2026 OHL In The System: San Jose Sharks

This 32-part series will spotlight OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played. 

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Today, we take a look at the San Jose Sharks’ OHL prospect pool.

 

Brady Knowling (G) – Saginaw Spirit (2026-27)

Selected: 4th Round, 127th Overall (2026)

2025-26 Stats (U.S. National U18 Team): 33 GP, 3.56 GAA, .880 SV%, 15-12-0

Age: 18

Saginaw Spirit recruit Brady Knowling was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fourth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Ranked as NHL Central Scouting’s top North American goaltender, the 6-foot-5 netminder spent the past two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Toronto-born dual citizen was selected by Saginaw in the third round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection.

 

Alexander Karmanov (D) – North Bay Battalion (2025-26)

Selected: 7th Round, 201st Overall (2026)

OHL Career Stats: 20 GP, 0G, 2A, 2 PTS, +6

Age: 18

Selected in the seventh round by San Jose, Alexander Karmanov joined the North Bay Battalion midway through the season after signing in late November. The 7-foot-1, 280-pound defenceman from Moldova recorded two assists and 29 penalty minutes in 20 regular-season games.

 

Michael Misa (C) – Saginaw Spirit (2022-25)

Selected: 1st Round, 2nd Overall (2025)

Signed: Sept. 10, 2025 

OHL Career Stats: 177 GP, 113G, 152A, 265 PTS., +55

Age: 19

The OHL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2024-25, Michael Misa, spent the majority of last season with the Sharks, recording 21 points (9-12–21) in 45 regular-season games. Internationally, the former CHL Player of the Year represented Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, helping the team win bronze.

 

Haoxi Wang (D) – Oshawa Generals (2024-26), Niagara IceDogs (2025-26)

Selected: 2nd Round, 33rd Overall (2025)

OHL Career Stats: 89 GP, 6G, 22A, 28 PTS., -36

Age: 19

Haoxi Wang appeared in 57 games this past season between the Oshawa Generals and Niagara IceDogs, recording 26 points (6-20–26) from the blueline. He was also selected in the second round (33rd overall) by the San Jose Sharks in last summer’s NHL Draft, becoming the highest-drafted Chinese-born player in NHL history. He is set to join Boston University in the NCAA next season.

 

Igor Chernyshov (LW) – Saginaw Spirit (2024-25)

Selected: 2nd Round, 33rd Overall (2024)

Signed: Aug. 1, 2024 

OHL Career Stats: 23 GP, 19G, 36A, 55 PTS., +10

Age: 20

Splitting his rookie professional season between the Barracuda and Sharks, Igor Chernyshov recorded 33 points (13-20–33) and a plus-36 in 41 AHL games before earning his first NHL recall in January. He went on to register 19 points (9-10–19) in 28 games with San Jose.

 

Christian Kirsch (G) – Kitchener Rangers (2025-26)

Selected: 4th Round, 116th Overall (2024)

OHL Career Stats: 41 GP, 2.42 GAA, .899 SV%, 27-10-2-1

Age: 20

Christian Kirsch enjoyed a standout first season in the OHL, helping backstop Kitchener to both OHL and Memorial Cup championships. In the Memorial Cup, he posted a tournament-leading 1.50 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage, earning him the CHL Memorial Cup Most Outstanding Goaltender and a spot on the CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team. The 6-foot-4 netminder also represented Switzerland at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship and is committed to Quinnipiac University for the 2026-27 season.

 

Quentin Musty (LW) – Sudbury Wolves (2021-25)

Selected: 1st Round, 26th Overall (2023)

Signed: ​Oct. 4, 2023 

OHL Career Stats: 189 GP, 111G, 159A, 270 PTS, +15

Age: 21

In his first full season with the San Jose Barracuda, Quentin Musty recorded an impressive 45 points (21-24–45) in 61 regular-season games, leading all team rookies. Musty will look to crack the Sharks’ lineup in the fall.

 

Ethan Cardwell (C) – Saginaw Spirit (2018-20), Barrie Colts (2020-23)

Selected: 4th Round, 121st Overall (2021)

Signed: Jun. 25, 2026 

OHL Career Stats: 189 GP, 94G, 106A, 200 PTS., +38

Age: 23

Ethan Cardwell spent most of the season with the Barracuda, recording 15 points (7-8–15) in 24 games during his third year with the club. He also appeared in seven games with the Sharks after earning his first recall of the season on Nov. 2, scoring his first NHL goal a few days later.

 

Brendan Hoffmann (C/RW) – Erie Otters (2018-22)

Signed: May. 27, 2026  

OHL Career Stats: 189 GP, 94G, 106A, 200 PTS., +38

Age: 24

Brendan Hoffmann joined the San Jose Barracuda on a professional tryout on Feb. 13 before earning a contract after recording 12 points (5-7–12) in 23 games, including a three-game goal streak from March 15-21. It marked the first AHL stint of his four-year professional career. An ECHL Midseason All-Star and All-ECHL Second Team selection with the Idaho Steelheads in 2025-26, the 6-foot-4 forward finished tied for third in the league with 32 goals.

 

Tomorrow on OHL In The System: We’ll take a look at the OHL talent inside the New Jersey Devils organization.