The San Jose Sharks are heading into a season with plenty of contract decisions already lining up for next summer, and the choices Mike Grier makes could shape more than just the roster. By the time the 2026-27 campaign winds down, the Sharks will have a mix of unrestricted and restricted free agents to sort through, along with several Barracuda players who could force more decisions at the minor-league level.
At the NHL level, San Jose has just three pending unrestricted free agents, and two of them are familiar fourth-line pieces. Barclay Goodrow and Adam Gaudette are both set to hit the open market on July 1, and neither case feels especially simple.
Goodrow has been a favorite of Ryan Warsofsky in their brief time together, and he also happens to be a favorite of Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, for whatever that’s worth. Even if some fans aren’t sold on his game, he still brings the kind of leadership and steadiness coaches tend to value.
The issue is age and wear: at 33, Goodrow’s legs are showing it, and talent-wise he may not be one of the Sharks’ 12 best forwards anymore.
The other notable UFA is Dmitry Orlov, and his situation looks a little different. At 35, the defenseman is clearly in the later stages of his career, but he’s still expected to play a major role for San Jose this season even with Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba in the mix.
Of the three pending unrestricted free agents, Orlov appears to be the likeliest to stick around for the 2027-28 season. That said, if a younger player with a similar skill set becomes available on the market, the Sharks could decide to go that direction instead.
There’s also a technical fourth UFA in the picture, though his situation is more procedural than anything else. Logan Couture’s playing career is over because of injury, and when his contract expires on July 1, 2027, he’ll likely officially retire.
The biggest restricted free agent on the horizon is Will Smith, assuming he doesn’t work out an extension before then. Grier already handled one major piece of next summer’s business by extending Macklin Celebrini last month, and now the focus shifts to Celebrini’s linemate. A deal between the Sharks and Smith should be manageable, but if Smith wants to maximize his leverage, waiting until next summer makes sense, especially with a breakout season looking possible.
Yaroslav Askarov is another important RFA who will need a new contract after the season. His negotiations could get more interesting if his year doesn’t match the promise attached to his name.
So far, much of his value has rested on upside, and a second mediocre season - this time with a better blue line in front of him - would lead to tougher conversations. If he performs at a high level, though, the process should be pretty straightforward.
Luca Cagnoni is also due for a new deal after what would likely be his first full NHL season, although that outcome is still far from guaranteed. If he earns a spot and becomes San Jose’s power-play specialist, he could set himself up for a meaningful raise, just not one that would put a major dent in the Sharks’ books.
Down in the minors, the Sharks will have even more names to manage. Ty Felhaber, Jimmy Huntington, Brett Leason, Libor Hajek, and Kyle Keyser are all on track for unrestricted free agency at the end of the league year. Cam Lund, Filip Bystedt, and Ethan Cardwell are set to be restricted free agents, though it’s possible - if unlikely - that Grier could choose not to issue one of them a qualifying offer.
There’s no shortage of work ahead for San Jose over the next 12 months. Some of these calls will be minor, but others could carry real weight as the Sharks keep pushing to become regulars in the postseason.
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For San Jose, it was the sort of cross-sport cameo that plays well with a fan base eager to see what the next wave might look like. Social media helped turn the moment into a mini event, and the reactions from Smith and Celebrini only added to the buzz around two players already carrying plenty of attention. The swing session left just enough unresolved curiosity to make people wonder how far each of them can keep taking these little moments. [Read more 🡒]
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Grier has made clear he is open to adding major talent if it makes the roster better, which is why the idea of chasing a goaltender of Hellebuycks caliber has real intrigue. San Joses interest is not hard to understand, but any serious pursuit would come with hard choices and plenty of moving parts, from the cost of acquisition to the cap gymnastics that often shape these kinds of swings. The Sharks are at the point where a bold move could speed up the timeline, and the question is whether this is the one Grier decides is worth the price. [Read more 🡒]
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Connor Hellebuyck is the sort of goaltender who can change a franchises timeline, and that is exactly why he has become such a complicated fit for the Sharks to consider. Winnipegs veteran has built an elite regular-season reputation and carries the kind of profile that would instantly raise San Joses ceiling, but any conversation around him has to account for his age and the long-term commitment that would come with adding him to the roster.
The harder part for the Sharks is what such a move would mean for their own crease and their broader rebuilding plan. Yaroslav Askarov is still viewed as a key piece of the future, so the price of chasing Hellebuyck would not be limited to cap space or contract terms. It comes down to whether San Jose believes it is close enough to contend for a Stanley Cup to justify making a bold swing now, even if the payoff is anything but certain. [Read more 🡒]