A New Era in the Making: The San Jose Sharks Trades and Signings that Shook the NHL
- Mayline Ruiz
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
San Jose, CA. — With the 2024-25 NHL season finishing and free agency in full swing, there are a few teams turning heads for good and bad reasons. The San Jose Sharks had one of the most interesting seasons yet. With rookie players starting their professional careers and beloved players leaving the team, the Sharks remained a hot topic throughout the entire season. Let’s talk about how the Sharks’ recent moves affect their rebuild and what it means for the franchise.
The San Jose Sharks ended their season with 20 wins, 50 losses, and 12 overtime/shootout losses. It was a slight improvement compared to last season, which included 19 wins, 54 losses, and nine overtime/shootout losses. Despite not having the best record in their division, people were captivated by their rookies and how they will lead the next upcoming generation.
Rookies
Players such as Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith signed their entry-level contracts and immediately became fan favorites. Smith finished playing in 74 games, scoring 18 goals with 27 assists for a total of 45 points. Celebrini also found success in 70 games, garnering 63 points from 25 goals and 38 assists. Other players such as William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund might not be rookies; however, they’re still young players with a bright future in the league.
Trades
One of their notable trades during this season was on December 9th, where the Sharks traded away Givani Smith, Mackenzie Blackwood, and a 2027 5th-round pick for Nikolai Kovalenko, Alexandar Georgiev, a 2025 5th-round pick, and a 2026 2nd-round pick. The trade turned many heads as they would be losing Blackwood, who played an essential role for the Sharks. Georgiev quickly took the goalie role, playing in 31 games, winning seven, losing 19 in regulation, and losing four in overtime.
Other trades occurred during the season, such as Justin Bailey heading to the San Diego Gulls in exchange for Pavol Regenda. On February 1st, 2025, the Sharks decided to trade away both Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci to the Dallas Stars for a 2025 1st round pick and a conditional 2025 4th round pick. It was a shocking trade, to say the least, as they lost Granlund, who had scored 15 goals and had 30 assists. While Ceci is a good defenseman, the Sharks have exciting young players who are ready to step up from their American Hockey League team, the San Jose Barracuda, such as Luca Cagnoni and Shakir Mukhamadullin.
Another shocking trade came on March 6th, when the Florida Panthers acquired Nico Sturm while the San Jose Sharks received a 2026 4th-round pick. Sturm played 47 games with the Sharks after accumulating 13 points from seven goals and six assists. While he wasn’t a high-scoring player, many people grew fond of him.
One of the most unexpected trades was on March 7th when the Sharks traded away Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins, and a 2025 4th-round pick for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and a 2025 2nd-round pick. This trade came as a surprise to many people, as Zetterlund was supposed to be part of the Sharks’ future. Playing alongside his best friend, William Eklund, Zetterlund had a stunning career with the Sharks, with 168 games played, 41 goals, and 42 assists. The trade came as a head-scratcher as people thought the Sharks would extend Zetterlund’s contract. His production played a huge role in the Sharks’ core group and would be missed.
A recent trade that was once again a head-scratcher was the Sharks’ trading away Henry Thrun for Ryan Reaves from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thrun, who was traded in 2023 from the Anaheim Ducks, has played in 119 games, where he's scored five goals and 20 assists. While Reaves has spent time bouncing around other teams, his offensive production hasn’t been the same. Just this season, he played in 35 games, recording only two assists. Reaves is most known for his fighting on the ice, which can be good, as the Sharks have a lot of young players.
Free Agency
Moving away from the trades, the Sharks have also been pretty loud in free agency. They focused on resigning players who played an integral role not only on the Sharks but also on the Barracuda. They resigned players such as Yaroslav Askarov, William Eklund, and Igor Chernyshov. Askarov, who came to San Jose in a trade from the Nashville Predators, became an essential goalie with both the Sharks and the Barracuda. Askarov played in 13 games, where he won four games and lost six, with two overtime losses.
Just recently, the Sharks signed center Jeff Skinner from the Edmonton Oilers. Skinner has played in the NHL for 15 years, accumulating 699 points from 373 goals and 326 assists. This year, he played in 72 games, obtaining 16 goals and 13 assists. This is exactly what the Sharks need. Since Skinner is a veteran, he can be a role model to younger players, including Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Shakir Mukhamadullin.
The San Jose Sharks have become more competitive with a mixture of young and experienced players. By trading away players, they can clear up more of their salary cap. Currently, the Sharks have a little over $19 million to spend. While I don’t think the Sharks will be playoff contenders next season, they will have much better production this season with more experienced players. What do you think? Do you think the Sharks should make another trade or signing? Let me know what you think!
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