TRADE: Florida Panthers Acquire Nico Sturm From San Jose Sharks

The Florida Panthers have acquired forward Nico Sturm and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Nice to have you, Nico!

📝 » https://t.co/FxnQaBlRVY pic.twitter.com/M5dL3y7Qy4
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 6, 2025

With the deadline rapidly approaching, the expectation was that the Panthers would look to add to their bottom six. Now, they have done just that by adding Sturm to their roster. The 29-year-old forward will likely slot on the Panthers' fourth line and should get penalty kill time because of his solid defensive play.

Sturm was one of the Sharks' top trade candidates heading toward the deadline. This is because the 6-foot-3 forward is a pending unrestricted free agent, which made him a clear rental candidate. Now, he gets the chance to play for a contender again with the Panthers.

Sturm has appeared in 47 games this season, where he has seven goals, 13 points, 70 hits, and a minus-4 rating. Overall, the seven-year veteran can chip in a bit offensively and plays a heavy game, so he should be a nice fit for the Panthers. Furthermore, it also does not hurt that he has a Stanley Cup on his resume.

In 316 career NHL games split between the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and Sharks, Sturm has 46 goals, 91 points, and 400 hits. It will be fascinating to see how much of an impact he can make with the Panthers from here.