BREAKING: Ferraro Signs for 4 Years, $13 Million

Mario Ferraro is back!

The San Jose Sharks announced today that they had re-signed the 23-year-old RFA defenseman to a four-year contract.

A source tells San Jose Hockey Now that the AAV is $3.25 million. It’s SJHN’s understanding that there will be no additional protections in the contract.

“Mario has shown that he is a dynamic and reliable defenseman for our club, skating top-level minutes against the best competition every night and delivering solid results,” San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier said in a team press release. “His energy and work ethic are the reason why he has achieved so much in his early part of his career, and we look forward to watching him continue to grow and elevate his role on the team.”

The Sharks’ alternate captain was one of just nine defensemen, 23 or younger, who averaged 23 or more minutes a night last year. It’s select company: Ferraro, Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Miro Heiskanen, Rasmus Dahlin, Moritz Seider, Charlie McAvoy, Adam Fox, and Jakob Chychrun. He was third on the San Jose Sharks in ATOI, after Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson, and second in penalty kill ice time after Burns.

San Jose may look for a tad more offense from their defensive stalwart with Burns’s departure to the Carolina Hurricanes. Per Sharks PR, Ferraro “recorded 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in 63 games played in the 2021-22 season. He led San Jose in blocked shots (151), ranked third in hits (140) and also finished ninth in blocks-per-60 (6.25) among NHL skaters.”

Ferraro will be a UFA when his contract expires in 2025-26. This contract does not buy out any of Ferraro’s UFA years.

Ferraro is represented by agent Peter Wallen.