Sharks sign Mason Marchment, son of former San Jose scout, defenseman

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks made their first move of NHL free agency on Wednesday, signing veteran forward Mason Marchment to a five-year deal with an average annual value of roughly $7 million.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reported the terms of the contract, which would make him the Sharks’ highest-paid player.

Marchment, 31, just finished his seventh NHL season in which he had 45 points in a combined 68 games with the Seattle Kraken and Columbus Blue Jackets. He’s scored at least 18 goals in a season four times, including a career-best 22 goals with the Dallas Stars in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.

With the deal, the Sharks add scoring but also some needed size to their top-nine forward group. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 212 pounds, Marchment is currently the tallest Sharks forward, an inch taller than centerman Zack Ostapchuk.

Marchment is the son of Bryan Marchment, the former Sharks defenseman and scout who died unexpectedly on July 6, 2022, in Montreal, where he and other members of the team’s front office were preparing for the NHL draft.

Bryan Marchment was known as one of the NHL’s most ferocious defensemen of his era, and was also described as a caring and compassionate father and friend away from the rink. He spent more than 20 seasons with the Sharks organization — 334 games as a player and 15 as a member of the Sharks scouting department.

Bryan Marchment played in San Jose from March 1998 to March 2003, when Mason was still a young child. Bryan Marchment wore number 27 with the Sharks, and Mason, after Bryan passed away, wore his dad’s number during his three seasons with the Dallas Stars and with the Seattle Kraken this past season.

Speaking with TSN on Wednesday morning, Marchment said joining the Sharks “is something I’ve always, in the back of my head, kind of wanted to do, and I think it’s perfect timing. They’re on the (rise), and they’ve got so many young, talented players. (General manager Mike Grier) has done a great job of bringing in some guys to help them, and hopefully I can be one of those guys.”

Marchment just finished the final season of a four-year, $18 million contract that carried a $4.5 million cap hit.

The Sharks entered free agency with close to $40 million in cap space and were expected to make changes, particularly to their defense corps.

Four defensemen who were with the Sharks last season, Mario Ferraro, Vincent Desharnais, Nick Leddy, and John Klingberg, became unrestricted free agents on Wednesday, as did forwards Ryan Reaves and Pavol Regenda. The Sharks could circle back and try to re-sign Desharnais and Reaves.

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