San Jose Sharks face a pivotal choice: extend Mario Ferraro or turn him into a valuable trade asset at the NHL deadline. With Ferraro projected for a lucrative six-year, $30 million+ contract, the clock is ticking for GM Mike Grier to weigh long-term loyalty against rebuilding opportunities. Could Ferraro’s grit, shorthanded prowess, and locker room leadership warrant the Sharks’ biggest offer yet—or should San Jose cash in for draft capital as contenders look for blue-line reinforcements?
JD Young breaks down Ferraro’s current impact, potential contract comparisons, and what recent deals for defensemen like Carson Soucy and Brandon Carlo suggest about his trade value. Key topics include San Jose’s cap considerations, the upcoming free agency class, and how retaining or moving Ferraro affects the development of top prospects like William Eklund and Celebrini. Should the Sharks keep their longest-tenured defenseman or seize the chance to reshape their future?
Timestamps:
00:00 Mario Ferraro’s Future Uncertain
07:52 Ferraro’s Upcoming Big Payday
10:14 Evaluating Ferraro’s Contract & Trade Options
14:40 Carson Soucy Trade
16:45 Brian Dumoulin Trade
19:50 Brandon Carlo Trade
23:45 What Should San Jose Do?
26:51 Ferraro Trade and Overpayment Debate
28:00 Trading Mario Ferraro Strategy
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16 Comments
I know you don't typically have great things to say about him, but he is literally the heart of the defense and I've grown to love his gritty effort and would be sad to see him go
Send him to Colorado to win a cup with blackwood and burns.
See if he will stay for less?
Sharks got plenty of money keep my boy Raro and just bring bigger dudes to back him up
Unless we can get a first round pick/high-end prospect, it doesn;t make sense to trade him now. He's worth more in team cohesion/leadership and is liked and respected by his teamates, I say keep him thru the end of the year and see if we can resign him to somehting like $5M for 4 years after the season is over.
I love Ferraro and I think he’s been an absolute soldier for the sharks but it’s hard to want to resign a player whose best asset is that he blocks a lot of shots, which means he basically never has the puck.
Also considering the sharks timeline by the time we are in serious contention he’s probably 30+ years old not to mention we have a plethora of LHD both on the team and in our prospect pool.
I’d honestly much rather see him get moved to a contender and get a chance at a cup.
I'd like to see him moved. Its not going to be a great return (hope for a 2nd), but I can't see the Shark retaining him for a long-term deal and it makes more sense to move him then. Maybe a 4th and Mario for a protected 2028 1st. A bit more return for waiting on the return.
Mario's had perhaps his best season. Its not unusual for a defenseman to hit their career peak in age range Mario is now and will be for at least a few more seasons. But the Sharks have a smaller team and a smaller blue line. Teams can have a 1-2 of them, but the Sharks have more than that. The top prospects are smaller with Pohlkamp and Cagnoni. Orlov is also smaller. Doubt that Leddy or Klingberg are here next season. Two of the taller players aren't likely to play big minutes (Iorio, Desharnais). Dickinson and Shakir are taller, but it seems only Dickinson is going to eat minutes.
Can't role out a team with that many smaller defensemen. Maybe if one is elite, but its still necessary to have size and Ferraro is an obstacle to getting bigger there.
I’m ok with an overpay 2 year deal at 6m+. Orlov leaves next season and Dickinson next contract starts in 28-29 season.
Mario the person, gotta love him, love the player he's a beast and tough as nails.. all the things you love (and said about him), i don't love the money jump that he'll demand with guys like Dickie, Cags, Muk nipping at his heels! i would say if we get Mar at a slight-jump similar to the JT (Tavares contract in Toronto) for 4-year, $17.52 million extension ($4.38M AAV) i'd say go for it.. otherwise trade him if he wants more.. why? Mario is entering his prime/prime (for me prime D-men are 26-30 years old, prime+ after 30) look at Cale Makar now it feels like he has 100 Norris' trophies and he's 27.. if anything guys like him & Schaef hit the ground running VERY QUICKLY which makes their prime window much WIDER! We already know what/who Mar is, and his ceiling is fixed. I love when he jumps in the play and contributes, but his bread and butter is eating pucks. You always pay for the offense, as you say "defense is for nerds", I think if you want to bridge him at 2 more years at $4 mil AVV that makes sense, without heavy NMC/NTC conditions so you can move the asset going forward. I think if he signs a sweetheart hometown discount you try to get him for 5-6 years and give him more trade protection for being there/loyal during the basement dwelling years.
I'd trade Mar for Carlo, straight up. If anything Mario has played his way out of a contract (with the amount of LHD prospects) and his price for being a pure defender. We need RHD guys, Carlo would look great in teal! If we have to sweeten it with a 4th or 5th rounder, go for it to get him. Leafs need heart, and Mar brings it every night. I don't think we can afford him at our point in the rebuild, it might be filled with regrets and block guys like LSW (Swedish LHD).
The biggest issue right now is that he's apparently such a big part of the team behind the scenes. He's also practically the only one left (the other being Goodrow) who was here when the Sharks were a playoff team in the past. If we're truly looking like a playoff team this year, I think you have to keep him unless you get an offer that's too good to refuse.
Ferraro should be moved. He is not going to be worth his contract at all, he is going to be paid like a #3-4 when in reality he is a #5-6 on a cup contender. That contract length will be a huge mistake when we enter our true contention window. Sharks can find other options with a similar impact this offseason on much shorter term.
Vegas proves that a bigger defense is important. The Sharks need to beef up. Need big defense to handle Vegas forwards. All we need is two more decent skilled heavy defensemen.
I’m sure Ferraro would stay for less than $6mil but his agent would still expect a lot of term. That’s the rub.
Everything GMMG does should be in service of winning a Stanley cup. Idc that he’s been a good soldier. You don’t win by being nice and handing out bad contracts and making bad opportunity cost choices. He’s a bottom pair guy, easily replaceable in the future. There’s no way we should be resigning him. This is how you handcuff your team in the future
I’d love to see Mike G add AND build at the same time, by trading for Byram or Power from the Sabres. Not sure if Ferraro fits in a trade with them.. but if we can give up something like Skinner/a prospect/& a serviceable D like Ferraro (cuz Buffalo is still competing right now).. I’d do that fooo sho.
Eklund & Ferraro for Byram or Power?
Haltunnen/Skinner/& Ferraro for Byram or Power?
Skinner/Bystedt/ & Klingberg for Byram or Power?
I dunno, something like that. (Buffalo is looking for a forward for one of those D.. our 2 teams fit really well for a trade)