Sharks Weigh Trading No. 2 Pick for NHL-Ready Defenseman

San Jose Sharks hold the second-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft yet remain open to trading it for an established right-shot defenseman.

Draft Assets in Flux

Mike Grier swapped the 20th overall pick for Michael Kesselring and the 27th selection on June 17. The 26-year-old defenseman arrived with a $1.4 million cap hit and enters restricted free agency. Grier declined to extend Mario Ferraro beyond three years, sending the veteran to unrestricted free agency instead. The Sharks therefore addressed one blue-line vacancy while preserving flexibility at the top of the draft.

Dave Pagnotta reported on Sirius XM that both the Sharks’ second pick and Chicago’s fourth pick sit on the trade market. Chicago remains willing to move its selection outright. San Jose prefers to slide back a few spots unless a top-pair defenseman arrives in return. The same openness existed last year before the club selected Michael Misa.

Market for the Second Selection

Insider Pierre LeBrun stated Grier is “absolutely open to moving the No. 2 pick” depending on offers. Potential partners include the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues, both seeking to climb into the top five. Any deal would likely include an NHL-ready right-shot defenseman plus additional assets such as a second-round pick. The Sharks already own the 27th selection, giving them two first-round choices if they stand pat.

Corey Pronman projected right-handed defenseman Chase Reid to San Jose in his latest mock draft. Reid would fill the right-side void created by Ferraro’s departure. League executives view Reid as the consensus best player available at No. 2. Trading down risks losing him while still securing a comparable prospect plus immediate help.

Contract and Roster Implications

Kesselring’s new extension is expected to range between $2.86 million and $3.5 million annually over four years. That figure keeps the cap hit manageable for a rebuilding club. Adding another established defenseman via trade would accelerate the timeline to contention without mortgaging future assets. Standing pat at No. 2 commits San Jose to another high draft pick while the blue line remains thin on the right side.

The Sharks’ willingness to listen has already produced one tangible result: the Kesselring acquisition. Further movement before June 25 would reshape the entire first round.