Mario Ferraro has played six seasons with the San Jose Sharks and hasn’t come close to playoff hockey.
While the Sharks’ alternate captain has played decently in his six seasons, a decision on his future with the team will come to a head in the 25-26 season. Next season will be the fourth and final year of a 4-year $13 million contract.
General Manager Mike Grier has fielded trade calls for the Sharks’ defenseman but hasn’t received the value he wants for a potential deal. Ferraro is still only 26 years old, and if he hit the open market, he’d be a hot commodity because of his play style.
After missing the season’s final four games due to a foot injury, Ferraro addressed the potential contract situation. He stressed that he wanted to win as a member of the San Jose Sharks.
“There are a lot of things that happen that are out of my control. But, I’m a Shark. I want to win here,” Ferraro said. “That is the goal, that’s the mindset. That’s a goal as an organization, to win, and that’s a goal for me as an individual, to win as a Shark.”
Ferraro will focus on recovery and getting away from hockey this summer. The defenseman plans to spend time at a house in Florida. The Sharks’ alternate captain did say he plans to return to San Jose earlier than he has in years past.
“I’m excited to compete and train in the summer and get ready for that,” Ferraro said. “Like I said, there’s things that happen that are in my control, but I don’t really tend to focus on that. I just focus on getting better as a player and doing what I can to help this team win every season.”
Ferraro on potentially being the next Sharks captain
Next season will mark Mario Ferraro’s fifth season as an alternate captain of the San Jose Sharks. With Logan Couture’s retirement, questions now surround who will be the next captain.
Ferraro is a top candidate for the “C”, but Grier told reporters he views the captaincy as “sacred.”
“It would be an honor to be the captain of any team, especially at this level, in any organization,” Ferraro said. “It’s not something that we’re thinking about right now. It’s not up to me. I think there are a lot of guys that are going to step up here, and I think guys have to come together.”
His contract status will influence the decision to potentially make Ferraro the next Sharks captain. If San Jose is near the bottom of the standings next season, Ferraro’s pending UFA status will make him a top trade candidate.
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