SAN JOSE – Just like San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier, veteran forward Mikael Granlund is keeping his options open – and his thoughts close to the vest.
Related Articles
After dreadful effort, Warsofsky bag skates Sharks, draws ‘line in the sand’
Sigh January: Five takeaways from San Jose Sharks’ disappointing yet revealing month
Dismal second period costs Sharks in blowout loss to Seattle Kraken
Why Sharks GM Mike Grier might be on edge during 4 Nations Face-Off
San Jose Sharks players in limbo with trade deadline on horizon
Granlund, a pending unrestricted free agent and arguably the Sharks’ most valuable trade piece, reiterated Friday that he’d be open to re-signing with San Jose, even though the team remains in the deep stages of a rebuild and might not be playoff contenders for at least another year or two.
But is there a chance the Sharks – and Granlund – can have their cake and eat it too?
Could the Sharks trade Granlund to a contending team and get an asset in return, and then try to sign him when the free agency window opens on July 1? That would give Granlund, 32, a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup for the first time since 2022, scratching that itch, and the Sharks a chance to keep a player they value for myriad reasons beyond this season.
“I never really thought about it. We’ll see what’s going to happen,” Granlund said Friday when presented with that option. “I have no clue what’s going to happen, so we’ll see when the time is right.”
Grier was asked about that possibility as well earlier this week.
While Grier said he is open to re-signing some of his pending UFAs if the price he is seeking on the trade market is not met, the Sharks are still in a position where they need to add assets. That could come in the form of draft picks or prospects that can be kept or used in a trade to acquire an older player who needs a change of scenery, like they did with goalie Yaroslav Askarov last summer.
Grier said if he wanted to bring back a player he’s about to trade to another team before the March 7 deadline, he would talk directly to that player beforehand. Grier also said that he has talked to the camp of each of the Sharks’ pending UFAs and has an idea what they’re looking for in their next deal.
The Sharks’ list on pending UFAs includes Granlund and fellow forwards Luke Kunin and Nico Sturm, defensemen Cody Ceci and Jan Rutta and goalies Vitek Vanecek and Alexandar Georgiev.
Granlund, the Sharks’ No. 1 center used in all situations, leads the team with 45 points in 52 games and all of the team’s forwards in average time on ice (20:51). Since being acquired by the Sharks in Aug. 2023 as part of the deal that sent Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh, Granlund’s also been valuable off the ice, helping forwards like William Eklund, Fabian Zetterlund, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith make the adjustment to full-time NHL roles.
So what does Granlund want in his next contract?
“We’ll see when the time is right,” he said. “I don’t really want to talk about that stuff. Let’s see if I’m going to stay here or go somewhere else. Like I said, I don’t know what’s going to happen, and I can’t really think about it.”
Finding the cap space to re-sign Granlund does not figure to be an issue for the Sharks, particularly if he’s looking for the average annual value of his next contract to be around the $5 million he’s at right now.
“I think all those players and their agents know how I feel about the players, and the players know I feel about them,” Grier said. “It’s just that time of year where I’ve got to take the short and the long-term view of things.”
The Sharks entered Saturday in 32nd and last place in the NHL’s overall standings with 36 points. Still, Grier feels the rebuild in a good spot, and does not want to unnecessarily rush things. Granlund is also optimistic.
“I think it’s a bright future,” Granlund said of the Sharks. “Right now, it doesn’t feel like it, but I really do believe that.”
Is Granlund willing to be patient if the rebuild takes some more time?
“Yeah, I’ve loved my time here,” Granlund said. “Like I said, it’s going to be a bright future (in San Jose). So I’m open for anything.”
Even if it’s another couple years of rebuilding?
“We’ll see what’s going to happen,” Granlund said.
