The San Jose Sharks are going to be a very interesting team to watch at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. They have already shown that they are not afraid to be buyers, as they brought in forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this month. Yet, with the team also focused on the future, several of their pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have also come up in the rumor mill.
The most notable Sharks pending UFA who has been creating chatter as a trade candidate is defenseman Mario Ferraro. With Ferraro being a steady top-four defenseman who plays a heavy game, there is no question that he has the potential to generate a ton of interest from contenders. But should the Sharks really consider trading him?
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith the Sharks being in the Western Conference playoff race, trading a defenseman like Ferraro would come with some clear risk. He is one of the Sharks' best blueliners, and there is no question that moving on from him would create a major hole on their defense.
Given how important a player Ferraro is to the Sharks' roster, it would make a lot of sense for them to try to extend him before potentially dealing him. At 27 years old, he is right in his prime and could continue to be a great fit on a Sharks club that is on the rise if extended.
However, if Ferraro still does not have an extension once we get closer to the deadline, that is where things could get interesting. He may be too valuable an asset for the Sharks to potentially lose for nothing this off-season through free agency.
Nevertheless, it is going to be intriguing to see what happens between the Sharks and Ferraro this season from here.
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