The San Jose Sharks and Will Smith are in a simple holding pattern right now.
Daily Faceoff’s David Pagnotta said there’s no urgency on either side as contract-extension talks remain open. On the topic of Smith, Jeff Marek asked, “Also, the latest on Will Smith, San Jose Sharks, and that contract. You want to give us a tease there?”
Pagnotta answered: “Yeah, open line of communication on both ends. There’s no timeline.
There’s no deadline. It’s kind of wait-and-see mode between the two.”
Out in Philadelphia, the Flyers may be looking at the trade market, but they’re not in position to make a splash just yet. Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported that Rick Tocchet isn’t going anywhere for the time being, and the Flyers are believed to be hunting for a veteran defenseman with size.
Names like Justin Faulk (Red Wings) and Zach Whitecloud (Flames) would help steady the blue line, though neither would solve the real issue: Philadelphia’s forwards aren’t scoring enough. A major deal feels unlikely this early in the season, and the market may not really open up until more teams slide out of the race and more players become available.
If the Flyers do decide to chase a true hockey trade, the price gets steep fast. Tyson Foerster, Porter Martone, and Matvei Michkov would have to come into the conversation. Martone is considered untouchable, while a source said Foerster and Michkov are viewed very highly internally.
Trevor Zegras, 25, doesn’t look like a likely option after signing a four-year, $36.5 million contract this past offseason.
Noah Cates, 27, carries a $4 million cap hit for three more years, but as a bottom-six player, he wouldn’t bring back a major haul. Owen Tippett, also 27, has six years left at $6.2 million and looks like a potential 25-goal scorer.
He’s drawn interest over the past year, though the asking price remains high. One possibility would be moving Tippett and another piece in a deal for a top-six center.
There’s also some internal tension to keep an eye on with Travis Konecny. He has led the Flyers in scoring over the past five seasons, but sources have said there has been frustration with his play at times.
The 29-year-old is in year two of an eight-year, $70 million contract and owns a no-movement clause. One possible fit mentioned is the Utah Mammoth, though it would take a serious piece going the other way, such as prospect Caleb Desnoyers.
A source also said the Flyers aren’t interested in Tij Iginla.
In Other News...
Senators Lose William Eklund Just As Their New Depth Gets Tested
The Senators injury picture keeps shifting, and the latest blow came with William Eklund undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his ankle. Ottawa expects the former Sharks forward to miss 10 to 12 weeks, removing one of the early pieces it had counted on after acquiring him from San Jose in June. Eklund had already put up a goal and an assist in four games with his new club this season.
Ottawa is trying to absorb that loss while getting some reinforcements back on the blue line, with Artem Zub set for his 2026-27 season debut after a knee injury and Cameron Crotty activated from injured reserve. For a team still sorting out its depth, the timing makes Eklunds absence especially difficult, because the Senators were beginning to lean on the middle of the lineup just as another layer of the roster gets tested. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Road Trip Opener Suddenly Hinges On A Troubling Blue Line Issue
Darnell Nurses status has quickly become the biggest blue-line storyline as the Sharks open their road trip against the Nashville Predators. The defenseman left a recent game with an upper-body injury after a fight, and coach Ryan Warsofsky said he is still able to travel with the team while remaining a game-time decision. For a San Jose club trying to settle in on the road, that kind of uncertainty on defense is never ideal.
The ripple effect could reach deeper into the lineup if Nurse cannot go, with Luca Cagnoni potentially giving way to Nolan Allan on the back end. San Jose also trimmed its forward depth by reassigning Alex Barre-Boulet and Cam Lund to the Barracuda, with Lund still working back from an upper-body injury. It leaves the Sharks with a few moving parts to sort through before puck drop, and the final defensive alignment may not be known until much closer to game time. [Read more 🡒]
William Eklund's Absence Just Changed Both Sharks Matchups With Ottawa
William Eklunds absence adds another layer to what was already a notable stretch for San Jose against Ottawa. The winger, traded from the Sharks to the Senators in June, had been off to a strong start before getting hurt on Oct. 8, and now Ottawa coach Travis Green says he will miss 10-12 weeks after ankle tendon surgery. It is the kind of setback that reshapes a matchup before the puck even drops, especially when a familiar face is suddenly taken out of the picture.
For the Sharks, it changes the look of both meetings with a player they know well, even if only from a brief chapter in his career. Eklund had been one of the more encouraging early developments for Ottawa, so his absence removes a key offensive piece from the Senators lineup and leaves the two games with a different tone than expected. San Jose will still be focused on the result, but the storyline around the matchup now carries a little more weight because of what is missing. [Read more 🡒]