BUFFALO, N.Y. – It’s quite possible that the San Jose Sharks simply go ahead and make the eight selections they now own at the NHL draft before they turn their attention to the start of free agency on July 1.

Somehow, though, it doesn’t seem like everything will be that cut and dry over the next two days.

Between the nearly nonstop trade rumors they seem to be involved in, to the decisions they need to make with the first-round picks they now own at second, ninth, and 27th overall, the Sharks figure to be front and center this weekend as they try to shape a playoff-caliber roster for next season after a lengthy rebuild.

“To have a high pick and then trade scenarios and free agency around the corner, it’s definitely an exciting time,” said Mike Grier, who is set to begin his fifth season as the Sharks’ general manager. “We haven’t really been in this situation before to really try and push it forward and really make the team a lot better. So I would probably agree that it’s probably the most interesting summer so far.”

The first major decision the Grier and the Sharks need to make is what to do with the second overall pick they won at last month’s draft lottery.

As soon as the Sharks traded William Eklund and two prospects to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, speculation immediately began that they would use the No. 2 selection on fellow Swedish-born winger Ivar Stenberg, assuming the Toronto Maple Leafs use the No. 1 selection on Penn State forward Gavin McKenna.

Stenberg, 18, competed against professionals this past season, collecting 33 points in 43 games with Frolunda HS of the Swedish Hockey League before he had eight points in eight games at last month’s IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.

With his playmaking ability, two-way game, and elite hockey sense, Stenberg is widely considered the second-best player available in this year’s draft behind McKenna, who had 51 points in 35 games for the Nittany Lions.

The Sharks have plenty of high-end young talent in their forward group after selecting Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, and Michael Misa with their first pick each of the last three years.

“I would be happy to go there,” Stenberg said Thursday of being drafted by San Jose. “They have something good going on, so it would be a dream.”

The Sharks also could lean in the direction of taking a defenseman at No. 2, with sizeable right-shot blueliners Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, and Carson Carels perhaps being the best available at that position.

That seems less likely now that the Sharks also have the No. 9 pick they acquired in the Eklund trade. Another quality defenseman, like Daxon Rudolph, who just finished a 78-point season with Prince Albert of the WHL, could be available here.

The Sharks’ scouting staff met in San Jose on Wednesday and Thursday to help finalize their draft list. And rather than pick for need early in the draft, the Sharks will still take who they feel is the best player available with the No. 2 selection. That seems like Stenberg.

“You guys are all speculating,” Grier said Wednesday of the Stenberg chatter. “Nothing’s decided about our board, and how we have them lined up.

“As far as Ivar goes, he’s a competitive kid, sees the ice well, competes hard, dual threat, pretty comfortable playing against men already, and had a historic season. He’s a very talented player, and we’ve got to keep digging in on him over the next few days and see where it goes.

“It’s all (media) speculation. Six-foot-three right shot (defensemen) who can skate and create offense don’t grow on trees, either. We still have some work to do to sort our board out.”

Coming away from the draft with a projected top-line winger and top-pair defensemen would be quite an impressive haul for the Sharks, and it’s easy to envision Stenberg being a part of the Sharks’ core, alongside fellow 21-and-under forwards Celebrini, Smith, and Misa, for the next decade or so.

“It’s a great story here for the San Jose Sharks,” said Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino, who had Stenberg as his second-best player available in his latest rankings. “They had all those glory years, couldn’t get it over the finish line, and it looks like those glory years (might return), with a lot of similar players (growing) up together.”

Grier, though, will likely continue to field calls from other teams on the second and ninth overall picks right up until the start of the draft.

Despite acquiring Michael Kesselring from the Buffalo Sabres last week, the Sharks still need more defensemen to fill out their blue line, and could use their ninth or 27th overall picks, or even the 60th pick in the second round, as part of a package for a player they feel can help in the short and long term.

The Sharks made a big step forward this past season, improving from 52 points in 2024-25 to 86 points this year, falling just four points shy of a playoff spot. With the Sharks flush with salary cap space, what kind of pieces are out there to help them take the next step and qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2019?

The Sharks are rumored to have interest in 6-foot-3, 232-pound Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, 23, and it’s possible that 6-3, 218-pound defenseman Alexander Nikishin, a 24-year-old who just won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes and was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team, would be available in a trade.

Is this the right time for the Sharks to take a big swing?

“If the player fits and makes us better and is in the right age group, then I think we’d be in on them for sure,” Grier said. “It’s all about the fit and the age, and so if those guys (not necessarily Knies or Nikishin become available, for sure, it’s something we’re not afraid to do, and try and get in on.

“I think we’re at the right spot in our path here to possibly add a big piece if they became available.”

CARDWELL RE-SIGNED

The Sharks announced Thursday that they’ve re-signed forward Ethan Cardwell, a pending restricted free agent, to a one-year, two-way contract. Cardwell, 23, was injured for most of last season but had 15 points in 24 games with the Barracuda of the AHL. He also has two goals in 13 games with San Jose.

NHL DRAFT

WHERE: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, N.Y.

WHEN: First round — Friday, 4 p.m. (PT); Second through seventh rounds — Saturday, 8 a.m.

SHARKS PICKS: First round — Second, ninth, and 27th overall; Second round — 62nd overall;  Fourth round — 120th and 127th overall; Sixth round — 174th overall; Seventh round — 201st overall.