General Manager Mike Grier continues to clear the unrestricted free agents off the San Jose Sharks’ roster, and this time, it’s Nico Sturm heading out of town. Doing the best he can by Sturm, Grier traded the depth center and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Florida Panthers for 2026 fourth-round pick.
The 29-year-old Sturm appeared in 47 games for the Sharks this season. He had 13 points (7 G, 6 A), including a goal in the most recent game for the Sharks in Buffalo. His most important asset for the Panthers, however, is his ability to win faceoffs and his ability to kill penalties. Sturm, according to the Sharks’ press release, has a faceoff win percentage of 62.7%, the best in the league among players with a minimum of 100 faceoffs.
In his NHL career, Sturm has played 316 games with 91 points (46 G, 45 A). He is a career minus-37. He has played for three teams in his career: the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks. He won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche.
This is the second deal the Sharks have done with the Panthers in as many days. Yesterday, the Sharks traded goaltender Vitek Vanecek to the Florida Panthers.
San Jose Sharks 2026 & 2027 draft outlook
With this trade, the San Jose Sharks now have six picks in the 2026 NHL draft. This includes one pick in the first round, two picks in the second round, two picks in the fourth round and a pick in the seventh round.
The Sharks only have four picks left in 2027 but have the most important picks still: the team’s first-round pick and the second-round pick. Of course, the Sharks still have two years to build up the draft capital for 2027, so it’s not time to panic yet.
