SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks’ entrance workplace has been one of many busier locations within the NHL across the commerce deadline in recent times, with a number of veteran gamers shipped out of city for draft picks and different future property.
That may very well be the case as soon as once more this yr, contemplating the Sharks usually are not anticipated to be within the playoff combine within the spring and have 10 pending unrestricted free brokers on their roster.
However Sharks normal supervisor Mike Grier stated that doesn’t essentially imply he’s wanting to commerce each UFA on the workforce. Relying on how the season performs out, who meshes effectively with the group, and who desires to remain in San Jose, Grier stated he’s open to re-signing a few of these gamers in contract years.
“I don’t want to keep tearing the roster down year after year,” Grier stated this week. “Some of these guys, if they play well, they like it here, and they’re a good fit with our group. I’m definitely open to bringing some of those guys back and extending them.”
Alexander Wennberg has been a match, is a type of pending UFAs, and stated this week that he isn’t against sticking round.
Wennberg, who turns 31 on Monday, signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Sharks on the primary day of free company final yr. Whereas he put up modest numbers with 35 factors in 77 video games, he additionally needed to match up in opposition to opposing groups’ prime facilities.
However with the Sharks drafting middle Michael Misa second total in June, and Will Smith nonetheless lots able to taking part in within the center sooner or later sooner or later, the writing could be on the wall by way of Wennberg’s tenure in San Jose. Smith, the Sharks’ fourth-leading scorer as a rookie final season with 45 factors, is predicted to play on the wing this season.
The Sharks even have Filip Bystedt, a 2022 first-round draft decide, ready for his NHL alternative, significantly if Wennberg is shipped to a different workforce earlier than the commerce deadline. In March 2024, Wennberg went from the Seattle Kraken to the New York Rangers for a second-round draft decide in 2024 and a fifth-round draft decide in 2025.
Wennberg has 370 factors in 789 profession NHL video games.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Wennberg stated of taking part in in a contract yr. “I’ve been right here one yr, and I’ve actually had a good time right here. Nice group. I actually loved it, and my household did as effectively. So, we’ll see the way it goes.
“I was brought in here (for) leadership, to be a role model for the younger guys. I’ve got this year left, so I’m going to give it my all. And what happens, happens.”
It’s unclear who will begin the season because the Sharks’ No. 2 middle behind Macklin Celebrini.
Misa has proven indicators by the primary three days of camp that he could be able to make the bounce from the CHL to the NHL proper now. Nonetheless, Wennberg constructed up quite a lot of belief with the Sharks’ teaching employees final season, particularly within the closing two-plus months after main scorer Mikael Granlund was traded to the Dallas Stars in February.
“I want to be that guy,” Wennberg stated. “Clearly, with (Granlund) leaving final yr, with the commerce, (it was as much as me) to fill his footwear. So the spot, the accountability, and the way in which I need to play my sport, I feel that matches my sport.
“Right now, you’ve got to earn it. That’s what we talk about. There are no handouts. There’s no ‘Hey, you get this.’ You’ve got to show every single day that you want to be in that spot.”
Initially Revealed: September 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM PDT
