When Mario Ferraro was a rookie, there was tons of promise for his prospects for the Sharks, who at the time had a veteran-heavy blueline with little in the system on the horizon outside of eventual bust Ryan Merkley. Ferraro came into the NHL straight out of college in just his Draft +3 season and looked solid next to Brent Burns. Fast-forward to the present, and it seems like Ferraro’s time in San Jose is on a clock, entering the final season of a 4-year extension signed in 2022. Ferraro is a pending UFA and is rumored to be open to a change of scenery, although he isn’t outright requesting a trade.
A Ferraro trade would make sense for the Sharks, with youngsters like Dickinson and Cagnoni in the system in addition to Muhkhamadulin on the roster, all being natural left-handed defenders. The Sharks have a glut of options on the left side, leaving Ferraro obsolete in the big picture. It makes sense for the Sharks to move on before the deadline, barring a surprise run out of the team this coming season, but ultimately, a move would benefit Ferraro as well.
Ferraro, through no fault of his own, has been caved in on the Sharks, posting dreadful results the last 3 seasons; however, as bad as he has been on the stat sheet, better deployment should see him rebound. Ferraro has been one of the Sharks' top defensemen over the last few years, averaging over 22 minutes a night, which is not a role he is suited for in the NHL, and it has affected his numbers. If Ferraro can play down the lineup on a bottom-pairing or as a defensive-minded partner for a capable puck-mover, he should find more success similar to his initial success with Brent Burns as a rookie. The Sharks have lacked puck-movers on the backend since trading Erik Karlsson, and that is a big reason for Ferraro’s struggles.
In terms of value, I’d expect Ferraro to return a 2nd-round-pick or something equivalent, a return on investment for the 2017 2nd rounder. While the Sharks have routinely held out for a first-round pick in return for their blueliner, that ship has long sailed entering the final year of his deal.
It'd be a bittersweet end to Ferraro’s tenure. The blueliner has an infectious personality and was an absolute gem in the room throughout his time in San Jose, but ultimately, it makes sense for both sides to move on from each other.