How Collin Graf Became a Core Piece in the Sharks’ Rebuild – The Hockey Writers – San Jose Sharks

When San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier traded William Eklund and Shakir Mukhamadullin and let Mario Ferraro walk in free agency, 23-year-old two-way forward Collin Graf somehow became the longest-tenured member of the team. He played seven games in 2023-24 for his first taste of NHL action. 

Graf signed a three-year, $12.75 million deal carrying a $4.25 million average annual value (AAV) on July 31. Fourth-line winger Barclay Goodrow’s 427 games are the most on the roster, but it spans two timelines: he began his career in San Jose in 2014-15 as a rookie until 2019-20, when he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the deadline; his second tenure began in 2024-25 when the Sharks claimed him off waivers from the New York Rangers.

Graf being the longest-tenured member of the Sharks is symbolic of an exciting young team on the rise and the optimism surrounding the progression of the rebuild over the last three years. Since seeing his first NHL action in 2023-24, the Sharks have made incredible strides, including drafting franchise superstar Macklin Celebrini and defenseman Sam Dickinson in the first round of the 2024 Draft, Michael Misa second-overall in the 2025 Draft, Swedish star prospect Ivar Stenberg second-overall in the 2026 Draft and a long list of other exciting prospects that could still become significant players in the near future.

Veteran additions like Kiefer Sherwood, Mason Marchment, Darnell Nurse, and Jacob Trouba have strengthened the balance of an overwhelmingly young group with experienced players who will help on the ice and nurture their development for the future. 

Graf’s recent extension speaks volumes about the organization’s faith in him. He plays with a maturity beyond his years that could have his deal looking like a steal very soon, especially with the salary cap rising in 2027-28. Here’s a look at Graf’s journey from the collegiate ranks to now, where he has established himself as an integral piece of the Sharks’ core moving forward.

Graf’s NCAA Career

Graf began his NCAA career at Union College in Schenectady, New York. He had a solid freshman year, scoring 11 goals and 22 points in 37 games before Quinnipiac’s head coach Rand Pecknold lured him to the Hamden, Connecticut school for the rest of his college career. 

The scrappy forward elevated his game at his new school, scoring 43 goals and 108 points in 75 games over two seasons. His 59 points in 2022-23 ranked third in the NCAA behind just Adam Fanitili and Logan Cooley and were enough for him to be named a Hobey Baker finalist as college hockey’s top player.

He led his Quinnipiac squad to the NCAA championship in the Frozen Four, scoring the game-tying goal with 2:47 left to send the game to overtime. Off the opening draw in sudden death, it took Quinnipiac 10 seconds to score and win their first national championship in school history.

Graf was named a Hobey Baker finalist for the second consecutive season alongside his Sharks teammates Smith and Celebrini, who finished first and third in points in the NCAA in 2024. Quinnipiac was eliminated by Smith’s Boston College in the quarter-finals.

Graf was a hot commodity coming out of college. He received interest from the Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Nashville Predators, but ultimately chose the Sharks. “His on-ice awareness allows him to process the game at a high level, and is a unique player with a quality 200-foot game who excels in the offensive zone. We are excited to have him join the organization,” Grier said when San Jose signed Graf in 2024. 

The Sharks burned the first year of his three-year entry-level deal by calling him up to the NHL immediately to play in the team’s last seven games of the 2023-24 season. Immediate NHL playing time was enough to get the highly-touted college star to sign.

Graf’s Early NHL Career

In those seven games, he scored two assists. The following year, the Sharks sent him to the American Hockey League (AHL) for some seasoning to bookend the 2024-25 season. Graf scored 11 points in the 33 games with the Sharks that season, but he showed he belonged in the NHL.

His play away from the puck and the smart decisions he made with it demonstrated a promising maturity in his game. For a team whose identity was based on horrible choices in the defensive zone, he never panicked, making little plays and not doing too much. 

He went back to the San Jose Barracuda to end his season, the organization’s AHL affiliate, not because he wasn’t ready for the NHL, but because it would be better for his development to have another playoff push coming off his success in college. In April 2025, the Sharks were one of the three worst teams in the league, so playoff hockey in the AHL was a more competitive training scenario for Graf.

Graf’s 2025-26 Breakout

In Graf’s first full NHL season, he did not disappoint. He drastically improved the team’s defense and starred on the penalty kill while further proving his reliability by playing 81 of 82 games. His growing confidence was evident. He never seemed to second-guess himself or hesitate. The eye couldn’t help but land on Graf in the defensive zone when other Sharks were committing a series of cataclysms in front of whichever goaltender was in net. 

Graf notched 21 goals and 46 points while bouncing around different lines. He built chemistry with Celebrini and Smith, and showcased his main strength as a pro: his IQ. He knew where to be and when, giving his uber-talented linemates room to create and set him up for scoring opportunities.

While the crowded forward room may prevent him from getting a ton of first-line minutes in 2026-27, he will be invaluable as an infusion of cerebral play on the third line and should prey on any mistakes made by the other team. Graf can be a mismatch against many opposing bottom-sixes, creating a significant competitive advantage for the Sharks when teams already have to deal with Celebrini.

It may be sacrilegious to some to float this comparison, but Graf’s game is similar to Joe Pavelski‘s when he was breaking into the league. Not the biggest, fastest, or strongest, both players used their on-ice vision and their minds to make up for any physical deficiencies.

They are always in the right spot, but they don’t panic and seldom make errors. Graf has yet to show if he can produce 20 goals and maybe churn out 30-40-goal seasons like Pavelski, but his style of game is similar to the former Sharks captain. Graf’s homework should be to learn how to deflect pucks as Pavelski did.

San Jose has a plethora of talent, especially upfront, but a roster full of the same player rarely makes a good hockey team. Winning teams have players throughout the lineup who bring different skills and are asked to do different things that play to their strengths. What makes Graf a foundational piece in this bright era of Sharks hockey is his brain and his motor. His understanding of when to use grit and when to be patient is why he is already the team’s best penalty killer and a player who can be relied on to put the puck in the net.