Macklin Celebrini, left, hugs Mike Grier after being selected by the San Jose Sharks with the first overall pick in the first round of the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft at The Sphere on June 28, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE – After losing key pieces of their roster over the past two or three seasons and now having ample salary cap space, the San Jose Sharks can’t wait to start rebuilding their team.
However, with NHL free agency beginning Monday, the Sharks’ challenge remains in convincing coveted available players to come to San Jose, even though it could be years before the team can make the playoffs.
For the Sharks, this means they have to discount contracts with more money and longer terms to get the players they want.
Such is life for any team in rebuilding, even one that appears to have a bright future with some top-tier talent.
“I think that’s definitely part of the reality that we’re in,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said last week. “I think these players grew up with this franchise and I think it’s still a franchise that players enjoy playing for.”
“But the reality is that we are where we are as far as rebuilding goes and there could be a situation where a player looks at a team that is in the playoff window and then looks at us and there’s a chance we might have to pay a little bit more to get him.”
With several of their restricted free agents still needing new contracts, the Sharks have $26 million in salary cap space after officially signing forwards Luke Kunin ($2.75 million) and Justin Bailey ($800,000 at NHL level) to one-year deals on Sunday, according to PuckPedia.
The Sharks need to spend this money wisely for several reasons.
First, Macklin Celebrini and his family will be watching.
While some reports suggest that Celebrini, who was drafted first overall by the Sharks on Friday, will undoubtedly turn pro, there is little doubt that his father, Rick Celebrini, wants to give his son the best chance to succeed. That means surrounding Macklin with the right players to help him adjust to professional hockey – on and off the ice.
The Sharks’ leadership group includes captain Logan Couture and veteran teammates Mikael Granlund, Kunin and Mario Ferraro. In the offseason, the Sharks also added forwards Barclay Goodrow, Ty Dellandrea and Carl Grundstrom to help them become tougher opponents after finishing last season with the NHL’s worst record of 19-54-9.
“Knowing the Sharks leadership, I know they’re thinking along the same lines,” Rick Celebrini said Friday night in Las Vegas. “I think it has to be a win-win situation, and what’s best for the Sharks is ultimately going to be best for Macklin, and that’s making sure it’s the right environment for him to succeed.”
“Ultimately, it’s a big jump. It’s a big jump for anybody, and like I said, the NHL is not a developmental league. You’re either ready or you’re not. So it’s just about getting to the point where everyone feels comfortable and confident that this is the right moment, this time for Mack to make the transition.”
By strengthening their goal-scoring capabilities, the Sharks could optimally support Celebrini and Will Smith, also a promising talent.
The Sharks had only one 20-goal scorer last season: Fabian Zetterlund, who set a career high with 24 goals in 82 games. William Eklund, in his first full NHL season, was second with 16 goals. As a team, however, San Jose finished second to last in the NHL with 181 goals.
After drafting Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick last season, the Chicago Blackhawks acquired Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall from the Boston Bruins. They signed Nick Foligno, who scored 562 points in 17 NHL seasons. Hall was injured for most of the season, but Bedard was named the Calder Trophy winner as the NHL’s top rookie.
Grier said he would like to sign a goal-scoring winger, with dozens of players available.
UFAs of interest include 27-year-old Jake DeBrusk, who scored 71 goals in 221 games over the past three seasons; 31-year-old Victor Arvidsson, who scored 52 goals in 161 games over the past three seasons; and Anthony Duclair, who said he would be open to a return to San Jose before the Sharks traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning in March. Duclair, who turns 29 in August, scored 24 goals last season.
Jordan Martinook, 31, who scored 32 goals in 164 games over the past two seasons, also appears to be the type of character player the Sharks would be interested in signing.
Despite the renewed interest in the team, the Sharks don’t want to sign a six- or seven-year deal to sign a free agent, nor do they want to spend so much that it hinders any efforts to sign new players next summer. Grier has spoken about not wanting to skip any steps in the rebuild, and showing some restraint at this point is part of that plan.
“We’re not going to go crazy and pay someone way too much just to get them in here,” Grier said. “If the amount exceeds what we’re comfortable with, we’ll move on to the next guy and keep working that way.”
“I think that’s just the reality with all the teams that are at the bottom of the standings. If you go into free agency and you want to get a couple of players, you might have to pay a little bit more. But we have our limits as to how far we want to go with those players, and if it doesn’t work out for the player, we’re happy to move on.”
