Heading into the offseason with five unrestricted free agents and $14.5 million in cap space in addition to the amount that the salary cap grows by, the Sharks have more than enough money to retain much of the same roster as last year.

The only question is: Who will they keep?

I’ll get to San Jose’s RFA’s in the future, but for now, let’s focus on just the unrestricted free agents.

Joe Thornton



Let’s address the elephant in the room: the Sharks are going to have to make a potentially difficult decision about Joe Thornton. Even if the Sharks use a buyout on Paul Martin and/or move Mikkel Boedker, there might not be enough money to keep the beloved 38-year-old center if the Sharks end up signing a marquee free agent and/or re-signing Evander Kane. It’s clear that Joe Thornton wants to stay.

“I bleed teal and I want to come back and I know I’m going to be healthy when I come back. I’m sure we can figure something out, but I want to come back,” Thornton told the media after the Sharks’ elimination from the playoffs.

It’s no secret that the Sharks would like to keep him as well, but likely not at the price of signing, say, a John Tavares, a John Carlson, or a trade target like Erik Karlsson. From an outsider’s standpoint, Thornton should be more of a backup plan for the Sharks then a primary target. Whether it’s on the first line, the second line, or the third line, the Sharks would still be better off with him than without him. But it’s clear that the Sharks need to make moves this summer that ensure long-term success rather than plugging holes for the short-term.

If there’s room for him, the Sharks will likely keep Thornton. Thornton loves this team too much and the organization has too much respect for him for that to not happen. Still, it’s important to remember that Thornton is coming off what is now his second major knee surgery in as many seasons. Granted, he has had more time to rehab and recover from this one compared to last year, but the point is still valid nonetheless. Thornton’s contract will likely be for one more year and somewhere between $2-$4 million. Enough to be reasonable, but not so little as to be insulting to one of the best players in franchise history.

Verdict: Keep

Evander Kane

Evander Kane joined the Sharks as Doug Wilson’s major deadline move in an attempt to re-invigorate the team and add depth as the playoffs approached. Kane quickly filled the noticeable gap in the Sharks’ top-six, and saw a bit of a rebirth in his career. In 17 regular season games with the Sharks, Kane tallied 14 points, including scoring the first hat trick of his career in a 4-goal effort against the Flames. Kane’s addition was largely what sparked the Sharks’ eight-game winning streak in March.

In his first playoff appearance, Kane had four points in four games, helping the Sharks to sweep the rival Anaheim Ducks. However, Kane’s play dropped off after that series, scoring only one point in six games against the Vegas Golden Knights. It was later reported that Kane played that series with a separated shoulder and an MCL.

When it comes to Evander Kane, it’s less of a question of “Do the Sharks want to keep him?” and more of a question of “Does Evander Kane want to stay in San Jose?” and “How much is it going to cost?”. The team does see Evander Kane in their long-term plans, as evidenced by The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz.

From what I’m told, the Sharks are prepared to offer Evander Kane a mid-to-long term contract extension (no word yet on specifics). That doesn’t assure something will get done, but the team does appear to be committed to keeping Kane around for the future, if possible. — Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) May 21, 2018

The Sharks desperately need young impact players, as much of their current core is over the age of 30. Assuming he can stay healthy and keep himself out of trouble, then re-signing Evander Kane to a reasonable extension is a no-brainer. But therein lies the issue. The only full season that Kane completed in his career was in the lockout-shortened 2013 season, when Kane played in all 48 games with the Winnipeg Jets.

And then there’s his legal history. In 2016, he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room. He ultimately did not face any criminal charges because there was not enough evidence to charge him with a crime. Charges of sexual harassment against Kane in a separate incident later in 2016 were also later dismissed. Still, it should be noted that Kane has been accused of criminal activity in the past.

Yet, it is probably in the Sharks’ best interest to re-sign Evander Kane this summer as long as the cost isn’t too high. The forward is simply too talented and too much of a fit in San Jose for the Sharks to let him walk. Matt Cane projects Kane’s next contract to be four years and an AAV of approximately $7.3 million. I would think that Kane’s injury issues and personal troubles might lower that to about $6 million, but we’ll see.

Verdict: Keep

Jannik Hansen

Not happening. Disappointment from Day 1. 4 goals in 61 games in teal. Pass. Next!

Verdict: Walk

Joel Ward

I’ll give Joel Ward a little more respect. Ward signed with the team in the summer of 2015 as part of Doug Wilson’s re-tool after the team missed the playoffs. Joel Ward was a pivotal piece in the Sharks’ run to the Stanley Cup Finals a couple seasons ago, and he’ll be loved in San Jose forever for it.

That being said, Ward’s performance since that season has dropped off like you would expect for a player in his late 30’s. After posting 43 points in his first season in San Jose, Ward would score just 41 points in his next 130 games with the team. By the end of his last season in San Jose, Ward was in and out of the lineup. Ward also did not make an appearance in the playoffs this season.

There’s zero chance that Joel Ward will come back next season. The Sharks have plenty of other players to fill in for him, and there just isn’t a place for him on this team. Maybe he can retire and enjoy some quality beach time in the Barbados. Thank you, Joel Ward.

Verdict: Walk

Eric Fehr

Fehr was also a part of Doug Wilson’s deadline plan. After spending much of the season in the AHL on loan with the San Diego Gulls, Fehr was traded to the Sharks for a 2020 seventh-round pick. Fehr was immediately penciled in as the Sharks’ fourth-line center, something that they desperately needed. While critics were skeptical at first, Fehr fit right in with the team. He added some steadiness to the fourth line and allowed Peter DeBoer roll all four lines at will.

Still, it’s debatable if the Sharks will bring Fehr back to the team. For one thing, fourth line centers are a dime a dozen. If Fehr returns, it’s not going to be on another $2 million contract. For another, the Sharks have a few options in the pipeline that could make the team next year anyway, rendering Fehr obsolete. Dylan Gambrell finished another strong season at Denver before making his debut in teal at the end of last season. Maxim Letunov also had a decent season with Connecticut before signing an ELC with the Barracuda. Other prospects like Josh Norris, Noah Gregor, or Rourke Chartier might be ready to make the jump to the NHL.

Simply put, while Fehr might have had a solid stint with the Sharks, the Sharks probably have better, younger, and cheaper options than him.

Verdict: Walk

Lastly, it’s important to note that Ward’s and Hansen’s contracts coming off the books should free up more room for the Sharks, and that’s not including the amount by which the salary cap increases. It should be an interesting offseason for the Sharks, to put it lightly. It should be stressed that the Sharks will have to make some difficult decisions this offseason, whether it be debating whether or not to bring back a fan favorite for another year, making a big splash trade, or signing a marquee free agent. Doug Wilson has a lot of cap space this offseason, and he is fully expected to use up as much as he can.

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