San Jose Sharks Assess Their Blue Line

The San Jose Sharks are making roster moves, with five pending UFAs on the blue line, per David Pagnotta.

San Jose’s five pending UFA d-men are Mario Ferraro, Timothy Liljegren, John Klingberg, Vincent Desharnais, and Nick Leddy.

On Jan. 18, the Sharks placed Leddy on waivers and reinstated Vincent Desharnais from injured reserve. Leddy has four assists and a minus-9 rating in 19 games this season.

Current State

Sharks’ GM Mike Grier continued in his pattern of using draft capital to shape the roster. On Jan. 19 the team added Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks. In exchange, Canucks got a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick, and forward Cole Clayton.

Dmitry Orlov and Klingberg currently lead the Sharks’ in defensive minutes and production. Orlov averages 21:33 TOI per game, and has logged one goal and 22 assists in 49 games played. Klingberg is shortly behind, with 21:20 TOI, nine goals, and eight assists in 36 matchups. In his offensive production, 12 of Klingberg’s points have been logged during the power-play. Both veteran blue-liners provide puck movement rather than Team Teal long-term stability.

Meanwhile, the second blue-line rotation consists of Ferraro paired with Liljegren. Ferraro remains a core part of the Sharks, providing a leadership presence to the team and culture. After debuting in 2019-20, Ferraro is the longest-tenured player on the Sharks’ roster.

Rounding out the third shift d-men are Vincent Desharnais paired with rookie Sam Dickinson. 23-year-old Vincent Iorio has also factored in here and there, recording three assists through 21 games. While currently on IR, 24-year-old Shakir Mukhamadullin has been in rotation as the team continues to develop a reliable roster. Mukhamadullin has logged six points (four assists, two goals) in 23 matchups this season.

Orlov and Ferraro appear to be key pieces in San Jose’s future, though trade rumors frequently surround Ferraro. As the blueline continues to take shape, veterans like Klingberg and Liljegren could move on from the Sharks. With several Sharks set to reach unrestricted free agency, the team could look to add core, young, and proven defenseman.

Next Wave

Looking to the future, Dickinson remains part of the Sharks’ second wave, likely alongside Michael Misa in the long term.

Outside of the current group, Luca Cagnoni continues his progression at the AHL level. The 21-year-old saw NHL action for six games in 2024-25, recording two assists. Since then, he’s produced with the Barracuda, contributing 20 assists and five goals through 35 games.

Elsewhere, Eric Pohlkamp, the 2022-23 USHL defenseman of the year, adds another point of reference for the future pipeline. Pohlkamp’s offensive production in the NCAA for the current season consists of 14 goals and 11 assists in 25 matchups.

Team Teal added depth with its 2024 selection of Leo Sahlin Wallenius, who is developing in the Swedish Hockey League. While Haoxi Wang remains a longer-range part of the pipeline, there is a lot of size (6-foot-6) and upside there.

Externally, the Sharks have reportedly shown interest in New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider, per David Pagnotta. As the Sharks continue to look at internal and external options, the blue line will be an evolving piece of the team.

All things considered, Team Teal has been showing time and time again this season that “the future is teal.” The Sharks’ future has been built on resilience, patience, and opportunity, and now offers several paths of availability. San Jose’s blue line, and team, remain an exciting work in progress.

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Featured image courtesy of San Jose Sharks on NHL.com  

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