Sheng Peng
BUFFALO — The most significant contract negotiation in San Jose Sharks history has begun.
Sharks GM Mike Grier and agent Pat Brisson were spotted chatting together at the Combine by Marco D’Amico.
San Jose Hockey Now can confirm that discussions about Macklin Celebrini’s contract extension have taken place.
The 19-year-old superstar is eligible for up to an eight-year extension this Jul. 1.
There’s no word on how deep into negotiations that the Sharks and Celebrini’s camp are.
But chances are, this is a top-priority item on Grier’s off-season agenda, as it should be.
So what will the extension look like? Chatter at the Combine with various sources suggested that these SJHN estimates for Macklin Celebrini‘s new contract were in the ballpark.
Of course, San Jose has to improve the team around their fledging perennial MVP candidate, too.
Here’s what SJHN heard at the Combine about Mario Ferraro’s status as a free agent, and thoughts on how the Sharks could upgrade the defense this off-season.
Free Agents?
Don’t expect UFA Mario Ferraro to be back with the San Jose Sharks.
Ferraro will “probably at least test free agency, then we’ll go from there,” Sharks GM Mike Grier said at the end of the season.
Nothing has changed: The 27-year-old defenseman is likely to get a much richer extension than San Jose seems willing to offer.
Ferraro, surely, would love to play for his hometown Maple Leafs? Maybe an up-and-coming squad like the Ottawa Senators would be a good fit?
It’s unfortunate that Ferraro, an exemplary soldier through a lot of difficult years in San Jose, will probably never see a playoff game wearing teal.
The Sharks have two other prominent free agents, who I will hazard to make guesses about.
San Jose does need defense, and while a long-term commitment to Ferraro isn’t in the cards, I’d predict that Vincent Desharnais does come back. Once again, this is an educated guess.
Desharnais is a solid penalty killer, who offers lots of size, which is perhaps Ferraro’s greatest failing. He also should come cheaper and on a shorter-term deal.
On the other hand, the Sharks are full up at forward, especially after re-signing Ty Dellandrea.
So while there’s an appreciation for the spirit and leadership that Ryan Reaves injected into this locker room, best guess right now, there won’t be the space for him on the roster next year.
Reaves does offer unique elements to the team, on and off the ice, so I’m not ruling out his return just yet.
No More Blueline Blues?
The No. 1 question that I fielded this week at the Combine was what the San Jose Sharks would do at No. 2?
The No. 2 question is how the Sharks were going to improve their defense this summer?
San Jose only has two defensemen signed for next year, Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson. RFA Shakir Mukhamadullin should get a qualifying offer.
Prospects Eric Pohlkamp and Luca Cagnoni are waiting in the wings, but it’s hard to see two 6-foot and under defensemen breaking camp with the Sharks next year.
That could be four NHL defenseman roster spots which need to be filled.
I believe the San Jose Sharks have inquired about offensively-minded Morgan Rielly: The 32-year-old Maple Leafs left-hander has a $7.5 million AAV until 2030.
Chatter at the Combine suggested that Toronto could get out from under that contract without retention? And get a positive return back? I’m not so sure about that.
Left-hander Darnell Nurse, 31, also seems very much a possibility too, to revamp the Sharks’ defense. The more defensive 6-foot-4 blueliner has a $9.25 million AAV until 2030.
Another logical trade target for the Sharks could be the Vancouver Canucks’ Marcus Pettersson. The stay-at-home defender wanted out of the Penguins in early 2025 because he wanted to be part of a more competitive situation, but the Canucks were the worst team in the NHL this year.
Left-handed Pettersson, 30, has a $5.5 million AAV until 2031.
Vancouver has a new regime that seems to understand it’s time to rebuild, so if Pettersson wants greener pastures, San Jose would seemingly be a good fit.
If two-way stalwart Filip Hronek, 28, $7.25 AAV until 2032, wants out too, the right-hander would be a fantastic fit for San Jose. Hronek would have no shortage of suitors though.
As for free agency, could Ryan Shea be a possibility? The 6-foot-2 left-hander, 29, is coming off a career 35-point campaign, a regular penalty killer with basically no power play time. Essentially a veteran’s minimum player before this season, maybe he’s a Darren Raddysh-lite late bloomer?
Meanwhile, UFA John Carlson seems set to return east or return to the Anaheim Ducks, which rules out San Jose. Carlson was happy in Anaheim, is very much in demand in a shallow free agent defensive pool, and isn’t looking to stay out west, except for a situation that he’s familiar with.
Another question that SJHN fielded a lot this week is why would the Sharks be so eager to walk away from Ferraro? It’s a fair question, because of the rearguard’s consistent leadership and all-out defensive effort over the years, San Jose’s acute need on the blueline, and an apparent seller’s market at that position.
But the Sharks must think that they have enough options, internally or via free agency or trade, to pull off a playoff-caliber revamp of their beleaguered blueline.
We’ll see, as we approach the Jun. 26 Draft and Jul. 1 free agency.