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 its 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, 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 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.