Graf Becomes Sharks Core
San Jose Sharks Solidify Core, Re-Sign Breakout Forward Collin Graf
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Key Points
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Graf signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract with the Sharks ($4.25 million AAV), after a season in which he appeared in 81 games with 21 goals and 46 points.
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Graf logged just over 200 minutes of shorthanded ice last season, finishing among the league's leaders in penalty-killing time and ranking seventh among NHL forwards in SH time.
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The contract is set to expire in 2029, with Graf projected to be 26 and still an RFA when it ends according to team coverage.
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Some outlets report a four-year extension starting this season at the same $4.25 million AAV, ending in 2028-29, with Graf remaining an RFA in 2030.
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Graf tied for fourth in points among undrafted skaters last season and was the youngest in that top-10, underscoring the Sharks' patience with undrafted players who generate offense.
The San Jose Sharks have re-signed forward Collin Graf to a three-year, $12.75 million contract, locking up one of their most reliable young players at $4.25 million per season, according to ABC7 News. Graf, 23, broke out last season with 21 goals and 25 assists in 81 games, posting a plus-6 rating and establishing himself as a key piece of San Jose's rebuild.
The deal keeps Graf in San Jose through 2028-29, when he is projected to still be a restricted free agent. He joins Macklin Celebrini as another young core player the Sharks have committed to long-term as the franchise works its way out of a rebuilding phase.
Graf's Breakout Season Earned This Payday
Graf's 2024-25 campaign was a true breakout. He scored 21 goals and added 25 assists across 81 games, according to Casanet Kamloops. That put him in rare company — he tied for fourth in points among all undrafted skaters in the league last season. He was also the youngest player in that top-10 group.
Graf entered the NHL as an undrafted free agent from Quinnipiac University in 2024. Undrafted players rarely earn multi-year deals this fast. His production made him impossible to overlook.
Graf Ranked Seventh Among NHL Forwards in Penalty-Kill Time
Scoring wasn't Graf's only selling point. He logged just over 200 minutes of shorthanded ice time last season. That ranked him seventh among all NHL forwards in penalty-killing time. Teams that rebuild need players who pull double duty — scoring at even strength and protecting leads a man down.
General Manager Mike Grier pointed to Graf's versatility and work ethic as reasons for the extension. Graf can play up and down the lineup and contribute on special teams. That kind of two-way value is hard to find, especially in a young player still on his entry-level deal.
Grier Builds Around Young, Proven Contributors
The Sharks signed Graf just weeks after extending Macklin Celebrini, a top prospect. The back-to-back moves show a clear plan from Grier: reward players who produce now, not just those with long-term potential. Graf fits that mold. He played 81 of 82 games last season and contributed every night.
San Jose has struggled for several seasons, but its young roster is starting to take shape. Locking up Graf at $4.25 million per year looks like smart spending. If he keeps improving, that number could be a bargain by the time the deal expires in 2029.
What the Contract Means for San Jose's Cap Future
Graf will be 26 when this contract ends. At that point, he is expected to be a restricted free agent, giving San Jose control before he can test the open market. The Sharks are building toward contention, and keeping cost-controlled players like Graf on long-term deals is central to that plan, according to Casanet Kamloops.
At $4.25 million per year, Graf's deal leaves the Sharks room to keep adding talent around him. San Jose still has cap space to work with as it approaches what it hopes will be a competitive window in the late 2020s.
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