Could this be the final curtain call for a beloved Sharks defenseman in San Jose? The air in the San Jose Sharks' locker room in the autumn of 2019 was electric for a young Mario Ferraro, fresh off a stellar college career and stepping into his first professional season. He remembers feeling like the 'young one,' surrounded by Sharks legends like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Brent Burns, and Logan Couture. "It’s crazy. Time goes by quick," Ferraro reflects, a sentiment that resonates deeply as he now finds himself in a very different position.
After 466 games spanning seven seasons with the Sharks, Ferraro is standing at a potential crossroads. His upcoming game against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday at SAP Center might just be his last in the iconic teal jersey. The Sharks' next home game is Friday against the St. Louis Blues, a mere seven hours after the NHL trade deadline at noon PST. This timing is crucial, as Ferraro, the Sharks' longest-tenured player, is a pending unrestricted free agent, and negotiations for a contract extension have not yet yielded an agreement.
But here's where it gets complicated: If no deal is struck before Friday – and current indications suggest it won't be – the steady and durable Ferraro could be on his way to a team with genuine Stanley Cup aspirations. He's currently in the final year of a four-year, $13 million contract signed in August 2022, a deal that notably lacks any trade protection. This situation isn't entirely new for Ferraro; he's been the subject of trade rumors in past years when the Sharks were clearly out of playoff contention and General Manager Mike Grier was actively moving veteran players.
And this is the part most people miss: This year, the Sharks are surprisingly in the hunt for a playoff spot, a scenario that makes this trade deadline far more unpredictable. Grier has several options: he could choose to sell off assets, bring in reinforcements, or stand pat. With eight pending UFAs on the NHL roster, including four defensemen, the decisions ahead are significant.
The Sharks entered Tuesday just four points behind the Edmonton Oilers for the Western Conference's second wild card spot, with three games in hand. After a disappointing loss to the Calgary Flames, they've managed to reignite their postseason hopes with victories against the Oilers and Winnipeg Jets.
Ferraro himself expressed a focused mindset on Tuesday morning, stating he wasn't dwelling on the possibility of this being his final game. "I’m just focused on the game tonight," he said. "Since the season has ramped back up (after) the break. I’m focused on winning as many hockey games as we can, and I’m just happy we were able to string a couple together after the Calgary game. My mindset right now is to get the win tonight and continue to give ourselves a chance to make the playoffs. Whatever happens at the deadline, it happens. It’s part of the game. It’s part of the league. But to be honest, I haven’t thought about it much."
It's poignant that the Sharks haven't reached the playoffs since Ferraro's NHL debut. After a period of stagnation, the team embarked on a significant rebuild in 2022 under Grier, leading to a period of struggle at the bottom of the league standings as veterans were traded for draft picks and prospects. Throughout this transformation, Ferraro has been a constant presence, shouldering a heavy workload, including significant minutes, shot-blocking, and penalty-killing duties.
From the 2020-2021 season until last year, Ferraro consistently ranked among the league's top players in ice time, averaging 21:14 per game. Since entering the league, he has accumulated 878 blocked shots and logged 1,232:09 in shorthanded time on ice, placing him 17th and 13th in the NHL respectively in these categories before Tuesday's game.
His dedication and leadership were recognized when he was named a Sharks alternate captain before the 2021-22 season, despite being only 23 at the time. Coach Ryan Warsofsky lauded his competitive spirit: "If you looked up a definition of a competitor, Mario’s face would be right there, and his name would be right there, because he competes, shift in and shift out. He gives you everything he has. He cares. He’s been a really important piece to getting us out of this funk that we’ve been in the last few years."
Ferraro's experience includes playing in the 2019 NCAA National Championship game with UMass and helping Canada secure a gold medal at the 2021 World Championship. While the decisions surrounding his future are beyond his control, he expresses a strong desire for the Sharks to remain intact for the playoff push. "It’s a tight group in here," Ferraro shared. "We all have the same goal. We all have the same vision in mind. But whatever happens, happens. The goal doesn’t change. Whoever comes into this room is going to be brought here for a reason, to accomplish that goal of making the playoffs."
A quick look at the notable lineup changes: Forwards Ryan Reaves and Pavol Regenda, along with defenseman Timothy Liljegren, were slated to be healthy scratches for Tuesday's game. Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was set to back up Yaroslav Askarov. Reaves and Liljegren have now been scratched for three consecutive games, while Regenda was replaced by Adam Gaudette, who was making his first appearance since February 4th, prior to the Olympic break. Gaudette had been scratched for the three games following the Olympic break. Nedeljkovic, who made 27 saves in the Sharks' 2-1 overtime victory against the Jets on Sunday, boasts an 11-9-2 record with a .902 save percentage this season. It's worth noting that Reaves, Regenda, Liljegren, and Nedeljkovic are all pending UFAs, with Regenda set to become a Group 6 UFA.
What are your thoughts on Mario Ferraro's potential departure? Do you think he should be traded, or should the Sharks do everything they can to keep him for a playoff push? Share your opinions in the comments below!
