The OHL winger should’ve been their early fourth-round pick, but what do I know?
The San Jose Sharks picked up an extra fourth-round selection in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft during April’s trade deadline. Playing middleman, as Doug Wilson is wont to do, betwen the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets, he picked up selection 121 in exchange for forward Stefan Noesen and retaining half of forward Nick Foligno’s contract as he moved from Columbus to Toronto.
With their second pick in the fourth round, at 121 overall, the Sharks selected center Ethan Cardwell from the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League.
Because the OHL was unable to field a season in 2021, Caldwell has the potential to become a sleeper pick. He showed up on just a few rankings — 70 by Elite Prospects, 88 by FC Hockey, 122 by McKeen’s Hockey and 156 by NHL Central Scouting (North American Skaters — but late in the fourth round isn’t a bad spot for him to land going off those rankings.
This story is developing.