The 2024-25 season is almost finished, with the Stanley Cup Final closing in on being completed, and a champion soon to be crowned. The Edmonton Oilers trail the Florida Panthers heading into Game 6, and while there are some former San Jose Sharks that fans can cheer for, fans are mainly focused on what the offseason will look like for their team.
One player who has yet to announce his plans for next season is Klim Kostin. He is a pending restricted free agent (RFA) and former fan favorite with the Oilers, and there are some questions about what the Sharks plan to do with him, as well as what Kostin’s plans are.
Kostin, who is 26 years old, was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft at 31st overall. He scored one goal and added six assists for seven points this season. Throughout his career, he has scored 25 goals and added 28 assists for 53 points through 190 games, which comes out to a 0.28 points-per-game average.
He is an unproven forward who looks strong as a bottom-six piece at times, but he wasn’t utilized much as a member of the Sharks after joining them from the Detroit Red Wings. There is a slight possibility the Russian youngster heads back to Russia and plays in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) next season, but if he’s open to staying in North America, here are three options the Sharks have with Kostin.
Trade His RFA Rights At The Draft
If the Sharks recognize they won’t be playing him much next season, it would make sense for them to move his RFA rights at the upcoming 2025 NHL Entry Draft. It’s fair to assume a team would be willing to pay a mid-round draft pick to have the chance to sign him, and the Sharks could benefit from doing so. It’s always better to add future capital than lose somebody for nothing, which they risk doing with Kostin.
The Oilers are the first team that comes to mind as a potential fit. The fans loved him, Kostin has spoken openly about his enjoyment during his time as an Oiler, and they could use a cost-efficient player heading into the 2025-26 season, as they risk losing several depth forwards. The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks also make sense for Kostin, but time will tell if any teams fork over a draft selection to bring him in.
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals have reportedly been looking to add forward depth recently, so they could also look into what Kostin would cost and consider bringing him in as well.