The Sharks locked up another member of their young core Friday, re-signing restricted free agent Collin Graf to a three-year contract worth $4.25 million annually.
Graf’s contract comes two days after the Sharks signed superstar Macklin Celebrini to a five-year contract worth a record-setting $18.8 million AAV.
In just over two years, Graf went from undrafted NHL free agent to a sturdy foundational pillar of what the Sharks are building.
The 23-year-old Graf is coming off a breakout 2025-26 NHL season in which he recorded 21 goals and 25 assists while averaging over 16 minutes of ice time in 81 games.
“Collin was a big part of our team’s improvement this past season, being an effective penalty killer for us and his versatility in the lineup was extremely valuable,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier wrote Friday in a statement announcing Graf’s contract. “His hard-working attitude and work ethic is a big reason why his game took another stride last year, and he continues to be an important person in our young group of players. We’re happy we are able to keep him a Shark for the next several seasons.”
Graf signed with the Sharks in April 2024 and played in seven NHL games before the end of the season. He got into 33 games the next season before becoming a key member of the team this past year.
Now, the Sharks view Graf as an important piece next to Celebrini, Will Smith, Michael Misa and others.
In March, Graf spoke to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng about why he signed with the Sharks over other NHL teams.
“They were honest,” Graf told Peng. “Just the opportunity, and then just trying to, at the time, to get in with the young guys and trying to build something here.”
The Sharks got Graf into their system and, as Peng writes, developed the Quinnipiac product into one of coach Ryan Warsofsky’s most-trusted penalty killers.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter the sport, coaches put out people, whether it’s on the court, on the field, on the ice, who they trust the most,” Warsofsky said in March. “And Collin has earned our trust in the way he stacked games together and in high-pressure situations. Whether that’s 5-on-6, that’s the penalty kill, that’s late in the game, he has a great feel for how to play in those situations, and he’s earned a lot of trust.”
On Friday, the Sharks entrusted Graf with a three-year pact that ensures he’s part of the team’s next step, which they hope is making the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.
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