Sharks sign top remaining free agent to 3-year, $12.75 contract extension

The San Jose Sharks locked one of the final pieces of their offseason by re-signing restricted free-agent forward Collin Graf to a three-year, $12.75 million contract carrying an average annual value of $4.25 million, general manager Mike Grier announced Friday. The extension will keep the 23-year-old under contract through the 2028-29 season after he completed his entry-level deal.

Graf earned the new contract following a breakout 2025-26 campaign in which he recorded career highs with 21 goals, 25 assists and 46 points in 81 games along with a plus-6 rating. He appeared in all but one regular-season game, averaged more than 16 minutes of ice time, reached the 20-goal mark for the first time and finished third on the Sharks in goals, sixth in points and seventh in assists. He also compiled eight multi-point games, produced a career-best three-point performance against the Montreal Canadiens on March 14 and put together a six-game point streak from Dec. 13-27 that included five goals and three assists, during which he scored in four straight games.

Among undrafted NHL players, Graf finished tied for fourth in points, tied for fifth in goals and tied for sixth in assists while being the youngest player among the top-10 undrafted point producers. He also contributed to all three of San Jose’s shorthanded goals during the season and developed into one of head coach Ryan Warsofsky’s most-trusted penalty killers.

Through 121 NHL games, Graf has garnered 59 points, including 26 goals and 33 assists. After signing as an undrafted free agent in April 2024, he appeared in seven NHL games late that season before splitting 2024-25 between the Sharks and the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. He played 33 NHL games that year, amassing 11 points, while adding 35 points in 40 AHL games and five more in six Calder Cup Playoff contests.

The Lincoln, Massachusetts native has become an important part of the Sharks young core alongside Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Michael Misa. His net-front play, board work and ability to create space around the slot helped strengthen San Jose’s attack, while his 7.19 expected goals from medium-danger areas ranked third on the team behind Celebrini and William Eklund.

Before turning professional, Graf starred at Quinnipiac University, where he finished his collegiate career with 130 points (54 goals, 76 assists) in 112 games. He led the Bobcats to the 2023 NCAA national championship, earned ECAC Player of the Year honors in 2023-24 and was a Hobey Baker Award Top-10 finalist in consecutive seasons. His latest contract continues the Sharks commitment to building around its emerging young core after also signing Celebrini to a long-term extension earlier this week.

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