Could the Sharks trade No.2 pick? — The Fourth Period

The San Jose Sharks hold the second-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft for the second consecutive draft and there appears to be a willingness, again, to entertain the possibility of moving it.

Last summer, the Sharks entertained calls on the No.2 selection but ultimately held on to it and drafted Michael Misa second-overall.

This summer, Sharks GM Mike Grier could once again listen to offers for the pick, something he already acknowledged he is willing to do so after Monday’s Draft Lottery.

Grier also acknowledged the possibility of adding “more high-end talent to the core” with the second-overall pick is “exciting” and presumably, if the right offer doesn’t present itself, the Sharks will gladly hold on to the pick like they did last year.

With Gavin McKenna projected to go first-overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs, fellow left wing Ivar Stenberg could be the next top talent available at No.2.

In this week’s episode of “DFO Rundown Insider Edition” with Irfaan Gaffar and David Pagnotta, the duo discussed San Jose’s willingness to field offers on the pick and Pagnotta expects teams to inquire.

“This year’s a little bit different,” Pagnotta said. “They’ve got a lot of depth at the forward prospect position; quality depth, good talent.

“It’s the defense. And it’s no secret. We’ve talked about this earlier on in the season that the priority moving forward will be the blueline for the San Jose Sharks. There is an opportunity to, within the top-five, top-six, get a really good young defenceman, up-and-coming up, top-pair defenceman.”

Teams like the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets may be among the teams interested in moving up in the draft if a player like Stenberg is available at No.2.

“I think San Jose is serious about wanting to listen, excuse me, willing to listen on that second-overall pick,” Pagnotta added. “I could see Vancouver with motivation to move up. I could see the Rangers with motivation to move up. I think Calgary with motivation to move up. We’ll see kind of where that goes. It’s super fresh, and we’ve got what, five-six weeks? But there’s runway there where San Jose is going to be a pretty attractive team for clubs looking to move up to get basically, again, argument’s sake, Stenberg at #2.”