What happened: San Jose has reportedly signed forward Mason Marchment to a five-year deal worth roughly $7 million per season, with Elliotte Friedman first to report the agreement Wednesday morning. Marchment, 31, is the son of former Sharks player and scout Bryan Marchment. He arrives after a bounce-back stretch in Columbus, where he rediscovered his scoring touch following a mid-season path through Seattle.

Why it matters: The addition gives San Jose another established top-nine forward as it builds around its young core, but it also crowds the depth chart. Second overall pick Ivar Stenberg is expected to be NHL-ready, leaving GM Mike Grier to sort out a growing forward logjam. The signing marks a notable free-agent commitment for a San Jose club still in the early stages of its rebuild.

What to watch: Watch how Grier balances the forward group, particularly whether Stenberg steps directly into the lineup or the Sharks move a body to clear room.