Max Miller
The San Jose Sharks have issued two qualifying offers to restricted free agents Collin Graf and Shakir Mukhamadullin.
The Sharks did not qualify three other RFAs, Philipp Kurashev, Noah Beck, and Gabriel Carriere, making them unrestricted free agents.
The chances of the San Jose Sharks not qualifying Graf and Mukhamadullin were extremely low. After a terrific season, scoring 21 goals, Graf will get a handsome raise in a contract extension. Although GM Mike Grier told reporters he hasn’t started contract negotiations yet, there’s no longer a risk of losing the player in free agency. Graf was considered a 10.2c RFA, making him ineligible for other NHL teams to offer sheet him a contract come July 1.
Mukhamadullin is eligible to be offered sheeted by other teams. Still, after an injury-riddled season, interest in giving up significant draft picks as a result of an offer sheet wouldn’t be smart. Mukhamadullin appeared in 50 games for the San Jose Sharks in 25-26. The 24-year-old is eligible for arbitration if the team and player can’t agree on an extension.
Kurashev, 26, played 43 games for the Sharks after signing a one-year contract last off-season. Kurashev was signed as a UFA after the Chicago Blackhawks didn’t qualify him. For the second straight season, Kurashev hits the open market after his signing rights were not retained.
Carriere spent the entire season with the San Jose Barracuda. The netminder struggled this season with a 15-12-5 record, .896 save %, and a 2.76 GAA. The Sharks will need to revamp their goaltending depth as they don’t have any goalies signed behind Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic.
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