​The San Jose Sharks have had a bustling offseason. After a strong showing at the 2026 NHL Draft, the club followed up with an active free-agent period, and they may not be done yet. If a stunning trade rumor proves true, the Sharks could emerge as the clear winners of the summer.
A piece in the Winnipeg Free Press links the Sharks to Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, suggesting San Jose as a potential landing spot. The argument hinges on one key connection: Eric Comrie. The 26-year-old backup to Hellebuyck in Winnipeg is now in San Jose, and that detail could help tilt the odds in the Sharks’ favor.
“I still believe Buffalo is the most logical landing spot, but I also keep coming back to San Jose as a suitable destination — and that was before they went and inked Comrie, which no doubt would make the sales pitch to Hellebuyck even easier,” the piece notes. The Sabres have often been viewed as the likely destination, but the Sharks present a compelling alternative: an up-and-coming team with a potential window opening to contend sooner rather than later.
If San Jose can secure the kind of goaltending Hellebuyck is known for, they could vault into the Western Conference playoff picture. The Comrie link adds an intriguing layer. McIntyre describes the veteran backup as Hellebuyck’s “personal security blanket.” Without Comrie in Winnipeg, it’s unclear who would fill that role.
Jets general manager management signed Stuart Skinner in free agency, but it appears Skinner doesn’t relish a backup role—he signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the expectation of starting. If that mindset prevails, a bench role behind Hellebuyck would not be appealing for Skinner, which fuels the belief that Hellebuyck could be moved. The Sharks could be well-positioned to pounce on such an opportunity.
There’s another variable at play. By bringing in Comrie, the Sharks now have three goalies on their depth chart. Last season, Alex Nedeljkovic and Yaroslav Askarov shared goaltending duties. Askarov, still just 24, was once heralded as one of the NHL’s top goalie prospects, but he has yet to prove he’s ready for sustained NHL action. Even if Hellebuyck were to join, San Jose would have time to continue developing Askarov, long-term.
That dynamic makes Nedeljkovic the most likely casualty in a potential big move. The 30-year-old goalie carries a three-team no-trade clause, which limits his options. Unless the Jets are on that list, Nedeljkovic would be the simplest to move. Excluding his inclusion, the Sharks would cycle through Hellebuyck and Comrie, with Askarov waiting in the wings—a depth chart that could significantly improve the team’s ceiling while providing flexibility for the future.
In short, San Jose’s current goaltending depth could set the stage for a blockbuster if the right pieces fall into place. The Comrie acquisition adds an intriguing axis to any Hellebuyck pursuit, and the potential move could dramatically shift the Sharks’ trajectory as they look to capitalize on their rising status and turn up the heat in a competitive Western Conference.