The San Jose Sharks are facing a significant roster crunch as the NHL season approaches the Olympic break. With the trade deadline also looming, General Manager Mike Grier is tasked with making difficult decisions, balancing player merit with asset management.
Several factors have converged to create this situation. Key players are returning from injury, including defenseman Vincent Desharnais, whose return has stabilized the penalty kill, and rookie forward Will Smith. Furthermore, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Philipp Kurashev, and recently acquired Kiefer Sherwood are all expected to be activated soon. Sherwood was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick, and defenseman Cole Clayton. To accommodate these returning and new players, the Sharks need to make corresponding roster moves.
The Sharks' current roster stands at 23 players and includes:
Forwards: Macklin Celebrini, Igor Chernyshov, Ty Dellandrea, William Eklund, Adam Gaudette, Barclay Goodrow, Collin Graf, Michael Misa, Zack Ostapchuk, Ryan Reaves, Pavol Regenda, Jeff Skinner, Will Smith, Tyler Toffoli, and Alexander Wennberg.
Defensemen: Vincent Desharnais, Sam Dickinson, Mario Ferraro, Vincent Iorio, John Klingberg, Timothy Liljegren, Shakir Mukhamadullin and Dmitry Orlov.
Goaltenders: Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic.
The Sharks also have several players on injured reserve or injured non-roster, including Logan Couture, Ryan Ellis, Egor Afanasyev, Lucas Carlsson, Carey Price and Jack Thompson.
Complicating the matter is the NHL's salary cap. According to Spotrac.com, the Sharks' total cap allocations for the 2025-26 season are $94,410,838, leaving them with a cap space of $1,089,162. This limited cap space forces the Sharks to make tough choices, potentially losing valuable players or jeopardizing the development of promising prospects.
Potential moves to alleviate the roster crunch include waiving players, trading pending unrestricted free agents, or reassigning players to the AHL. Players like Jeff Skinner and Vinny Iorio have been mentioned as potential waiver candidates. General Manager Mike Grier has also indicated a willingness to listen to offers for any player, provided the deal benefits the team long-term.
The Sharks' situation is further complicated by Michael Misa's contract status. With Misa having played nine games, his entry-level contract has kicked in, preventing him from being assigned to the CHL.
Despite the challenges, the Sharks' roster crunch is a sign of improved team depth, with younger players emerging and pushing for roster spots. The coming weeks will be crucial as Grier navigates these challenges and makes decisions that will shape the Sharks' future.
