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San Jose Sharks lose out on a top target in Jeff Skinner

By Steve Fishman

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 27: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes in action against the New Jersey Devils on March 27, 2018 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Hurricanes 4-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 27: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes in action against the New Jersey Devils on March 27, 2018 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Hurricanes 4-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The San Jose Sharks have lost out on another forward they were targeting. LW Jeff Skinner has been traded to Buffalo from Carolina for a 2019 Second Round pick, a third rounder and a sixth rounder in 2020, and forward prospect Cliff Pu.

Cross another one off the list. Per Sports Illustrated, the San Jose Sharks lost out on Jeff Skinner, who was a top target for Doug Wilson this offseason. This adds to the list of guys who are not coming to San Jose.

As I said in a previous article – I believe the San Jose Sharks are done this offseason. They will go into the 2018-2019 season with the team in place now. However, they were/are leaving themselves enough cap room to make a move during the season probably closer to the deadline.

Former Carolina Hurricane turned Buffalo Sabre Jeff Skinner, logically speaking, was going to be a top target. The 26-year-old forward was on the top of everyone’s list. Carolina made it known he was available, and a litany of teams had been bidding for his services.

Skinner would really have helped the San Jose Sharks. In fact, he would have put them over the top. Is Skinner a difference maker in the same class as an Artemi Panerin, no, but adding another 50-60 point player to their top six would have made this team as formidable as any in the Western Conference.

Skinner’s style of play would have fit right in here with the San Jose Sharks and would have made the top two lines as competitive as any in the Pacific Division, and frankly, the entire NHL. Skinner would have added over 20 goals, as he’s averaged over that during his NHL career.

And I would have loved to have seen what a guy like Jeff Skinner can do when paired with Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture.

San Jose Sharks Offseason: Where Do We Go From Here?. dark. Next

Skinner could be the first domino that falls in what will be a wave of trades heading into training camp. There are still major stars on the block all around the NHL, guys like Erik Karlsson, Max Pacioretty, and “The Bread man” Artemi Panarin are all reportedly available, and this could be the first of many deals made before puck drop on the 2018-2019 season.

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