Last offseason, Sharks GM Mike Grier spent a lot of time reshaping his back end. He brought in Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberg in free agency while adding Nick Leddy off waivers in an effort to raise the floor of his group. While Leddy struggled, both Orlov and Klingberg were contributors and arguably accomplished that objective.
But now, expectations will be higher heading into next season. San Jose didn’t miss the postseason by much and next season, the objective will likely flip from trying to be more competitive to trying to make the playoffs. To that end, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported on a recent DFO Rundown appearance (video link) that the Sharks will once again be looking to shake up their back end this summer in the hopes of further bolstering the group.
It came out midseason that the Sharks had taken a run at acquiring New Jersey blueliner Dougie Hamilton last summer but the veteran wasn’t willing to waive his trade protection to facilitate a move. Although the trade chatter surrounding Hamilton eventually died down, new GM Sunny Mehta may still look to cut some money from their back end and if that happens, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Grier try again on that front.
Pagnotta suggested Toronto’s Morgan Rielly as a speculative addition but there is trade protection to contend with there, as well. But those two should serve as an idea of the type of veteran they’d like to add while they undoubtedly would want to add a defender that’s more in line with the age of their core group as well.
There will be room to reshape the back end. Last summer’s pickups Klingberg and Leddy are pending UFAs while Mario Ferraro and Vincent Desharnais are also set to hit the open market. Even if one or two were to return, that still leaves ample room for some newcomers. On top of that, the Sharks project to have more than $41MM in salary cap flexibility this summer, per PuckPedia. That means they can shop at the pricier end of the market without needing to worry about hurting their cap situation.
With the Sharks at the point where they’re looking to emerge from their multi-year rebuild and get back into the playoff battle, they’re not going to be in a spot where they’re picky about upgrades. Roster help is roster help and every improvement can make a difference. But with a back end that’s set to be headlined by Orlov and youngster Sam Dickinson next season as things stand, there is a definite need for upgrades and depth in San Jose so it could be another busy offseason when it comes to the back end.
I mean, 3rd worst defense in the league, they need at least 3 top 4 defenders
The Sharks could have made the playoffs this season had Grier been on top of the defense. Did this article even need to be written?
Klingberg was really bad. Same with Leddy, although Leddy was pretty okay late in the season.
Desharnais deserves to stay as a bottom-pairing guy, he was very good this season.
Depending on who’s available with the top Sharks pick this season, I’m open to seeing that move for proven #1 defender signed with term.
“Desharnais deserves to stay as a bottom-pairing guy, he was very good this season.” – what did San Jose do to make him a useful player? He had this terrible habit of stepping up to make a hit while the puck flew past him
I never saw him on other teams, but he was really good at using his size to just take up space… Force guys off the puck, out of position, pressure in the corners… He was occasionally out of position, but not nearly as bad as Klingberg.
That young offensive nucleus they put together just bursted through the door this year and is only gonna get better, they’re projected at pick 9 right now, if I were Grier I would try to flip that for a top tier defender, Askorov will put up numbers if he has a halfway decent blue line in front of him
Grier like most people did not think San Jose was going to be this improved. At least Grier did not do what Yzerman did overpay for average players like copp ,compher etc. smart players see San Jose on rise. Chance to play with Celebrini . If i was morgan Reilly trade me today . I know he has reasons to stay in toronto. Can live there year round after He retires. Better chance of winning with Celebrini then Mathews
The LS has no room even for Ferraro to return. Unless they trade Mukhamadullin or Orlov for Reilly, and of course, Dickinson stays.
Pohlkamp and Allan can handle the the 5th and 6th d spots until they get someone else. Cagnoni and Havelid might also be able to help also.
It is not that dire a situation.
We’d be lucky to get two long term fixtures out of those four because that’s just how prospect attrition works. The clock is ticking on Mukh and Orlov is a UFA next year, that’s another hole to fill. A bonafide top 4 RD would answer so many questions for us.
Well to the clown who keeps stating that the Sharks are way better off than the Hawks I say the teams have the exact same Cap Space and need some defensive help. Except the Sharks seem to need a whole new set of D men while the Hawks could probably just need one to be a leader. The Hawks really need a B/U Goalie because with Kantserov and maybe either McKenna or Stenberg coming they don’t really need a whole lot and have 44 million to get it with. I don’t think so……………
Hawks in the bottom 3 for the 4th year in a row. Sharks are definitely ahead, and they came into their rebuild a year after and looks like they are got out of the rebuild earlier.
Dillon Raddysh the RHD currently playing for Tampa Bay is the best free agent fit
Dillon Raddysh? Really?
Yes really
It’s Darren, homie…Darren Raddysh