After an absolutely miserable 2023-24 campaign, it can only be up from here for the San Jose Sharks. The club put together one of the worst seasons in the history of the franchise, winning just 19 games and finishing dead last in league standings. But equipped with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the squad should already be much-improved next season with Macklin Celebrini inserted into the lineup.
General manager Mike Grier is also looking to upgrade the team through other routes this summer, and that could include transforming the blue line ahead of next season. One player who is drawing significant interest is shot-blocking specialist Mario Ferraro, according to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta.
“And while San Jose plans on addressing their defensive corps, they are also willing to take calls on several players if they can maximize a return,” wrote the hockey insider earlier this week. “Stud blueliner Mario Ferraro has continued to attract interest from a number of teams dating back to mid-season.”
Pagnotta added: “Ferraro, 25, is under contract for two more seasons and comes with a $3.25 million salary cap hit. He is not looking to be traded and enjoys San Jose, but teams are calling, and my understanding is Grier is open to trading him. However, the price remains very high and it will take a significant return for Grier to part with Ferraro.”
Ferraro was a bright spot on an otherwise terrible defensive core in 2023-24; he finished top-10 in the league in blocked shots and chipped in 21 points from the back end over 78 games.
If Grier is presented an attractive enough package to move the defenseman, it will probably come from one of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes or Chicago Blackhawks, per Pagnotta.
“I am not sure what type of return the Sharks want for Ferraro, but if they go the package route, I would imagine a first-round draft pick is part of the ask, along with a top-ranked prospect and possibly another high asset,” he wrote. “And given his attractive cap hit, it’s understandable why Grier would hold firm.”
Sharks may not have Ferraro next year, but they will have Macklin Celebrini
With two years left on his deal, it's completely up in the air whether Grier will decide to trade Ferraro at some point this offseason. But regardless of that decision, Celebrini will command the spotlight in San Jose in 2024-25 and beyond.
The reigning Hobey Baker winner is fresh off ripping up NCAA hockey, and him being selected by the Sharks is all but a formality at this point. Along with Celebrini, Will Smith, who was drafted No. 4 overall in 2023, is expected to compete for a roster spot during training camp as well.
Almost certainly, both Celebrini and Smith will make the opening night roster out of training camp, and an awful Sharks team should be getting a lot better as the rebuild continues.
It will be interesting to see just how much better the Sharks are next season, and what other moves Grier makes to get the franchise back to relevance in 2024.
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