# Sharks, Mike Grier have needs to address in free agency; time to go big? > Source: > Published: 2026-06-30 22:58:25+00:00 **Getting your** [Trinity Audio](//trinityaudio.ai)player ready...SAN JOSE – It’s not hard to guess what the San Jose Sharks will be looking to do once [NHL free agency](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/49206272/nhl-free-agency-2026-teams-best-players-contracts-salary-cap-market) begins on Wednesday. Sure, the Sharks can look to sign a hard-nosed, two-way forward to bolster what looks like a mostly young and skilled top nine. But general manager Mike Grier’s biggest priority [is upgrading the defense,](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2026/06/30/nhl-free-agency-top-players-ranking/90757106007/) as a handful of blueliners from last season’s team will need to be replaced. The Sharks allowed [3.54 goals per game](https://www.espn.com/nhl/standings/_/sort/pointsagainst/dir/asc/group/league) in 2025-26, the third-highest total in the NHL, and gave up the fourth-most high-danger chances in the league, [per Natural Stat Trick.](https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamtable.php?fromseason=20252026&thruseason=20252026&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=all&loc=B&gpf=410&fd=&td=) That’s not all on the defense, but it is an area that needs to be addressed if the Sharks hope to make the playoffs next season. The Sharks have Dmitry Orlov, Michael Kesserling, and Sam Dickinson[ under contract,](https://puckpedia.com/team/san-jose-sharks?__cf_chl_f_tk=535QfxsRtFcD9VVaT6P2Km256mwMDox8zqUVVgMulwM-1782857163-1.0.1.1-1.8JxohfWb8RDffhZhVVe6Z9n6OvRq1fbUi71bmU9oM) and there shouldn’t be much standing in the way of a new deal for restricted free agent Shakir Mukhamadullin. There is also a chance that Nolan Allan and Luca Cagnoni, who played mainly [with the Barracuda](https://theahl.com/stats/player-stats/405/90?playertype=skater&position=skaters&rookie=no&sort=points&order_direction=normal&statstype=standard&page=1&league=4) last season, and Hobey Baker Award finalist Eric Pohlkamp can challenge for an NHL roster spot. Still, the Sharks, who are eyeing a playoff appearance in 2026-27, really have no proven top four defensemen other than Orlov, and their t[op two penalty killing](https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?report=penaltykill&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20252026&seasonTo=20252026&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.29&sort=shTimeOnIce&page=0&pageSize=50) and shot blocking blueliners from last season, Mario Ferraro and Vincent Desharnais, appear set to hit free agency. Newly drafted right-shot defensemen Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin will be Sharks one day, but will likely be college in 2026-27, with Verhoeff returning to North Dakota and Lin a soon-to-be-freshman at the University of Denver. “We have some holes that we need to fill and want to address,” Grier said Friday when asked about free agency after the first round of the NHL draft. The Sharks, per PuckPedia, still have just under $40 million in available cap space under the $104 million upper limit. But there is no chance the Sharks will spend that much this offseason, not with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith set to receive huge pay raises for the 2027-28 season and beyond. It also seems unlikely the Sharks, who need to spend another $12 million or so just to get to the cap floor of $76.9 million, will be able to get one of the bigger-name UFA defensemen. Rasmus Andersson reportedly [has a deal worked out](https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/the-fan-hockey-show/around-the-nhl-with-elliotte-friedman-panthers-land-markstrom/) to stay with the Vegas Golden Knights, a contract that could be announced Wednesday. John Carlson, who was acquired by the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline and[ was just traded](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/49199974/hurricanes-acquire-rights-defenseman-john-carlson-trade-ducks) to the Carolina Hurricanes, is looking to get back to the East Coast after spending the first 16-plus years of his career with the Washington Capitals. Some other[ less expensive options](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2026/06/30/nhl-free-agency-top-players-ranking/90757106007/) for the Sharks could include Jamie Oleksiak, 33, Jacob Trouba, 32, Ryan Shea and Jeremy Lauzon, both 29, and Logan Stanley and Andrew Peeke, both 28. Shea and Trouba would be the top offensive options in that group, while Oleksiak and Stanley bring size and experience. Peeke played over 19 minutes per game last season for the Boston Bruins and blocked 135 shots. Lauzon is a hitting machine. Before last week’s draft, the Sharks had serious interest in acquiring 25-year-old Bowen Byram, a left-shot defenseman who had 42 points in 82 regular-season games with the Buffalo Sabers. Byram[ was soon dealt](https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2026/06/30/blackhawks-nhl-free-agency-preview-bowen-byram-jason-robertson) to the Chicago Blackhawks for a huge haul for the Sabres. Trading to strengthen the blue line remains an option for Grier. There has been chatter about Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who is a pending RFA coming off a 33-point season and is hoping to land a massive extension with his next contract. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman[ said Tuesday](https://x.com/BaldPanarin/status/2072010976392577517) that the New York Rangers offered a first-round pick for Nikishin, but the Hurricanes wanted a player instead. The Sharks certainly have assets to dangle and money to spend if they have a serious interest in Nikishin, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, and at 25 years old in October, fits in age-wise with San Jose’s roster. Orlov is also familiar with Nikishin and could certainly serve as a resource for Grier and his staff. It would also not be surprising if the Sharks had interest in Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski, who had 81 points in 75 games this past season and might be on the move after 10 years with the Columbus Blue Jackets. But Werenski only has two years left on his contract, and with the cost of acquisition likely to be significant, does that run counter to the Sharks’ mantra of not sacrificing the long term for short-term gain? Also, are the Sharks only one or two players away from being Stanley Cup contenders? Asked before the draft if he needed to secure an offensive-minded defenseman this offseason, Grier said, “That’s an ideal world thing. It’s not just this week, but we’ve got a couple of months to make our team better, and I will continue to look to do that. “We’ve been pretty clear about wanting to improve the back end.” Along with Ferraro, Nick Leddy and John Klingberg are headed to free agency. Both had up-and-down seasons with the Sharks, with Leddy averaging 17:52 in ice time over 32 games, while Klingberg had 27 points in 56 games, averaging 20:28 in ice time. Sharks forwards likely to hit free agency are wingers Ryan Reaves and Pavol Regenda. While Reaves and the Sharks could come together on another deal for next season, with Reaves aiming to play in 1,000 NHL games, Regenda is likely headed to free agency. Reaves has played 962 games over a 16-year NHL career and has 140 points and 1,137 penalty minutes. The Sharks have 11 forwards under contract for next season and will likely have two more soon. Collin Graf, a pending RFA, will get a new deal, and winger Ivar Stenberg, just selected No. 2 overall at the NHL draft, is also expected to be on the Sharks’ roster this fall.