The San Jose Sharks have signed a second 2021 draft pick to his entry-level deal today: fifth-rounder Artem Guryev.
Like today’s other signing, Ethan Cardwell, the Sharks’ exclusive rights to sign Guryev were set to expire on June 1st. After taking nearly all their allotted time to evaluate Guryev and determine whether to extend him an entry-level contract offer, the Sharks have ultimately decided he had earned the invitation to join their organization.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier had the following to say about the signing:
Artem is a gritty and competitive defender. He showed continuous improvement in the OHL and uses his size to his advantage against opponents.
Guryev, a Moscow native, will turn 20 in May. He’s a big six-foot-four, 215-pound defenseman and that size makes him an intriguing project player for the Sharks’ developmental staff. Guryev was included in the Flint Firebird’s blockbuster OHL trade alongside New York Rangers first-rounder Brennan Othmann, and ended up scoring 15 points in 38 games.
While Guryev’s offensive game is still a work in progress, he is, as Grier alluded to, an imposing physical presence. That will help him make an early impression in professional hockey, and likely make him an exciting player to watch for Barracuda fans.
His ultimate NHL upside is still an unknown, but now with this entry-level deal in hand, Guryev can either return to Flint for a final OHL season or turn pro with the Barracuda next year, looking to help them improve on what has been a disappointing 2022-23 campaign.