Which Shark UFAs Could Earn A New Contract?

The San Jose Sharks enter this season with 10 players who are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents next offseason. General Manager Mike Grier has worked hard over the recent years to clean up a huge mess that was the Sharks cap situation.

While the Sharks aren't expected to compete for a playoff spot this season, Mike Grier has stated several times that it's time to start building. Does this mean offering contract extenstions to current UFAs before they hit free agency? Here are four players that would make sense for San Jose to look to re-sign if they have the impact that they are expected to have.

John Klingberg
Defenseman
Contract: 1 year $4m (NMC until Jan 30, 2026, then 14 team no trade list)

John Klingberg was once a top-end offensive defenseman. Injuries have plagued the Swede over the last few years, limiting him to a total of 25 regular-season games between Toronto and Edmonton. He scored 4 points in 11 regular-season games with the Oilers while playing 17:15 minutes a night. He also suited up for 19 of Edmonton's 22 playoff games, where he pitched in 4 points while playing 19 minutes.

The Path to an Extension:
The Sharks currently do not have anyone on the roster who does what Klingberg does. Klingberg is the top offensive defenseman on the Sharks roster and the de facto power play quarterback. If Klingberg can recapture his magic from his days in Dallas, he should be able to help a power play unit that had some moments, but suffered from inconsistent play on the point. Not even taking into account that Klingberg is a right-handed defenseman, they lack players who do the same thing that he does.

While Sam Dickinson could play in the NHL this season, thinking the 19-year-old is ready to run the power play might be a bit of a stretch, and while Luca Cagnoni has shown that he can do it at the AHL level, it might be another season before Cagnoni is a full-time NHL player.

Why it Doesn't Make Sense:
Klingberg's health is the biggest hurdle. If he can't stay healthy, it won't matter what the production looks like. Other than the health issue, Klingberg isn't known for his defense. If Klingberg struggles to produce offensively and continues to play at the defensive level we've seen over the last few seasons, it's not a great combination. He struggles to answer the "if I'm not scoring, what else can I do" question.

Contract to Watch:

Jeff Skinner
Forward
Contract: 1 year $3m (NMC until Jan 30, 2026, then 8 team trade list)

After spending his entire career and never getting a taste of the playoffs, Jeff Skinner finally made the postseason last year with the Edmonton Oilers. Skinner had an up-and-down season that saw him lose ice time throughout the year. He scored 16 goals in his 29-point campaign while playing 13 minutes a night. Skinner only got into five playoff games for the Oilers.

The Path to an Extension:
Return to form. If Jeff Skinner can return to what he did on bad Buffalo teams, where he was routinely putting up 30 goals a season, it should be a pretty easy decision. With an almost guaranteed top-six playing minutes this upcoming season, Skinner should be among the team leaders in goals scored if he plays well. A 25-goal campaign shouldn't be far-fetched for Skinner if Will Smith cements himself as a second-line center and Skinner gets power play time.

While the Sharks do have a crop of young wingers coming in, Igor Chernyshov, Cam Lund, Quentin Musty, and Collin Graf, expecting any of those players to be consistent 25-goal scorers over the next couple of seasons might be a pipe dream while they get used to the demands of professional hockey and the NHL. Skinner could be a nice bridge option to provide scoring for players like Smith and Michael Misa while the wingers continue their development.

Also, Skinner has a lot of control over where he goes. It's a full NMC until January 30th and then opens up to an 8-team list. It gives General Manager Mike Grier about a five-week window to find a trade partner. If Skinner is happy in San Jose, why move him?

Why it Doesn't Make Sense:
If one of the aforementioned young wingers bursts onto the scene this season, Skinner might become a progress stopper. Grier has mentioned that he doesn't want to give jobs away, but if it's close, he is going to side with the young player who will be part of the long-term core. Of those players, Musty is the one who can most replicate Skinner's role as a top-six scorer. If Musty quickly dominates the AHL, Skinner might be a one-and-done in San Jose.

