Was Mason Marchment the right addition for the Sharks?

The San Jose Sharks made a big splash on Wednesday, acquiring Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba to help bolster their blueline.

But up front, the Sharks signed Mason Marchment to a five-year contract worth $6.75 million. On the surface, it’s a great get – and an emotional one, given it was the last team his father, Bryan, worked for before his death. Marchment was one of the top free agents available on the market, and while his speed might not be up to par, nobody will deny his talent. The Uxbridge, Ontario native had 32 points in 39 games with Columbus after a mid-season trade from Seattle, and had a career-best of 53 points in 2023-24.

During the Daily Faceoff Live free agency special, Matt Larkin broke down the signing, and why it makes sense for the Sharks:

Matt Larkin: “The AAV is a little high, $6.75 million. But overall, I like it for San Jose. This is a team that knows it’s knocking on the door of the playoffs, and now they’re filling out that middle six of the forward group. You’re also probably adding Ivar Stenberg to that forward group this year. I think he’ll go right to the NHL. And you add Marchment too, who was really good once he moved in the trade to Columbus. He was almost a point-per-game player, and he’s responsible at both ends of the ice. He also mixes it up, right? He’s an agitator too.

“So he does many different things well. He’s a good veteran player. And I think you’re just seeing the Sharks mature into a contender. I think it’s hard to imagine them not making the playoffs this coming season. So I think it’s a good fit. I’m giving it a B- just ’cause it’s a little rich, but I understand with the market this barren, there was probably a lot of competition for Marchment.”

You can watch the full stream here: