Igor Chernyshov

April 2025 – The San Jose Sharks assigned Chernyshov to the American Hockey League to play with their affiliate San Jose Barracuda following the end of his 2024-25 season with the Ontario Hockey League Saginaw Spirit. Mark Henry

August 2024 – The San Jose Sharks signed Chernyshov to a three-year, entry-level contract. Mark Henry

June 2024 – Chernyshov was selected in the second round, 33rd overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 2024 NHL Draft. Hadi Kalakeche

November 2023 – Chernyshov’s MHL tape is just unfair. He bullies opponents along the boards, easily strips them of possession, and makes small-area passes to open teammates easily and accurately, leaving his opponents scrambling to keep up. He can’t be caught once in open ice, especially after three of his large strides.

In the KHL, much of the same remains, but he has also shown a lot of adaptability despite the limited ice time. When he can’t out-muscle and out-speed his opponents, he has shown glimpses of an off-puck game that helps him support his teammates’ routes. He tracks back, finds his check, and sticks to him. He’s still fairly raw, with a toolkit that sees him use many of his tools in a not-yet-cohesive way, but the top-six upside is evident. Hadi Kalakeche (November rankings: 12th overall)