According to Elliotte Friedman, the San Jose Sharks could be involved in the trade market soon.
First on his Saturday Headlines, Friedman reported that due to the number of defensemen the Sharks have, GM Mike Grier would be willing to trade one.
“San Jose made a waiver claim this week with Vincent Iorio, and I’ve heard they are willing to look at their D. They’ve got eight,” Friedman said.
The NHL insider followed up that statement with a little more detail during his 32 Thoughts Podcast on Monday.
Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
“San Jose is now up to eight defensemen. I don’t know if there is one [Mike Grier] is particularly willing to move, but he is looking to move a D,” Friedman said. “He’s had a few injuries, but I think he’s willing to move a D.”
Luca Cagnoni is headed back to the AHL on Tuesday. With that move, the San Jose Sharks are signalling that John Klingberg is close to returning. Cagnoni didn’t play a game in the NHL, but from a pure numbers standpoint, there just wasn’t room in the lineup.
Who could the Sharks call up following a trade?
Friedman didn’t mention any specific names the Sharks might be interested in trading, leaving a lot in the air.
After acquiring Ryan Ellis and Carey Price’s contracts, Grier can afford to move a veteran d-man who might want a better chance at a Stanley Cup ring without having to worry about the salary cap floor.
Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Nick Leddy being claimed off waivers was a move to help push the Sharks over the cap floor. But after the Price and Ellis trades, that transaction might seem more problem-inducing rather than problem-solving. It doesn’t help that Leddy has struggled for the Sharks in the first six games.
#SJSharks Leddy on the Schaefer goal: “I think I could have collapsed a little better. Not sure I should have gone out. I have to re-watch it, I’m just basing it off of live time. It hit one of our sticks kind of laid right there for him, and obviously, he capitalized.”— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) October 22, 2025
San Jose hasn’t played a game this season without having one left-handed defenseman play on the right side. Even if Cagnoni is called back up and playing, that would remain the case. Jack Thompson could be another option for a recall, especially since he is right-handed.
Timothy Liljegren is participating in San Jose Sharks practices fully during the road trip. He is eligible to be activated from injured reserve as early as Friday. A transaction will have to be made to get him back into the lineup, so something has to give for the Sharks. Both he and Iorio are right-handed.
Friedman said he doesn’t expect any trades during this time to be considered significant. According to him, there is some light noise being made for extra defensemen throughout the league with other teams as well.
Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Read more news and stories about the San Jose Sharks on Sharks Hockey Digest! Bookmark the page and follow Sharks Hockey Digest on Twitter @SharksHKYDigest!