The San Jose Sharks made a significant roster move by acquiring winger Ryan Reaves from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun on Thursday. This trade marks the latest in a series of adjustments as the Sharks prepare for the upcoming NHL season, which begins in October. General Manager Mike Grier indicated that the team is still open to additional changes before training camp starts in mid-September.
During the Sharks’ development camp last week, Grier expressed interest in potentially adding another forward to enhance the team’s depth. “Just keep our eyes open,” he stated, highlighting the possibility of securing a top-nine winger if the opportunity arises. The Sharks currently boast over $23 million in salary cap space, which allows for further roster flexibility.
The Sharks have already bolstered their lineup with three new defensemen, two forwards, and a goalie since July 1. As the team evaluates its roster, anticipation builds around the potential prospects who may secure a place on the 23-man roster.
Projected Forward Lineup
Based on the current roster, the projected forwards for the Sharks include several key players. The “locks” for the lineup are Macklin Celebrini, Ty Dellandrea, William Eklund, Adam Gaudette, Barclay Goodrow, Carl Grundstrom, Philipp Kurashev, Ryan Reaves, Will Smith, Tyler Toffoli, and Alexander Wennberg.
Among the hopefuls competing for a spot are Egor Afanasyev, Shane Bowers, Filip Bystedt, Ethan Cardwell, Patrick Giles, Collin Graf, Danil Gushchin, Cameron Lund, Michael Misa, Zack Ostapchuk, Pavol Regenda, and Colin White. The longshot candidates include Igor Chernyshov, Kasper Halttunen, Quentin Musty, Jimmy Huntington, and Samuel Laberge.
The Sharks are optimistic that the additions of Gaudette and Kurashev, alongside the growth of younger talents like Celebrini, Smith, and Eklund, will create a more dynamic offensive lineup. With Celebrini, Toffoli, Smith, Wennberg, and Eklund likely forming the top six, the competition intensifies to fill the remaining spots. Graf’s strong rookie season could place him in a favorable position, while Kurashev and Gaudette could join the bottom six alongside Dellandrea, Goodrow, Grundstrom, and Reaves.
As the Sharks evaluate their options, Afanasyev, Bowers, and Giles bring professional experience to the table, while Cardwell and Lund showed promise last season. The status of Gushchin, who may need to clear waivers to remain with the Sharks, and Ostapchuk, envisioned as a future third-line center, remains uncertain.
Defense and Goalie Projections
On the defensive side, the “locks” include Vincent Desharnais, Mario Ferraro, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Timothy Liljegren, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and Dmitry Orlov. The hopefuls vying for a spot are Luca Cagnoni, Lucas Carlsson, Sam Dickinson, and Jack Thompson.
Trading Thrun has alleviated some of the congestion on the blue line, but determining the defensive pairings remains a challenge. The Sharks will likely position Ferraro, Klingberg, and Orlov among the top four, with Mukhamadullin, Leddy, and Liljegren also in contention. Desharnais is expected to fill a depth role.
The trade also opens opportunities for Cagnoni, Dickinson, and Thompson to make the roster or at least gain NHL experience this season. However, Dickinson, who recently turned 19, must return to the Ontario Hockey League if he does not secure a spot on the Sharks, as players need to be at least 20 years old by December 31 to participate in the American Hockey League.
The goaltending situation seems settled with Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic as the top two options. Askarov is projected to start on opening night, with expectations that he will play a significant number of games early in the season. Nedeljkovic, who has been a reliable presence for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the last two seasons, will provide competition as the Sharks aim to establish a strong tandem.
With the Sharks looking to finalize their roster in the coming weeks, the competition among forwards, defensemen, and goalies promises to shape the team’s dynamics as they head into the new season. The blend of established players and emerging prospects could define the Sharks’ success in the NHL.
