{"id":402384,"date":"2026-07-17T16:36:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T16:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402384\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T16:36:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T16:36:09","slug":"have-sharks-fixed-their-defense-for-2026-27-nhl-season-nbc-sports-bay-area-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402384\/","title":{"rendered":"Have Sharks fixed their defense for 2026-27 NHL season? \u2013 NBC Sports Bay Area & California"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s note:\u00a0Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California\u2019s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on\u00a0San Jose Hockey Now<\/a>, listen to him on the\u00a0San Jose Hockey Now Podcast<\/a>, and follow him on Twitter at\u00a0@Sheng_Peng<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Sharks have remade their defense. But how much better than before is it?<\/p>\n

San Jose Hockey Now spoke with four NHL scouts, none with the Sharks, for their assessment.<\/p>\n

Do they think the Sharks have a playoff-caliber blueline now?<\/p>\n

So far this summer, the Sharks have signed Jacob Trouba<\/a> to a four-year, $33 million pact. They also traded for Darnell Nurse<\/a>, sending out defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and prospect Zack Sharp, and Michael Kesselring (and 2026 draft\u2019s No. 27 pick), sending out the No. 20.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re adding this trio to incumbents Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson.<\/p>\n

Prospects Luca Cagnoni, Eric Pohlkamp, and Nolan Allan are also waiting in the wings.<\/p>\n

Realistically, the Sharks could also add another veteran depth defenseman to this mix.<\/p>\n

So how much better is this blueline, considered around the league, for years, to be one of the worst in the NHL?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a big improvement compared to last year,\u201d Scout No. 1 said. \u201cCloser to average.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSignificantly improved,\u201d Scout No. 2 said.<\/p>\n

Good enough for the playoffs? The Sharks have missed the post-season for seven straight years.<\/p>\n

\u201c100 percent in the playoffs discussion,\u201d Scout No. 2 said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBorderline playoff corps,\u201d Scout No. 3 said.<\/p>\n

There are obvious question marks surrounding Nurse and Trouba, because they\u2019re 30-something\u2019s signed for four more years.<\/p>\n

But league-wide, they\u2019re still considered legitimate top-four defensemen, and generally thought to be upgrades over Orlov and the departing Mario Ferraro. Between Nurse and Trouba and Orlov, the Sharks have three consensus top-four defenders for the first time in a long time. Nurse and Trouba should also take on the penalty-killing minutes that Ferraro and Vincent Desharnais vacate.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrouba is a defensive defenseman,\u201d Scout No. 1 said. \u201cPuck game is limited but can still shoot the puck. And obviously a big, heavy, and physical defender. Plays to his identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNurse isn\u2019t as physical as he should be and is prone to mental errors with the puck,\u201d Scout No. 1 said. \u201cBut can rush the puck and add some offense though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth men are solid citizens and leaders,\u201d Scout No. 2 said. \u201cHigh-end level of toughness and respect [around] the league.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scout No. 1 added, \u201cOrlov played higher in the line-up than he should and was exposed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nurse and Trouba will help with that.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, Dickinson can take a step too,\u201d Scout No. 4 said about the 2024 No. 11 pick.<\/p>\n

So while the four-year commitments to 31-year-old Nurse and 32-year-old Trouba aren\u2019t ideal, which top-four blueliners were the Sharks going to add this off-season with shorter contracts? And at a reasonable acquisition cost, in a seller\u2019s market for defensemen?<\/p>\n

Kesselring also didn\u2019t cost the Sharks much, and while he\u2019s not proven like Nurse and Trouba, is 6-foot-5 and mobile and just 26.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas top-four potential,\u201d Scout No. 4 opined<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave guys who can do a much better job getting the puck to the forwards or skate it themselves,\u201d Scout No. 1 said of Nurse, Trouba, and Kesselring.<\/p>\n

How about the Sharks\u2019 blueline prospects, Allan, Cagnoni, or Pohlkamp — who\u2019s the most NHL-ready?<\/p>\n

\u201cThey need a top power-play guy,\u201d Scout No. 1 said. \u201cNone of [Nurse or Trouba or Kesselring] are close to top PP guys. Gives Cagnoni an edge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCagnoni can run a power play,\u201d Scout No. 2 said. \u201cI would think he would get a look in that role.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of this trio of prospects, 5-foot-9 Cagnoni is the most offensively gifted, Pohlkamp projects to the most well-rounded long-term, and 6-foot-2 Allan is more defensive.<\/p>\n

It is worth noting that Cagnoni and Allan have a lot more pro experience than the recently signed Pohlkamp. Speaking of Allan, the 23-year-old is not waiver-exempt, while the younger Cagnoni and Pohlkamp still are.<\/p>\n

In the end, the Sharks aren\u2019t likely to be carried into the playoffs by this defense. Macklin Celebrini is already a superstar, but can another young forward or two become a star too?<\/p>\n

\u201cWill all depend on how quickly their top-end young guys mature,\u201d Scout No. 2 said. \u201cNot Celebrini, but Smith, Chernyshov, Misa, et cetera.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Celebrini gets some help up front, and the Sharks’ defense is at least average, that could be enough to get them into the post-season dance.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The defense is] a bit of a mixed bag,\u201d Scout No. 4 said. \u201cOlder and some questions. But if everything works, could be decent for next season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast<\/a><\/p>\n

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