Nine defensemen Sharks could target in NHL free agency, trades this offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It’s no secret that the Sharks need to upgrade their blue line this offseason.
They can’t count entirely on improvement from within: At the moment, veteran Dmitry Orlov and 19-year-old Sam Dickinson are the only NHL defensemen signed. Restricted free agent Shakir Mukhamadullin and a prospect like Eric Pohlkamp also could help, too. Their own unrestricted free agents, chiefly Mario Ferraro or Vincent Desharnais, might also return.
But if the Sharks want to make the Stanley Cup playoffs next year, they’ll probably need at least one or two significant additions to this group.
Here are nine of the smarter possible adds who could make the biggest impact on the Sharks’ blue line.
Let’s start with free agents.
When I say smart, keep in mind, every move is a risk.
But trying to add an impact UFA makes sense because it won’t cost the Sharks any of their prized young forward depth or cadre of picks and prospects.
Darren Raddysh
Is Raddysh for real?
That’s the big question for the 30-year-old, who pretty much doubled or tripled previous career highs with his 22 goals and 70 points during the 2025-26 NHL season.
In theory, the right-hander still is in his prime and would be the perfect addition to the Sharks’ power play.
John Carlson
The 36-year-old still is an impact player and was a go-to power-play option for two teams this season, the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks.
Unlike Raddysh, Carlson’s 60 points this season are no outlier: That’s the eighth time in his illustrious NHL career that he has cleared 50.
The age is a concern, but that also means the contract commitment to the right-hander won’t be as high. Add in his leadership, and he’s probably a perfect bridge power-play quarterback for the young Sharks.
Jacob Trouba
Sharks general manager Mike Grier knows Trouba well: Both were with the New York Rangers at the same time, before Grier was tapped for San Jose’s top job.
The 32-year-old right-hander has the size and physicality that Grier craves on his blue line, and also re-discovered his offensive touch this past season in Anaheim, scoring double-digit goals for the first time since 2021-22.
The ex-Rangers captain also would provide leadership and penalty-killing chops to the Sharks’ defense.
Rasmus Andersson
There’s no reason to believe that Andersson will leave the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights acquired Andersson from the Calgary Flames at the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Swede has been successful in Vegas, and rumor is, the 29-year-old has had his sights set on playing in Sin City for a while.
If Andersson does hit free agency, the right-hander is not a top-flight PP1 option, but he’s a true two-way blue liner who you can count on for double-digit goals and 20-plus minutes a night.
Frankly, it’s a shallow pool for impact defensemen in free agency, so if any of Raddysh, Carlson, Trouba, or Andersson hit July 1, the market for them will be very competitive.
So, if the Sharks can’t sign one, who can they trade for that can make a difference on defense?
These might be some of the smarter deals.
Simon Nemec
Why would the New Jersey Devils trade the No. 2 pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, who appeared to be coming into his own this year?
The 22-year-old right-hander set career highs with 11 goals and 26 points.
It appeared, however, the Slovakian defenseman was headed out the door under former Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald … so what does new GM Sunny Mehta think of him?
“People are mixed on him,” Scout No. 1 said.
If the Sharks believe in Nemec, especially as a soon-to-be PP1 weapon, his age and draft pedigree could be a good gamble.
Filip Hronek
Is Hronek even available?
Considering the Vancouver Canucks were the NHL’s worst team last year, he probably should be.
He won’t come cheap, but the Czech defenseman checks a lot of boxes for the Sharks: He’s 28, relatively young. He had a career-high 49 points last year and is a physical two-way force. He’s right-handed. He’s signed long-term at a reasonable rate, $7.25 million AAV until 2032.
While he’s not a true No. 1 defenseman, he should be a credible No. 2-3 in the coming years as the Sharks climb the standings.
The Canucks acquired Hronek from the Detroit Red Wings at the 2023 trade deadline for essentially a first and a second-round draft pick. If the Sharks could get him for about the same price, it should be well worth it.
Speaking of cost, the Sharks don’t have to pay full price in a trade for a defensive upgrade, either. They can take on another team’s bad contract, assuming that the team retains some salary on the player.
These three older and overpaid blueliners should be an upgrade for the Sharks at a fraction of the acquisition cost for Nemec or Hronek.
Darnell Nurse
Nurse is 31 and has a $9.25 million AAV until 2030.
“Nurse’s only problem is he makes too much money,” Scout No. 2 said.
If the Edmonton Oilers retained a healthy amount, the big and physical minutes-munching left-hander could prove to be a bargain for the Sharks, adding some much-needed jam.
Morgan Rielly
Rielly is 32 and has a $7.5 million AAV until 2030.
“Not the high-end offensive guy which people expect [anymore],” Scout No. 1 said.
The left-hander remains a power-play asset, though his defensive game and mobility are question marks.
Dougie Hamilton
Hamilton is 32 and has a $9 million AAV until 2028.
The Devils tried to dump Hamilton’s salary on the Sharks last summer, but the right-hander blocked the trade.
Could Hamilton change his mind now, after Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks’ monumental improvement this season?
Hamilton still is a power-play asset, and after his controversial Jan. 12 healthy scratch finished the season with seven goals and 27 points in his last 36 games.
Like Nemec, question is, how much does new GM Mehta value Hamilton?
He’s definitely better offensively than defensively, but the short-term commitment to him, as opposed to Nurse and Rielly, could make Hamilton a more attractive bridge addition.
We’re still far away from the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26 and there are still some vacant GM openings, so the market for defensemen this summer is still forming.
But here are some other names who could be available to the Sharks this summer.
Roman Josi, Josh Morrissey, and Adam Fox are still No. 1 defenseman, and all are on less-than-competitive teams right now.
Left-hander Josi, 35, is a former Norris Trophy winner, making $9.059 million AAV through 2028. He’s still a big-time offensive weapon, though he won’t come cheaply if the Nashville Predators decide to rebuild.
Left-handed Morrissey, 31, is making just $6.25 million AAV through 2028. With that bargain contract rate and relative youth, the all-around defender would cost a pretty penny if the Winnipeg Jets decide to break their team up.
Right-hander Fox, 28, is making $9.5 million AAV through 2029. His relative youth and affinity to the city of New York — he’s got a complete NMC — suggests he’s unlikely to move.
Some other top-four defensemen who could be available to monitor over the next couple months?
Could big stay-at-home left-hander Gavrikov, making $7 million AAV through 2032, want out of the cellar-dwelling Rangers?
“Gavrikov is still a steady top-four guy for me,” Scout No. 3 said.
The Seattle Kraken has been circling the drain competitively since their 2023 playoff appearance; could they look to change up their mix? Offensive defensemen Brandon Montour and Vince Dunn could be upgrades for the Sharks’ power play. Right-hander Montour, 32, is signed for $7.143 million AAV until 2031; left-hander Dunn, 29, is signed for $7.35 million AAV until 2027.
“Wouldn’t call Montour an impact top-four guy. Feel he’s declining,” Scout No. 3 said. “Dunn can be with the right partner.”
He added: “[Gavrikov] would actually be a good partner for Dunn.”
The Buffalo Sabres tried to acquire Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline for a top prospect and a first-round pick, but the right-hander declined to waive his no-trade clause. Would the big two-way Olympian, signed until 2030 at a bargain $6.5 million AAV, be willing to go west? And would the Sharks be willing to pony up for the 32-year-old?
Speaking of the Sabres, who are still in the playoffs, they might have to make a decision between Bowen Bryam ($6.25 million AAV through 2027) and Owen Power ($8.35 million AAV through 2031) soon. Byram’s next contract projects to be very expensive, and the 24-year-old left-hander has moved ahead of Power on the depth chart.
“Still haven’t been able to figure out Power,” Scout No. 3 said.
Like Nemec, the 2021 No. 1 pick does represent untapped potential, so if the Sharks believe they can get the best out of the 23-year-old left-hander, he’d be a good gamble.
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