San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks Have Their Picks in Play For Different Reasons
The Buffalo Sabres made a trade with San Jose earlier in the week, with the Sharks acquiring defeseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick for the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. San Jose needed a defenseman, and GM Grier will look to lock him up to an extension.
Buffalo Sabres Free Agents: Alex Tuch, Zach Benson, and Michael Kesselring
However, the Sharks might not be done wheeling and dealing, as they own the 2nd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. There is a pick in play as it was last year. San Jose needs defense and could trade that pick for a defenseman.
As Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period stated on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio Power Play Segment with Steve Kouleas and Jason Strudwick, the Sharks second overall pick and the Chicago Blackhawks fourth overall pick are in play.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Steve Kouleas: “What about then, since we’re on San Jose. San Jose two, Chicago four? Any rumblings about wheeling and dealing those picks, Dave?”
Could There be a Fit for the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks with the No. 2 Pick?
Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, both picks are definitely available now. I do. There is a differentiator between the two. I think Chicago, at the number four, is open to moving it completely and not just moving back in the draft, whereas San Jose is interested in moving back a little bit, so they have the second overall pick. They’re willing to trade it now, of course. If they get a top-pair defenseman or a stud defenseman for that pick, then I think that they would consider something like that.
But, barring that, it looks like they’re willing to move back in the draft for a team willing to move up, and they’re listening. They were listening last year as well, for the second overall pick, it didn’t come to fruition, so they went with Michael Misa, but San Jose wanted to rejig their blue line, obviously Kesselring now comes in, and he’s an RFA, so he’s going to need a new contract, but controllable and certainly fits what they’re doing.
Keys for the Chicago Blackhawks, and Free Agents, Trade Targets for the San Jose Sharks
They’re not going to sign Mario Ferraro to a new contract. He wants a five- to six-year deal. They’re not willing to go beyond three, so that hasn’t been obviously a fit. And Ferraro is going to go to market, but they’re looking at other options.
They fill one void with Kesseling. They’ve got a lot more to go. We’ll see if something gets pulled off there with that fourth overall pick.
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