The San Jose Sharks on Thursday traded center Nico Sturm and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Florida Panthers for a 2026 fourth-round selection.

The trade is the second between the Sharks and Panthers in as many days. On Wednesday, San Jose sent goalie Vitek Vanecek to Florida for forward Patrick Giles.

Sturm and Vanecek are both pending unrestricted free agents.

Sturm, 29, signed a three-year, $6 million contract with the Sharks as a free agent in 2022 and without a contract extension, believed he would be on the move before Friday’s trade deadline.

“I anticipate that something’s going to happen in those two weeks that we’re on the road realistically,” Sturm said on Feb. 22, just before the Sharks left for their road trip, which ends Thursday in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche. “But it’s not something that I’m really worried about. … I’m going to play 100% for the crest until they tell me otherwise.

“You’re a 29-year-old UFA with no extension in place, you’ve got to be realistic about it.”

This season as San Jose’s fourth line center, Sturm had 13 points in 47 games. He also led the NHL in faceoff win percentage (62.7%, minimum 100 faceoffs), and was seventh among the team’s forwards in shorthanded time on ice (48:27).

The Sharks now hold six picks in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Sturm said last month that as a pending UFA, he was keeping his options open and not closing the door to re-signing with the rebuilding Sharks. He also said he would like his next contract to be around three years, giving him some added stability.

For now, he joins a Panthers team tied for first place in the Atlantic Division with designs on repeating as Stanley Cup champions. Vanecek is already with the Panthers, as he took part in the team’s morning skate in South Florida on Thursday before their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers next game is Saturday at home against the Buffalo Sabres.

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