Sharks Draft Verhoeff, Future Star

San Jose Sharks draft defenseman Keaton Verhoeff ninth overall, a six-foot-four freshman standout from North Dakota with 20 points and Frozen Four experience. Excited to join the Sharks’ young core, Verhoeff credits his family and NHL-playing cousins for his grit and growth. Draft day was surreal—especially after a call from teammate Macklin Celebrini—and he’s torn between returning to college or jumping straight into pro hockey. With skating to improve and NHL-ready size, Verhoeff’s got big shoes to fill—and he’s ready to skate into them. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/477a49bc1b83d000