With the 2026 NHL offseason rapidly approaching, General Manager Mike Grier has positioned the San Jose Sharks as major players in the summer market. The team is loaded with the second-most projected cap flexibility in the entire league ($41.5M), and the Sharks have a remarkably clear runway to shape their roster. As it stands, the Sharks have 17 of 23 active roster spots filled and a wide-open contract bank with just 25 of 50 standard player contracts utilized.
Up front, the heavy lifting is already largely completed. Aside from deciding on veteran depth options like 39-year-old unrestricted free agent Ryan Reaves and 26-year-old Pavol Regenda, who is coming off a Group 6 UFA status, the primary forward focus centers on finalizing extensions for key restricted free agents Philipp Kurashev, Collin Graf, and Zack Ostapchuk. Because this forward group is young and cost-controlled, the true intrigue of the summer shifts entirely to the blue line.
The bigger part of the puzzle, however, San Jose’s defensive corps for next season looks incredibly sparse and requires immediate attention. The only locked-in pieces under contract are veteran Dmitry Orlov, who will anchor the top four at 34 years old, alongside highly touted prospects Sam Dickinson and Luca Cagnoni, who appear ready for everyday NHL minutes at 19 and 21, respectively.
Apart from that trio, Grier has a complete blank slate. Four major unrestricted free agents are seeking clarity about their future with the Sharks, and the decisions made here will determine whether San Jose utilizes its substantial cap space for internal extensions or pursues high-end talent through trades and the sparse open market.
The primary focus of those internal conversations will undoubtedly revolve around Mario Ferraro. At 27 years old, Ferraro perfectly fits the leadership timeline for a transitioning franchise, and extending him to a term contract should be a priority if Grier wants to insulate his rookie class with proven stability on the back end. On the depth front, 29-year-old Vincent Desharnais is another logical target for retention, offering the exact kind of size and physical snarl that the Pacific Division demands on a short-term, reasonable deal.
The Sharks are expected to move on from their older free-agent blueliners. Nick Leddy, now 35, will likely be allowed to test the open market as the organization transitions to younger blueliners. Similarly, 33-year-old John Klingberg is a significant wildcard after an injury-plagued campaign. While he could theoretically serve as a cheap, short-term option to provide power-play utility, the roster spots are simply too valuable to commit to aging health risks when younger assets need room to develop.
Because the Sharks have tens of millions in space and are well away from any sort of cap crunch, Grier is under no obligation to bring these veterans back out of necessity. Instead, he can shift his gaze toward a highly lucrative unrestricted free agent class to completely accelerate the rebuild.
On the right side, 29-year-old Rasmus Andersson is among the top of the free agent class, offering a pristine mix of top-pairing minutes and transition play that would perfectly complement a rookie like Dickinson. If Grier wants an injection of pure championship pedigree and elite power-play leadership, 36-year-old John Carlson could be on the radar as a premium short-term bridge option, while 32-year-old Jacob Trouba provides a rugged, veteran alternative to entirely reshape the identity of San Jose’s zone.
If the Sharks pivot toward adding sheer size and shutdown stability to insulate their creative rookies, the market offers intriguing depth targets as well. The 33-year-old Jamie Oleksiak brings a massive frame and extensive defensive coverage that can lighten the load for a developing blue line, while fellow 33-year-old veteran Connor Murphy offers a reliable, defensive-minded presence capable of eating tough minutes on the penalty-kill.
With elite future assets already in the cupboard and the financial firepower to easily outbid the field or absorb heavy contracts, expect Grier to be incredibly aggressive. The Sharks are fully expected to use their financial leverage to secure at least one of these premier targets, ensuring the next generation of talent has a world-class safety net on the back end.
Honestly really surprised Raddysh wasn’t brought up, though it’s the easy go to when talking about any team that needs a defenseman, especially with offensive upside but I can appreciate looking into who else might be available
Klingberg is the Samuel Dalembert of hockey
A rim protector and plus rebounder?
Knucklehead? Sam was many things. A solid player imo though.
Well, this is in terms for how many teams he played after Philly but okay.
Apologies
No you’re good. First time someone’s called me a knucklehead. Damn haha but yeah he was essential post AI, into the Igoudala years
All good. I was calling Sam a knucklehead. He was that.
These are only temporary solutions, he also has the 2nd pick in the draft, and it’s a year of defenders. Cam Reid on the right side with Dickinson on the left… it’s set for a generation.
The only question is, does Greer make a deal with the Devil aka the Blackhawks, to secure the 4th pick & other asset for No.2? All depends if they’re confident Canucks will reach for Malhotra…
Big-time Sharks fan here.
Klingberg was terrible. If he plays in the NHL, it would have to be as a 6/7 with PP usage. He makes so many defensive lapses from poor skating that he simply cannot be trusted with top minutes.
Leddy is probably done in the NHL, but he played respectably down the stretch, so if someone wants to take a waiver on him? He may surprise.
Ferraro is good, but his game took a step back last year. He’s a prime candidate for a team with an idiot GM to overpay on (see: Edmonton).
Desharnais absolutely earned a call back to the squad.
The key for Sharks D, more than anything, is stability. The problem this past year was that outside of Orlov, no one was really there to steady the game, so when it got out of control, it spiralled fast. We need someone with a high floor who doesn’t need to be amazing, but can at least be consistent.
I don’t expect the Sharks to be “incredibly aggressive”. I don’t even expect them to be aggressive in the first place. What’s the point of being aggressive if you are still a few years from being a Cup contender?
And then being aggressive only brought them Sherwood whom I don’t believe they even need.
The team has the tools to be a playoff team right now. Even if they drop in out in the first or second round, that is revenue the team would absolutely rather have.
But you lose in the draft.
If the Sharks are going to pick in the 20’s from now on, they may not end up with enough draft capital to become a prime contender.
As far as revenue, losing in the 1st round gives you 2-3 home playoff games. A prime Cup contender will play around 10 home playoff games.
I think you misunderstand the phase of the rebuild the Sharks are in. They are *stacked* with prospects right now. The D prospect pool is a bit weak, but forward and goaltending pools are quite healthy. It’s not a matter of drafting high picks now, it’s about getting the picks like Haltunnen, Chernhshov and Cagnoni play time in the NHL. Not to mention the generation behind them like Pohlkamp and Ravensbergen.
Players like Applin, Wild Wild West and Ekans are hitting their stride, and the likes of Dickinson, Chernyshov and Regenda are heating up too.
They need to draft at least a couple of quality D prospects. None of the current roster is a future star. Cagnoni is no Lane Hutson.
Recruiting entire D via free agency / trades is unrealistic.
And if it’s about getting the picks play time in the NHL, how does signing Sherwood help to accomplish that?
Sherwood is middle six scoring depth. 🤷 He did his job.
The Blues will likely overpay to move into the 2nd pick. They have 3 first round picks and Colten Parayko.
I doubt they want to drop beyond 4 or 5. They currently sit with 2 first round picks, they don’t need 3 in this draft. I could a trade that includes someone 2027 #1 no protected so sharks stay on the lottery if they are playoff bound next year