Four areas Sharks should address through free agency, trades originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Editor’s Note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
Who couldn’t help the San Jose Sharks improve next season?
When you’re arguably the salary cap era’s worst team – the Sharks’ minus-150 Goal Differential for this past season was the most since the Ottawa Senators’ minus-196 in 1993-94 – it feels like virtually half of the NHL would be an improvement.
So of course top UFAs like center Sam Reinhart, winger Steven Stamkos and defenseman Brady Skjei might be difference-makers. Of course big-name trade targets like Mitch Marner, Martin Necas and Nikolaj Ehlers would be great additions.
But realistically?
The Sharks need to balance that desperate need to create a more positive, competitive environment for star prospects Will Smith and expected No. 1 overall draft pick Macklin Celebrini to walk into, perhaps as soon as next year – without going overboard.
The Sharks aren’t close enough to Stanley Cup playoff contention where they’d be attractive to an older free agent used to winning, like Stamkos – or where it’d make sense to offer a 29-year-old 50-goal scorer, like Reinhart, a maximum contract.
In much the same way, they’re not in a good position yet to offer meaningful assets to land a star like Marner via trade.
Simply put, the Sharks must get appreciably better next season, but without seriously mortgaging their future. At this point in their rebuild, it’s still crucial to keep their future first-round draft picks and avoid handing out long, potentially crippling contracts.
So with that in mind, here are four positions of need the Sharks must address, along with more likely free agent or trade targets.
Couture Insurance
Let’s assume that center Logan Couture, only able to play six games last year, is unable to start the 2024-25 NHL season.
That leaves the Sharks’ center depth thin, after Mikael Granlund, Nico Sturm and likely Celebrini.
Smith is a natural center, but counting on two teens to anchor key roles up the middle could be a recipe for disaster. Wing might be a more ideal place for Smith to start his NHL career anyway.
So San Jose could use another veteran center, who has middle-six skill, high compete and will be a great example…