The San Jose Sharks are officially back in the mix - and they’re acting like it.
With the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs in sight, San Jose made a clear statement earlier this week by acquiring forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks. It’s the kind of move that says, “We’re not just here to hang around - we’re here to push.”
Sherwood, a pending unrestricted free agent, is currently sidelined with an injury, and yes, there’s still work to be done if the Sharks want to lock him up long-term. But once he’s healthy, he figures to be a key piece down the stretch - a gritty, versatile forward who can slide up and down the lineup and bring some added punch to a team that’s already showing signs of real progress.
And if you think Sharks GM Mike Grier is done dealing, think again.
According to reports, San Jose is keeping tabs on several other trade targets - including New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider. The 24-year-old blueliner is set to become a restricted free agent this summer and holds arbitration rights, which adds a wrinkle to any potential move. But with the Rangers in reset mode - having already sent a “retool” letter to fans - there’s a sense around the league that Schneider could be one of several players on the move before the March 6 trade deadline.
Schneider hasn’t had the strongest season, but that’s been true of a number of Rangers this year. Still, the former first-round pick has shown flashes of the physical, stay-at-home style that made him such a highly regarded prospect. For a Sharks team looking to add young, NHL-ready defensemen with team control, he fits the mold.
San Jose, for its part, has a number of veteran defensemen on expiring deals - and Grier is reportedly open to moving any of them. That puts the Sharks in an interesting spot: a team that could be both buying and selling at the deadline. It’s a balancing act, but one that makes sense for a franchise that’s trying to thread the needle between staying competitive now and building a more sustainable future.
And here’s the thing - the Sharks have earned the right to make those moves.
After two brutal seasons - just 19 wins in 2023-24, followed by 20 the year before - this year’s squad has already notched 25 wins through 49 games. They’re sitting at 25-21-3, tied with the Seattle Kraken for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, and they’ve won five of their last eight. That’s not just improvement - that’s relevance.
For a fan base that’s waited a long time to see meaningful hockey again, this season feels different. The Sharks are playing with purpose, and Grier is backing that up by being active in the trade market. Whether it’s Sherwood, Schneider, or someone else, San Jose is clearly looking to bolster the roster in the short term - not just stockpile for the future.
And that’s a shift worth noting.
Once Sherwood is healthy and in the lineup, the Sharks should be, at worst, a bubble team with a legit shot at ending their playoff drought - which dates back to 2018-19. That’s a long time in NHL years, especially for a franchise that once made deep postseason runs feel routine.
Now, with the deadline approaching and the Olympic roster freeze just two weeks away, expect the Sharks to stay aggressive. They’re not just rebuilding anymore - they’re building something. And for the first time in years, there’s reason to believe it might actually lead somewhere.