The San Jose Sharks completed their 2025 NHL Trade deadline with a flurry of moves, including moving Fabian Zetterlund to the Ottawa Senators.
General Manager Mike Grier spoke to the media after the deadline and explained his feelings about the Sharks’ business.
“I think we feel good about it. What we’re able to do over the last few months, if you go back to Granlund and that deal there with Dallas, so we feel good about it,” Grier said. “At the same time, these are not easy days when good people leave the building, good kids and good hockey players, but most importantly, good people that left the building. We feel like we’re going in the right direction, maybe not today, but down the road for sure.”
The Sharks currently hold nine draft selections in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft: 1st round (2), 2nd round (2), 3rd (1), 4th (2), 5th (1), 7th (1).— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) March 7, 2025
Grier told reporters he intends to be “active” in signing players for the 2025 NHL offseason, but he won’t overpay on money or term.
“I don’t know if aggressive is the right word, but we’re definitely going to try and be active and add talent to our group,” Grier said. “I’m not going to just step on the gas completely, as when we talked in January, and end up having buyer’s remorse on things and overpaying guys grossly with term and money. We’ll definitely be going to bring guys in and try and build. I don’t think aggressive is the right word, but we will be active.”
These guys are set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season and could be on the move ahead of Friday's #NHLTradeDeadline! pic.twitter.com/TwhN2zgEUn— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 5, 2025
It is unclear who the Sharks could target this offseason, but names like Brock Boeser and Neal Pionk stick out.
With San Jose at the bottom of the NHL for the second straight season, Grier said he doesn’t expect his team to be in the same spot next season.
“The hope is that this is the last deadline where we’re shipping everyone out,” Grier said. “It’s time to start building. We have some good building blocks with our young guys.”
If you're not convinced yet that Macklin Celebrini (SJ71) is going to be a superstar, watch his performance last night against BUF.
The youngest player in the league was a menace all over the ice. #NHLPotN #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/wRwg17ut29— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 5, 2025
The San Jose Sharks GM also didn’t hesitate when he explained that he’s almost ready to start using the acquired draft capital to acquire players via trade.
“It’s time to start building, and that’s using this capital of first-round picks we’ve acquired over the last month or so. Trying to go out and acquire good players using those, and maybe even some prospects,” Grier said. “It’s time for us to start doing that and dip into free agency. See what’s out there and start surrounding these guys.”
All things considered, the #NHLTradeDeadline was pretty fun this season from a fan perspective. There were big names, draft picks, hockey trades. Something for everyone and of course the shock moves were around, just maybe not to the level of Hertl to Vegas, at least not yet.…— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) March 7, 2025
Let me know your thoughts on Mike Grier’s trade deadline in the comments!
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