Wilson explores options as Sharks look to address biggest weakness
San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson wasn’t ready to announce Friday if he was cutting ties with any of his pending free agents, including goalie Aaron Dell.
But Wilson figures to have numerous other options in the coming days as the Sharks seek to upgrade what’s been their biggest area of weakness the last two seasons.
The Sharks hold the 31st, 34th and 56th overall picks in next week’s NHL Draft, and there’s a small chance they use one of those selections to acquire a proven goalie to compete with Martin Jones for the No. 1 job. They could also make a player-for-player deal, or wait until next Friday, when several other netminders hit the market as unrestricted free agents.
The status quo doesn’t appear to be an option.
“Ideally, and again it depends on what the cost is, is getting a guy that’s been a number one, that’s a veteran, that wants to come in and compete for a spot,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of guys out there, whether it be potential UFAS, trade potential.”
Wilson would prefer not to have to use a first round draft pick, this year’s at No. 31 or next year’s, to fill that void.
“If I’m looking to acquire, for example, a goaltender, I would prefer to not have to use picks from this year,” he said. “Every draft season is different. This one is
a deep draft. We’re going to get some real good players.
“Would I listen to it if somebody came to me with something that fit for now and the future? Absolutely, I’d listen. This is a pretty good draft for what we’re looking for, and those picks are valued. Our first round pick next year is valued, so somebody would have to knock my socks off to make me move around on that.”
Wilson said goalie coach Evgeni Nabokov has helped him evaluate goalies who, “have been number ones, and are highly competitive people.”
That list likely includes pending UFAS like Cam Talbot, Corey Crawford, Braden Holtby, Anton Khudobin, who is close with Nabokov, and Thomas Greiss, who was Nabokov’s teammate with the Sharks more than a decade ago.
Or the Sharks could try to acquire a goalie who may only have one year left on an economical contract. That list could in
clude James Reimer, a former Shark who has one year left with a $3.4 million cap hit, and Devan Dubnyk (one year left, $ 4.33 million). That way, Alexei Melnichuk would have more time to develop in the AHL before he makes the full-time jump to the NHL in 2021.
“So we’ve explored all those,” Wilson said, “doing a lot of background work into who would fit and complement our group.”
Having two quality goalies may be more vital than ever for teams next season as the NHL eyes the possibility of a compressed schedule, with less time off between games.
“Having two goaltenders, especially right now during this time, that can run with it for a while if needed and push and compete,” is important,” Wilson said.
Dell has been Jones’ backup for the last four seasons and had a 48- 3412 record in that time with a .908 save percentage and a 2.76 goals against average.
But his play — and the attention to detail on defense by the skaters in front of him — had been inconsistent, at best, over the last two seasons.
During the 2018-19 season, Dell and Jones had a 46-27- 9 record but combined for an .889 save percentage, the worst in the NHL. This past season, their save percentage was .895. second-worst in the league, just ahead of the Detroit Red Wings (.895).
Jones showed signs of improvement toward the end of the 2019-20 season after he had some more time off between starts to work with Nabokov. Jones, though, still finished with an .896 save percentage for the second straight season, and is typically at his best when he is pushed for playing time.
Besides upgrading at goalie, the Sharks know they have to play a tighter defensive style if they want to return to the playoffs.
“Martin has had some very good success with us. Last year was a year that was not a good year for us as a team him as a goalie,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of ownership on that.”
Dell, forwards Joe Thornton, Stefan Noesen and Melker Karlsson will all be eligible to sign with other teams next Friday.
Wilson says discussions with the Sharks’ pending UFAS “are ongoing.”
“We haven’t dismissed anything,” Wilson said, “but we will be getting to that time in the next few days on making those decisions.”