Montreal Canadiens prospect Alexander Zharovsky will remain in Russia for at least another season. Gold Star Hockey Management Group confirmed that the skilled forward intends to focus on adding strength and further development during the upcoming offseason in Russia.
The Ottawa Senators have not ruled out re-signing any of their unrestricted free agents (UFAs). General Manager Steve Staios stated that discussions have been held with all pending UFAs, including Claude Giroux, Lars Eller, Nick Jensen, Nick Cousins, and Dennis Gilbert. Staios indicated that everyone involved has agreed to take some time for reflection before making final decisions.
The San Jose Sharks are taking a measured approach with prospects Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, while also prioritizing a significant overhaul of their defense. Both Celebrini and Smith are eligible to sign contract extensions after July 1st. Both players have expressed their desire to stay in San Jose, with Celebrini specifically stating his commitment to the team. GM Mike Grier is not in a hurry, noting that both players still have a year remaining on their contracts.
Forward Collin Graff, a pending restricted free agent (RFA), is seen as part of the Sharks’ future, and Grier aims to reach an agreement with him.
Currently, the Sharks have only two defensemen under contract for the next season: Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson. Shakir Mukhamadullin is an RFA, while Mario Ferraro, Vincent Desharnais, John Klingberg, and Nick Leddy are UFAs. Consequently, the Sharks are actively seeking to bolster their defensive corps.
Grier elaborated on the team’s defensive needs, stating, “It’s probably a little bit of everything. I think we need to be able to move the puck a little bit better, we need to be harder around our net, and we need to be able to kill more plays in the D-zone.”
Mario Ferraro has expressed interest in returning to the Sharks, but his contract value may present a challenge. Grier anticipates that Ferraro might explore free agency, where he is likely to command a higher salary than the Sharks might offer.