Last season, the San Jose Sharks ranked among the league's bottom five with a disappointing record of 22-44-16. Their prospects for the upcoming season appear equally bleak, especially after trading away Timo Meier last last season and Erik Karlsson over the off season. While key players Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl remain committed to the team under long-term contracts, General Manager Mike Grier has expressed willingness to facilitate their move if they wish to leave.
Couture, 34, who holds the captaincy, is contracted with the Sharks till the 2026-27 season with a cap implication of $8M. Hertl, on the other hand, is 29 and is stepping into the second year of his generous eight-year extension inked in 2022, carrying a cap hit of about $8.14M. Both players managed respectable 60+ point seasons
Nevertheless, both players retain significant leverage over any possible transfers, with Hertl having a no-move clause valid till 2025 and Couture possessing a restrictive 29-team no-trade clause.
The Sharks' recent playoff history has been underwhelming, having missed out since the 2018-19 season. The upcoming season poses stiff challenges too, with the Pacific division brimming with competitive adversaries. Adding to their woes, Captain Couture is presently benched due to a lower-body injury, with uncertainties surrounding his return.
The Sharks are gearing up to kickstart their preseason against the Vegas Golden Knights, the current Stanley Cup champions, this Sunday.
