Last hurrah for some of these San Jose players?
The Sharks won Friday night for the fourth time in five games as Monday’s NHL trade deadline looms.
Five skaters scored, Brent Burns had three assists and goalie Martin Jones made 32 saves as San Jose beat Los Angeles, 52, at fanfree SAP Center. The sixthplace Sharks are three points out of fourth and need to climb past St. Louis and Arizona in their final 17 games to reach the playoffs.
The Sharks are still likely to be sellers for the second straight deadline, but may not be as active as last year when Barclay Goodrow, Brenden Dillon and Patrick Marleau were dealt for a combined four draft picks including a firstround selection in June.
Unrestricted free agents Marcus Sorensen, Matt Nieto, Devan Dubnyk and Marleau (again) may not be attracting the same level of interest. Opposing teams’ finances have taken a hit during the pandemic, and that may lead to limited moves. There was one trade each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, however.
“It’s been quiet around our dressing room,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. “Last year we were a little more aggressive and we had a few UFAs — some biggername guys who might have been available.”
Nieto, a depth forward, has missed 11 games since March 19 due to injury. And backup goalie Dubnyk has appeared only once on March 27 in a span of 11 games. He may get the nod for Saturday night’s rematch against the Kings.
“We’re fighting for our lives here, and Jonesy’s been good,” Boughner said. “(Dubnyk) is a team guy, but we don’t want to go too long between games.”
Marleau scored San Jose’s firstperiod tiebreaking goal at 13:50 — his second in two games and fourth of the season — while moving within five of Gordie Howe’s alltime record of 1,767 games played. It wouldn’t be a particularly good look for the Sharks to deal the 41yearold within a week of otherwise breaking Howe’s record in teal.
That leaves the speedy yet offensivechallenged and inconsistent Sorensen. The 29yearold Swede, with one goal and four points, jumped back into the lineup on the fourth line against the Kings to appear for the 25th time in 39 games. He has 31 goals and 63 points in 222 career games over five years with San Jose.
Topline right wing Kevin Labanc, who scored his 10th goal to kickstart the hosts’ threegoal first, was in the rumor mill at midweek in spite of having three years left earning $4.725 million annually. He has 60 goals and 114 points in 323 goals during five years in San Jose.
“There’s always going to be media, but my biggest focus right now is to make the playoffs with the Sharks,” Labanc said. “That’s the focus in the locker room, and that’s what we all want to do.”
After Saturday, the Sharks don’t play until after the deadline on Monday night. If general manager Doug Wilson opts for moves, they’d most likely occur on Sunday because he’s not a fan of changes to distract on gameday. He may as much look to deal cap space as any players, too.
“It’s that time of the year when those questions are going to be asked and you’re going to read a lot of things online,” Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson said. “For some guys it means a little bit more, and for some it doesn’t. Playing in the market we do it’s not something looming over our heads.”