The San Jose Sharks are using the time between now and the trade deadline wisely. With two trades on Wednesday, they continued the pattern until Thursday. The Sharks have made a second trade deal with the Florida Panthers. Nico Sturm has been dealt and will be joining Vitek Vanecek in Florida.
Nice to have you, Nico!
📝 » https://t.co/FxnQaBlRVY pic.twitter.com/M5dL3y7Qy4
— x – Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 6, 2025
San Jose Sharks Make Nico Sturm Trade with Florida
The Sharks have acquired a 2026 fourth-round pick. In return, they sent Sturm and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Sturm had spent over two seasons with the Sharks. He had 52 points in 184 games. He helped the Sharks with his ability to win faceoffs and with the penalty kill.
Sturm has been a third-line centre for San Jose. He has averaged a little over 10 minutes this season with the Sharks. He’s also helped out with the team’s younger players.
NHL GameScore Impact Card for San Jose Sharks on 2025-03-04: pic.twitter.com/Ya5DRnEYa9
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) March 5, 2025
With only seven seasons under his belt, the forward has more to learn and more to give. His time in Florida will be important for his growth but also the team. He can now play alongside top NHL players and hopefully develop more to become apart of a winning team.
Sharks Can Use Their Picks To Rebuild Or Become Trade Bait
? The #SJSharks have acquired a 2026 4th round selection from Florida in exchange for Nico Sturm and a 2027 7th rounder. @Shift4 | #TheFutureIsTeal
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 6, 2025
San Jose, in return, was given a 2026 draft pick. This will help the team grow their depth with rookie prospects that can help throughout their rebuild. The team has already acquired two draft picks for this upcoming 2025 NHL Draft.
They got a first-round draft pick and conditional third-round pick from the Dallas Stars earlier in February. The Sharks then traded a seventh-round pick in the 2027 draft for a higher draft pick for next year. Their investment in the prospect pool will also benefit them in building a winning team. San Jose will be able to use their picks to develop in areas of need and grow their depth in areas lacking.
It looks that Sharks General Manager Mike Grier has an idea of what he is doing. His strategic trades are benefiting the team as well as benefiting the players he is sending elsewhere. With Dallas, he sent two players who can hold their own in a playoff run and will benefit any team in the running. Sending Sturm to Florida will provide more depth in their offense, especially with Matthew Tkachuk out with an injury.
What it Means
They can also turn their draft picks and use them as trade incentives before tomorrow’s deadline. With other teams also looking to grow their depth and grow their rosters. It would be smart on the Sharks to use their recent draft picks to become selling points in trades that can help them here and now.
It also appears that San Jose might not be done with their trades. The team still has a handful of players who are on the radar of other teams. Grier can use those players, such as Mario Ferraro and Luke Kunin to grow the Sharks prospect pool or strengthen their defense.
The Sharks are proving that they are serious in this rebuild and growing a winning team around their star rookie centre, Macklin Celebrini. This will likely not be the last trade they make before the deadline.
Main photo by: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
