Sharks’ Defense Gets Major Boost, Now Grier Faces Tough Trade Choices
The San Jose Sharks entered the 2025 offseason with the goal of improving their roster. While they don’t expect to make a dramatic leap compared to last season, the team recognized the need for a few key moves to strengthen the squad and better support their young core of Macklin Celebrini, William Eklund, and Will Smith.
Though they weren’t the most potent offensive team, the Sharks have promising young players on the rise and are focused on their development. However, to give their forwards a chance to succeed and stay competitive, addressing their defense was crucial. Last season, their blue line was one of the weakest in the league.
GM Mike Grier wasted no time in making changes, and as of yesterday, the Sharks now have eight defensemen signed to NHL contracts, potentially setting the stage for a trade that could further shake things up.
In just one day, Grier signed Dmitry Orlov to a two-year, $13 million deal and claimed veteran Nick Leddy off waivers. While neither player is a household name or has been at their best recently, both add significant improvement to the Sharks’ defensive corps. These moves are a big step toward stabilizing the back end.
With eight defensemen now under contract (excluding Sam Dickinson), the Sharks’ opening day pairings could look like this:
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Pairing 1: Dmitry Orlov – Timothy Liljegren
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Pairing 2: Sam Dickinson – Mario Ferraro
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Pairing 3: Nick Leddy – John Klingberg
Extras: Vincent Desharnais, Henry Thrun, Shakir Mukhamadullin
If Grier is able to make a trade, potentially involving Ferraro or Desharnais, this could open the door for Mukhamadullin to secure a spot in the starting six. As a left-handed shot, he could play alongside either Leddy or Klingberg, giving every pairing at least one seasoned NHL player. This mix of youth and experience could go a long way in helping the Sharks stay competitive.
Looking back at their defense on the final day of the 2024-25 season against the Edmonton Oilers on April 16, it was clear how far the Sharks have come:
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Pairing 1: Henry Thrun — Timothy Liljegren
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Pairing 2: Lucas Carlsson — Jan Rutta
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Pairing 3: Marc-Edouard Vlasic — Jimmy Schuldt
It’s easy to see how much stronger the Sharks’ blue line is heading into the 2025-26 season. Just adding Orlov improves things significantly, but with Klingberg and Leddy also in the mix, the defense now has more structure and experience. The unit now looks far more like a legitimate NHL defensive corps.
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