In what has been a quiet day for Grier and the Sharks, they have finally gotten in on the free agent market by adding 25-year-old winger Philipp Kurashev. Kurashev signed for $ 1.2 million on a 1-year deal.
The Swiss/Russian winger had a brutal season this past year, posting just 7 goals and 14 points in 51 games. A far cry from his breakout 54-point season in 2023-24. This led him to being non-tendered by the Blackhawks yesterday.
It's a low-risk move for the Sharks. Kurashev is young, and if he finds his game with a change of scenery, he could be a solid middle-six scoring option; if not, it’s a one-year commitment that can be moved off at year's end.
If Kurashev can score some points riding shotgun with Celebrini or other young players, he could also get something back at the deadline, given the cheap AAV. Overall, this is a deal that has more reward than risk and is a smart add for the Sharks.
In other Sharks news, they have re-signed Colin White to a one-year, two-way contract. The center is likely returning to the Cuda, where he put up 25 points in 48 games last season. Retaining White adds some veteran depth to the Cuda that already lost Poturalski. With many young players, such as Musty and Cheryshov, coming over full-time this season, White will be crucial in helping to stabilize a young team.
As the day progresses, the Sharks remain relatively quiet as the market clears; however, they may become more attractive to players due to their combination of available playing time and cap space. The reality is that the Sharks are not a cup contender right now, so attracting players isn’t always easy, and it's irresponsible to offer money and term to players in the hope of changing their minds.