Burning Questions For the 2025-26 Season: Jack Thompson

With the 2025-26 season now in sight, the plan is to address the burning questions surrounding every player on the roster (or competing for a roster spot). These questions are focused on how the player is expected to contribute to the Sharks this season and what their role will be.

Jack Thompson
6'1" 189lbs
23 years old
2020 3rd round pick

Last Season

San Jose Sharks (NHL)
31 games, 4 goals, 6 assists, 15:47 TOI

San Jose Barracuda (AHL)
27 games, 3 goals, 11 assists

Jack Thompson split his time between the San Jose Sharks and the San Jose Barracuda last season. With Shakir Mukhamadullin out with an injury to start the season, Thompson got run with the Sharks early in the season before being sent down in mid-December for Mukhamadullin. Thompson yo-yoed between the Barracuda and Sharks for the rest of the season before finishing the year with the Cuda in the playoffs.

In his first season as an RFA, Thompson signed a one-year extension worth $800,000. Thompson will be a restricted free agent with arbitration eligibility next season.

Burning Question

Is Thompson getting passed up?

Jack Thompson entered this offseason as a roster bubble player. Then Mike Grier added Dmitry Orlov (2 years at $6.5 million AAV), John Klingberg (1 years at $4 million AAV), and Nick Leddy (1 year at $4 million AAV), plus the addition of former first rounder Sam Dickinson into the equation, the path for Thompson to make an NHL impact became much tougher.

Thompson has been an effective player in limited ice time with San Jose, but it's clear that Grier wanted to add veteran additions. Unfortunately for Thompson, he is stuck in a no man's land between the veterans and the upcoming prospects. Dickinson will get more runway to make the team as a first round pick who has limited options for where he can play. Luca Cagnoni put together a better season as a 20 year old in the AHL than what Thompson did last year. This also doesn't include Mattias Hävelid and Eric Pohlkamp who should look to make impacts this year (assuming Pohlkamp signs his ELC after he finishes his season at Denver).

The problem, is that it's hard to define what Thompson's role will be. He's a solid two way defenseman, but Shakir Mukhamadullin is clearly better. Thompson is good offensively, but Cagnoni is special on the blue line. And Sam Dickinson has a much higher ceiling as a potential shut down type of player. It's hard to figure out where Thompson fits in all this. Maybe he's a solid seventh defenseman, who can slide into any role in a pinch, but leaves you wanting more.

Expectations

What the Sharks do with Jack Thompson will be fascinating, the expectation is that he will split time between the Sharks and the Barracuda this year. He should get middle pairing minutes on the Barracuda and will probably get third pairing minutes on the Sharks if they deal with a rash of injuries.

Can Thompson break through and carve out a role in San Jose that sees him as a long term piece? Or will Thompson be playing elsewhere next season?