Noah Gregor Returns to San Jose Sharks After Brief Stint with Senators

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Noah Gregor celebrated a warm welcome back to the San Jose Sharks on Monday, with teammates Mario Ferraro and Marc-Edouard Vlasic enthusiastically chanting his name in the locker room following practice. After resolving immigration issues, Gregor is set to make his official Sharks debut on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks, wearing jersey number 9.

Gregor, who was originally drafted by the Sharks in 2016, has had a two-year journey through the NHL leading to his return to San Jose. He briefly played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators before re-signing with the Sharks. His prior experience includes being part of a surprising trade that sent him to Ottawa at the trade deadline.

“I thought I was in the clear, but I guess not,” Gregor joked about the call he received from Senators General Manager Steve Staios, which informed him of the trade. “The initial shock was definitely there. But once I started thinking about the guys that I know here and the familiar faces, it definitely made it a lot easier.” Gregor and Ferraro have maintained a close friendship dating back to their draft years.

Ferraro expressed his excitement about Gregor’s return, stating, “I love Greggy. It’ll be awesome to see him. I’m pumped up to be in the same locker room as him…again.”

Throughout his four seasons with the Sharks, Gregor has accumulated 26 goals and 25 assists in 178 games. His performance in the last season was noteworthy as he achieved a career-high 10 goals. However, Gregor did not receive a qualifying offer from the Sharks following his restricted free agency, leading to his brief stint with other NHL teams.

Reflecting on his past two years, Gregor noted, “I’ve seen a lot in the past two years.” Through a professional tryout in the summer, he secured a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs, where he notched 12 points (six goals and six assists) in 63 games and made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut against the Boston Bruins.

“[Auston Matthews] is one of the hardest-working guys I’ve gotten a chance to play with,” Gregor praised. “He’s always working on his craft. He’s always taking care of his body, doing the right thing.” Gregor’s trip to Ottawa contributed to his development as he adapted to the NHL environment.

He shared insights on his growth as a player, emphasizing consistency as a primary focus. “I think [my] consistency has gotten a lot better, in my eyes,” he noted, explaining that repeated exposure to both playing and watching games shaped his understanding of the game. “It’s not fun doing [watching from the press box], so you want to put yourself in the best position to always be in the line-up.”

Returning to San Jose, Gregor remarked, “I’m just gonna try and help as much as I can and go from there,” as he aims to support younger teammates like 21-year-old Zack Ostapchuk who also faced immigration delays. “He can chuck ’em,” Gregor said jokingly referring to Ostapchuk’s aggressive style of play.

As anticipation builds for his return, Gregor is ready to make an impact on the ice, looking to contribute to the Sharks’ success in this new chapter of his career.