Contract to Watch:

Alexander Wennberg
Forward
Contract: 1 year left $5m (15 team trade list)

Alex Wennberg signed a two-year deal at $5m aav last offseason. He mainly played third line center, but after Michael Granlund was traded, he saw more time as the 2nd line center with William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli. Wennberg scored 10 goals and put up 35 points in 77 games while playing a career-high 18:51 a night.

The Path to an Extension:
If Will Smith and/or Michael Misa are not ready to take on the mantle of the 2nd line center, Wennberg could be that guy. While either Smith or Misa projects long-term to be the second-line center, asking an 18-year-old to be an effective one at the NHL is a lot to ask from Misa, and while Smith showed a lot to close the season on the wing, moving back to center will come with its ups and downs. The Sharks currently don't have anyone else who can fill the role other than Wennberg.

Even if Smith/Misa cement themselves as the second-line center, the new potential additions on the third line of Graff, Misa, Adam Gaudette, and Philipp Kurashev should give Wennberg much better linemates to be able to produce more. When playing with Toffoli and Eklund, that line had a positive CF (50.2%) and scored eight goals while allowing two. The second most common linemates for Wennberg were Luke Kunin and Barclay Goodrow. That line had a 34.7% CF and scored one goal while allowing five. If Wennberg is given better wingers, he will produce, and the Sharks should have better depth on the wing this season.

Why it Doesn't Make Sense:
This comes down to asset management. Teams are always clamoring for middle-sex centers at the trade deadline.

Scott Laughton - 1st round pick
Charlie Coyle - 2nd round pick
Anthony Beauvillier - 2nd round pick
Trent Frederick - 2nd round pick
Mikael Granlund - 1st round pick

Yes, teams were more than willing to give up a 1st round pick in a weaker 2025 draft, but some team is more than likely to overpay for a center. The Rangers just traded a 2024 2nd and a 2025 4th for Wennberg's services at the 2024 deadline. The market will be available for Wennberg if he produces, but does Grier want to cash in?

Contract to Watch:

Alex Nedeljkovic
Goalie
Contract: 1 year $2.5m

Alex Nedeljkovic played last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He appeared in 38 games where he put up a solid .894 sv% and a 3.12 GAA. Nedeljkovic was easily the Penguins best goalie last season especially when it came ito goales saved above expected where he only gave up -1.0 compared to Tristan Jarry and Joel Blomqvist who each put up -4.7. The Sharks traded a 2028 3rd round pick to the Penguins for Nedeljkovic.

The Path to an Extension:
If Nedeljkovic can replicate what he did in Pittsburgh it will be an improvement on what the Sharks have trotted out (other than Mackenzie Blackwood). Nedeljkovic has proven that he can put up solid numbers behind a porus defense. The Penguins were 6th worse in the NHL in allowing shots on goal and 7th in scoring chances allowed and high danger chances allowed (all based on 5 on 5 play). Even with what should be an improved defense in San Jose, Nedeljkovic will be used to seeing his fair share of trouble in the defensive zone.

Mike Grier specifically said that he wanted a veteran who will get along with expected starter Yaroslav Askarov. If Nedeljkovic plays well and gels quickly with Askarov, it would make sense to lock up the goalie who turns 30 during the season. While there are some intriguing veteran options potentially available next offseason, the goalie carousel can quickly move and it might be worth just riding with the guy you have then being left behind with a subpar option.

Why it Doesn't Make Sense:
Goalies are voodoo. There is a reason that Nedeljkovic is about ready to play with his 4th organization in six seasons. He's spent time in the AHL every season since the 2022-23 season and it can be easy for a goalie to turn back into a pumpkin from season to season. Hitching your wagon (even for two seasons) to a goalie who isn't helping your team can be crushing.

We know Mike Grier has stated that he wants to build, is going to enter next offseason having to start from scratch or will he have some veteran pieces in place?