San Jose entered the 2025 offseason with $19.7 million in cap space but prioritized long-term rebuilding over immediate competitiveness. The team signed veteran blueliners Nick Leddy, Dmitry Orlov, and John Klingberg, but those additions are short-term depth plays with Leddy and Klingberg on one-year deals and Orlov on a two-year deal. Top defensive pieces are aging and lack long-term control, while younger defensemen like Shakir Mukhamadullin and Mario Ferraro require new contracts. The Sharks missed the draft lottery and added Michael Misa, who does not address the defensive need. Multiple free-agent and trade opportunities to upgrade defense were passed up.
The San Jose Sharks are not trying to be a competitive NHL team next season. There is no way around that fact. They have $19.7 million in cap space, according to Puckpedia, that they could have used to improve their team. The future is on the roster with a lot of great young forwards on their team. But for the Sharks to compete early in Macklin Celebrini's career, they needed to add defense this offseason.
The Sharks did pick up Nick Leddy, Dmitry Orlov, and John Klingberg this offseason. But Leddy and Klingberg have one year left on their deals, while Orlov has two. Their top defensemen are all in their mid-30s and not on the team for extended periods. They do have younger defensemen, Shakir Mukhamadullin and Mario Ferraro included, but they need new contracts, too. There were options in free agency and in trades that they passed up on despite having the assets.
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