ROSS MCKEON Sharks likely to be sellers at trade deadline
This lost Sharks’ season will render the team as sellers, and there’s some tough consequences to face as the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaches.
San Jose has eight healthy regulars due to be unrestricted free agents on July 1. Sellers at the deadline can only reasonably expect draft picks or prospects in return. But when changes are needed on a nonplayoff roster, it’s inevitable players with value to playoff hopefuls move.
Here’s a breakdown on Sharks who could be wearing a different jersey come April. Brenden Dillon: The defensemen has been a warrior and given the Sharks everything he has the minute he was acquired from Dallas for Jason Demers in November 2014. He’s the perfect addition for a team seeking depth, toughness and a heavy style of play on the blue line. The Sharks should hate to lose him not only for his 100% effort and professionalism, but also for his leadership in the dressing room. This loss would hurt regardless of what comes back. Radim Simek: He’s another physical defenseman, though without Dillon’s track record and with zero Stanley Cup playoff games on his resume. A serious knee injury last season cost Simek, 27, the playoffs to cap his rookie season, but general manager Doug Wilson might expect calls to inquire about Simek’s availability. Guessing he doesn’t move at the deadline.
Joe Thornton: I doubt anyone is going to make a serious inquiry here. They know there’s no way Jumbo is going anywhere regardless of the fact the center been in the league 22 years and hasn’t won a Stanley Cup. Now if Thornton went to Wilson and said he wants one last kick at the can, that’s a different story. But I can’t see him doing that.
Patrick Marleau: Ditto. Marleau is going to retire a Shark, and there’s not going to be an interruption in service time to San Jose like the recent two years spent in Toronto. Teams might pick up the phone and inquire because Marleau has shown he can still skate and stretch a defense. But the wing is not looking to go anywhere in search of that elusive first Cup.
Melker Karlsson: In six seasons, all with San Jose, the center has carved out the reputation as a solid penalty killer and good shot blocker. But he’s going to be looked at as a specialty player by contenders, not an addition who can necessarily help the 5on5 attack. Guessing he’ll move for a midround draft pick. Aaron Dell: Recently having taken over as the team’s No. 1 netminder — and impressing in the process with his competitive style of play — there’s just not enough track record here to interest contenders. No one is going to throw him into the net as a No. 1 in the playoffs. Maybe he’s a rental as a backup for a team that gets banged up at the position in the next month or so, but he’s likely not going anywhere. Stefan Noesen, Tim Heed: Noesen, a 26yearold forward plucked off waivers, doesn’t figure to move. He’s only here because the Sharks just don’t have enough natural right wings on the roster, and they’ve been desperately searching for fourthline personnel. Heed will turn 29 before the deadline, and has been a seventh defenseman for the past couple seasons. Despite possessing a nice shot, he doesn’t have a big physical side to his game, so no one’s going to come calling.
Forward Kevin Labanc is a restricted free agent who probably will get some attention, and don’t rule out Wilson listening to offers for bigger names under contract. I see Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane as the team’s only untouchables. No or limitedmovement clauses hinder trading a big name on defense, but this is a time Wilson could be listening.
Around the league
Tough loss: Carolina defenseman Dougie Hamilton is out indefinitely after fracturing his fibula Thursday. Tough blow to a sneaky contender in the East. Hurricanes will definitely be in the market for at least a rental on the blue line. Rival coaches: Strange how three of San Jose’s past four coaches are now holding similar positions with the Sharks’ three biggest rivals — Peter DeBoer as coach of Vegas, Todd McLellan in Los Angeles and Darryl Sutter as an adviser to the coaching staff in Anaheim. Briefly: Alexander Ovechkin pocketed his 25th career hat trick on Thursday, giving him 15 straight seasons with 30 or more goals. At 34, Ovechkin is 205 goals short of Wayne Gretzky’s alltime mark of 894. … Rangers wing Artemi Panarin has joined the Hart Trophy discussion with 13 points in five games, giving him 68 points in 46 games. … Ilya Kovalchuk has been a good fit in Montreal, where he has three goals and seven points in seven games since escaping Los Angeles.