Chris Johnston says Sharks GM Mike Grier is still listening on the No. 2 overall pick, with considerable interest from teams trying to pry it loose.
The report is clear. On Insider Trading, Johnston said Grier remains in listening mode and that a considerable amount of interest has come in from clubs hoping to acquire the selection.
Note the word "listening." That isn't shopping. Grier can draft a blue-chip prospect or convert the pick, and for now he's keeping every door open.
The San Jose backdrop explains the patience. The Sharks sit 22nd and are rebuilding around a young core led by Macklin Celebrini and his 115 points. A pick this high is exactly the asset a rebuild treasures.
The timing fits the noise, too. With the draft Friday, this is when interest in premium picks peaks, and Johnston says the phone is ringing.
Here's the report in full.
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What Grier could land by moving the No. 2 pick
It also lines up with earlier chatter. A report had the Rangers wanting to climb to No. 2, and now a credible voice confirms the interest is real and widespread.
Start with the trade-down math. A top-two pick can fetch a haul: multiple selections, a young roster player, a prospect package. For a rebuild, that's how you multiply assets fast.
But there's a strong counter. No. 2 also means a near-lock blue-chip talent, and Grier may decide the player on the board beats any offer. That's why he's listening, not selling.
The interest itself is leverage. The more teams in the mix, the better the bids, and Grier can simply let the market come to him.
Here's my read: this is exactly where a rebuilding GM wants to sit, holding a premium pick with a line of suitors. Grier wins either way, a cornerstone prospect or a pile of futures. Listening is the smart play.
So the No. 2 pick is shaping up as one of the draft's biggest dominoes.
Whether Grier keeps it or cashes it could shape the entire first round Friday. The interest is real. The decision isn't made yet.
Should the Sharks trade the No. 2 pick or keep it?
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