{"id":275038,"date":"2026-04-19T03:04:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T03:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/275038\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T03:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T03:04:08","slug":"sharks-expect-mario-ferraro-to-test-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/275038\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharks Expect Mario Ferraro To Test Free Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mario Ferraro<\/a> is the longest continuously tenured member of the San Jose Sharks, but that could be coming to an end this offseason.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old gritty defenseman played all 82 games of the Sharks\u2019 regular season for the first time in his career. Given his playstyle, that is quite the achievement. But another first step for Ferraro appears to be on his way, unrestricted free agency.<\/p>\n

25-26 was the final year of Ferraro\u2019s 4-year $13 million contract. According to San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier<\/a>, Ferraro has earned the right to explore the open market.<\/p>\n

\u201cMario\u2019s first time as a free agent, and he\u2019s earned the right to kind of see what\u2019s out there,\u201d Grier told reporters. \u201cNever closing the door on anything, but I think he\u2019ll probably at least test free agency, then we\u2019ll kind of go from there. Then we\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

#SJSharks<\/a> GM Mike Grier believes Ferraro will test free agency but the door isn\u2019t closed on a return<\/p>\n

\u2014 Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Ferraro has been surrounded by trade rumors for the past two+ seasons. San Jose\u2019s push for the playoffs led to the team keeping the pending UFA. Ferraro told reporters he\u2019d love to return to the team that drafted him, but he also admitted he doesn\u2019t know the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just grateful to play in this league. I want to play for as long as I can in this league. Whatever happens, happens,\u201d Ferraro said. \u201cI don\u2019t take any moment for granted or anything for granted in this league.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ferraro has played 490 rugged games<\/a> in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks. He\u2019s never played a single Stanley Cup Playoff<\/a> game. His style could be exactly what a team needs as a bottom-four d-man in the postseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was obviously one of the best seasons we\u2019ve had as a team since I\u2019ve been here. We\u2019re right in it to the end, the last couple of games,\u201d Ferraro said. \u201cIt felt good to be in a playoff push, and at that time of year, late in the year, like that. It\u2019s not easy to make the playoffs. I\u2019ve experienced that over seven seasons. You see the improvement, and you see the direction we\u2019re going, and I think we built a lot of momentum this year.\u201d<\/p>\n