the path toward being a Josh Morrisey type of player. Others look at his strong, but not elite skating, and think it will be limiting enough for him as a 5-foot-11 defender in the NHL that he’s not going to become more than a power play specialist.

I think questions about his skating are a bit overblown, sure he’s not skating like a Hughes brother out there, but I think his edgework and four-way mobility is quite good. I’m also not particularly worried about his defensive play as he plays up levels, with his sense of timing on closeouts and surprising feistiness in puck battles serving him quite well in his own end. 

When all is said and done, I think Lin will be a great top-four defender in the NHL, with a chance to become a true top-pairing caliber defender. If he were two inches taller, I think Lin would be considered by many more people to be in the top group of defensemen like Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff and others.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

“Ryan Lin has the potential to be the most explosive defenceman in this 2026 draft class. Right now, he isn’t on the same level as players like Keaton Verhoeff or Chase Reid, but the potential is there for him to catch up to those players. Lin is a great puck-moving defenceman who always seems to make the right play when he is carrying the puck. Whether it’s firing the puck on net, passing to a teammate, or carrying it himself, he has the awareness to make very smart decisions while in control of the puck.”

“His smarts have translated to the scoresheet. As a defenceman, he has had back-to-back seasons with over 50 points for the Vancouver Giants, with this season being his best with 56 points in 51 games. His offensive output has not gone unnoticed by the Giants, as he has truly been their top defenceman this season. He has been quarterbacking their power play throughout the season and has done a very good job. Lin can walk the line on the man advantage and use his vision to find open players. His shot has also become a great tool, and he always seems to find a way to get the puck on net from the point to either create a rebound or score himself.”

“This season, Lin took another personal step as he was given the honour of captaining the Giants for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Being given an honour like this is significant for Lin because players of his age group are usually not given the captaincy due to their youth and inexperience. During his time in Vancouver, he has clearly shown leadership material to be given this honour at just the ripe age of 17 and having not even been drafted into the NHL.” – Lukas Bernasiewicz

Continue reading the full player profile here

How This Affects the Sharks’ Plans?

The San Jose Sharks traded up to snag Ryan Lin 21st overall here, and that was a brilliant move to cap an unbelievably successful night for the Sharks. After adding Ivar Stenberg and Keaton Verhoeff 2nd and 9th overall respectively, the Sharks add a remarkable young defender in Lin. Lin might have the best hockey sense among all defenders in the whole class, and I think he would have been taken 10-15 picks earlier if he were an inch or two taller.