The San Jose Sharks have been one of the most active teams this summer. General manager Mike Grier had a clear idea of what he wanted to do and made sure it got done. There were some notable veterans signed who can better support the young core. Overall though, Grier has been drastically improving his roster, so let’s take a look at some of the most fascinating additions by the Sharks this summer.
Dmitry Orlov - Defense
Hands down, the biggest signing Grier made was adding defenseman Dmitry Orlov. He will add a lot to their backend, bringing skill, experience, and a winning culture to the locker room. He has played on some very good teams in his career. He started with the Washington Capitals, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2018. He was then traded to the Boston Bruins in 2022-23 and helped them set the record for the most wins by a team in NHL history.
Unfortunately, things fell short in the playoffs and they were eliminated in the first round by the Florida Panthers. After that, he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes and had great success with that organization. Now he has set his sights on a new challenge with the Sharks. What he brings to the lineup will only make them a better hockey team.
He is a balanced two-way defenseman who will score 25-30 points and throw 100-120 hits. He can play in all situations and, based on San Jose’s current defensive core, he will likely be their most trusted and used blue liner this season.
Jeff Skinner - Forward
Skinner may be past his prime, but the 33-year-old has the potential for a great season with the Sharks. He is a proven goal scorer who could step in on the second line and play a similar role to what Tyler Toffoli plays on the top line. He can be the veteran presence on a line alongside William Eklund and Alexander Wennberg, or potentially even newly the drafted second overall pick Michael Misa.
Regardless of who he plays with, he can easily score 20 goals with more ice time. Last season, with the Edmonton Oilers, he had 16 goals in 72 games but played fewer minutes than he will this season. Over his career, he has scored a ton. His career high is 40 in 2018-19, his next highest total was 37 in 2016-17 during his time with the Carolina Hurricanes.
When Skinner signed with the Sharks, there was a sense that he would likely be moved at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. However, if he enjoys life in San Jose and the team does better than last season, there is a chance he opts to stay and potentially re-signs.
The Sharks Have Options With Michael Misa Ahead of 2025-26 Season
We’ve already discussed how the San Jose Sharks have options, albeit limited ones, with defenseman Sam Dickinson. There’s a prospect who gives the organization even more options for where he can play next season, but it does feel as if he’s destined to be in the NHL sooner rather than later.
Alex Nedeljkovic - Goalie
When the Sharks traded for Nedeljkovic, it personally caught my eye. They needed a reliable backup who could help take some pressure off young Yaroslav Askarov. Last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he had a record of 14-15-5 with a 3.12 goals against average (GAA) and a .894 save percentage (SV%).
Over his career though, he has had success. He started with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he was thought to be part of the future. However, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. After Detroit, he joined the Penguins, where he scored a goalie goal and recorded an assist in the same game. In his career, he has a record of 74-60-27 with a 3.00 GAA and a .902 SV%.
He is not going to be a goalie that steals a ton of games, but he can step in and play 30-35 games to take a lot of pressure off Askarov, who will be playing his first full NHL season as the Sharks’ starter.
There are a few other names that could be deemed fascinating additions, including Ryan Reaves and Philipp Kurashev. Obviously, for very different reasons.
Reaves is going to be a locker room guy who will help teammates play more freely. He is pound-for-pound the toughest player in the league and that will have an impact on the roster, after he sends the message to the rest of the NHL that they won’t be able to take runs at his teammates. Additionally, he will help the organization fill seats as he will be likely be one of the most entertaining players to watch, solely because his ability to drop the gloves.
As for Kurashev, he is a low-risk, high-reward signing. Yes, he had a bad year last season with only 14 points in 51 games. But the year prior he had a career-high season with 54 points in 75 games. If he can get back to that level, he will be a very underrated pickup for the Sharks, who could be an impactful middle six player.
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