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The San Jose Sharks need all the help they can get, but they can’t bring in just anyone.
They will have to carefully navigate the trade and free agency market this summer.
San Jose, with more than $30 million in cap space, could be in the market for another team’s cap dump.
But I repeat, you shouldn’t negotiate for just anyone. So who should they negotiate for?
There are three things the Sharks should keep in mind when adding players this summer: leadership, top-nine ability for a forward or top-four for a defenseman, and a reasonable acquisition cost.
Leadership should be the number one priority on San Jose’s shopping list this summer: get the right people in place around Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini. You should have done it last year for William Eklund and company. Do you want to restore a winning culture? This is how you start doing it, by putting winning influences around your children.
Of course, the Sharks also need better players. They have one center in the top nine right now: Mikael Granlund: Logan Couture is injured, while Celebrini and Smith are unproven. They don’t have enough competent two-way wingers. And they have to push the brave Mario Ferraro into the defensive lineup.
Finally, it would be unwise for the Sharks to gamble their chips this summer. So forget about a big trade for Mitch Marner or giving a UFA like Jake Guentzel seven years. You don’t do something like that until you know what you have in Celebrini and your prospects. Fast forward to next summer, let’s say Celebrini and Smith have established themselves as top-six forwards, it’s a different game.
But now? It’s still too early.
So how can the San Jose Sharks acquire veteran NHL talent and leadership at a good price?
Here are 12 players, seven forwards and five defensemen, in positional and alphabetical order, who could be on the move this summer because their teams could be looking for salary cap relief.
Which of these players meets the three things the San Jose Sharks should keep in mind this summer?
Cam Atkinson
Age: 35
Contract: $5,875 million AAV, 1 year remaining
Movement clause: 10-team NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 15:57 (2:06/1:20)
Statistics 2023-24: 70 games-13 goals-15 assists-28-points-27 penalty minutes
The Philadelphia Flyers‘ heart-and-soul winger’s offensive peak is likely behind him, especially after missing the entire 2022-23 season due to injury.
Patrick Laine
Age: 26
Contract: $8.7 million AAV, 2 years remaining
Movement clause: 10-team NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 15:13 (2:52/0:01)
2023-24 Stats: 18-6-3-9-6
The Columbus Blue Jackets winger’s reputation, built in his 44-goal second season, has suffered over the past half-decade. He can still score, but does he have anything else going for him?
Andres Mangiapane
Age: 28
Contract: $5.8 million AAV, 1 year left
Movement clause: 8-team NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 16:00 (1:10/0:43)
Statistics 2023-24: 75-14-26-40-47
The Calgary Flames winger is two years removed from his breakout 35-goal campaign in 2021-22. He has combined for just 31 goals in the last two years.
Ilya Mikheyev
Age: 29
Contract: $4.75 million AAV, 2 years left
Movement clause: 12 team NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 14:16 (0:53/0:47)
Statistics 2023-24: 78-11-20-31-4
After a strong start, the Vancouver Canucks winger struggled to score, scoring just one goal in his final 61 regular season and playoff games. He is a solid two-way forward.
JG Pageau
Age: 31
Contract: $5 million AAV, 2 years remaining
Movement clause: 16 team NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 15:55 (1:31/1:54)
Statistics 2023-24: 82-11-22-33-13
The New York Islanders alternate captain is a very reliable two-way center.
Brandon Saad
Age: 31
Contract: $4.5 million AAV, 2 years remaining
Movement Clause: Full NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 15:30 (1:40/0:25)
Statistics 2023-24: 82-26-16-42-20
The St. Louis Blues offensive winger can usually be counted on to score, surpassing 20 goals on seven occasions.
Reilly Smith
Age: 33
Contract: $5 million AAV, 1 year left
Movement clause: 8-team NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 16:08 (1:47/0:45)
Statistics 2023-24: 76-13-27-40-18
The 2023 Stanley Cup winner was a disappointment for the Pittsburgh Penguins this year. But he is a five-time 20-goal scorer and is a reliable two-way winger.
Justin Faulk
Age: 32
Contract: $6.5 million AAV, 3 years remaining
Movement Clause: Full NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 21:58 (1:49/1:32)
Statistics 2023-24: 60-2-28-30-39
The Blues’ stand-in captain has struggled to score this season but has reached double-digit goals on six occasions, most recently in 2022-23.
Torey Krug
Age: 33
Contract: $6.5 million AAV, 3 years remaining
Movement Clause: Full NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 21:58 (2:56/1:10)
Statistics 2023-24: 77-4-35-39-32
The St. Louis offensive dynamo declined a trade with Philadelphia last offseason, so it’s hard to say if he’d be willing to go to the San Jose Sharks. But at some point, a player will probably get tired of feeling unwanted.
Nick Leddy
Age: 33
Contract: $4 million AAV, 2 years left
Movement Clause: Full NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 22:22 (0:08/2:38)
Statistics 2023-24: 82-3-25-28-14
The blueliner has a contract that favors the team, so the Blues may not be willing to trade him.
Dmitri Orlov
Age: 32
Contract: $7.75 million AAV, 1 year remaining
Movement clause: None
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 17:19 (0:29/0:53)
Statistics 2023-24: 82-6-20-26-36
A solid all-around defenseman, the 2018 Stanley Cup winner is the only player on this list without any trade protection.
Jacob Trouba
Age: 30
Contract: $8 million AAV, 2 years remaining
Movement clause: 15 team NTC
2023-24 Ice time per game (Power Play/Penalty Kill): 21:15 (0:22/2:51)
Statistics 2023-24: 69-3-19-22-73
Best known for his sometimes over-the-top physical presence, the New York Rangers captain is an underrated puck-mover, crossing the 30-point barrier four times in his career.
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