3 Trade Deadline Budget Moves for the San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks General Manger Doug Wilson is looking to improve his team at every  given opportunity. With the 2019 trade deadline looming, the clocks ticking for Team Teal to make a deal.

The San Jose Sharks made the biggest trade of the season and it wasn’t at the deadline. Team Teal acquired Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for roster players, picks, and a couple of prospects.

This move is justifiably  enough for any team to show that they are in the hunt for a Stanley Cup. But Doug Wilson never stops wheeling and dealing in order to improve his established  core of players. The San Jose Sharks add pieces to their rosters at seemingly every trade deadline and this season is no different even though it might be a little challenging.

The exchange for EK65 left the San Jose Sharks with a limited amount of resources at their disposable, but they should still be able to put together a decent package. They have a few mid round picks in the upcoming drafts but it would probably be smart to keep those with a deep draft on the horizon. They have depth defenseman Joakim Ryan and a few prospects in their farm system that would piqué the interest of multiple teams. Dylan Gambrell, Ivan Chekhovich, and Joachim Blichfeld, are all players that trade partners would be willing to take a flier on.

The market for players during this seasons trade deadline is extremely high, with teams like the Nashville Predators already paying a decent sum for bottom six forward support. This puts the San Jose Sharks in an even tougher spot when it comes acquiring pieces that would improve this roster.

The San Jose Sharks are already one of the top teams in the entire NHL but with the other teams in the Western Conference loading up it would be odd to see them stand pat at the trade deadline. However their limited resources are going to hinder their ability to get a worthwhile return. Still there is reason for hope considering you could get these players at a bargain price.

Matt Cullen

The San Jose Sharks don’t actually have a true fourth line center. Barclay Goodrow has performed well during his time at center this season. Goodrow has compiled 13 points with 5 goals averaging 10:44 of ice time, per Hockey-Reference. He’s strong on his skates and plays a physical game but center is not his natural position. It would be wise for the San Jose Sharks to target a legitimate center in the upcoming weeks.

This is why Matt Cullen seems like a perfect fit for a San Jose Sharks team looking to solidify their depth at center entering the Stanley Cup playoffs. Matt Cullen has accumulated 15 points, with 11 of them being primary. Cullen has been sneakily effective this season and hopefully the Pittsburgh Penguins are failing to notice it.

Matt Cullen is registering an absolutely ridiculous 13.51 ZSR over the course of 45 games this season, per Corsica.Hockey. His -8.45 xG+/- is extremely impressive considering he is consistently buried in his own zone. His on ice SCF% at 41.65% and HDCF 45.26 HDCF per naturalstatrick, illustrates that he and his line mates do a good job at limiting the damage done by opposing teams.

Barclay Goodrow can still be an effective piece on a Stanley Cup roster but his skill set would be better utilized at the wing. His game might even start to pick up with a reliable center who can take a bulk of the defensive and face-off responsibilities.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are fighting for their playoff lives and recently lost defensemen Olli Maatta to long-term injury. The San Jose Sharks have depth on defense, especially the left side which is where Maatta was slotted. This makes Joakim Ryan a perfect piece for a swap. Doug Wilson might have to throw in a pick or a prospect to seal the deal, but an investment on Cullen could pay off big come playoff time.

Riley Sheahan

The Florida Panthers are in the midst of a very disappointing season. Their season is essentially lost and have already signaled that they are willing to make trades during this season. Riley Sheahan was acquired in a deal earlier this month that sent him and Derick Brassard to the Sunshine State.

Riley Sheahan is a left winger with some history at center. He brings playoff and Stanley Cup Finals experience to a San Jose Sharks bottom six that contains a few untested skaters. Sheahan is a NHL veteran who adds more to the table than the rookie Lukas Radil, who’s played well during his call up stint from the Barracuda.

This season he’s recorded 12 points while potting 7 goals. He played mostly in the bottom six for both Pittsburgh and Florida. His 28.06 ZSR per Corsica.Hockey exhibits that he is deployed quite a bit in his own zone. Similar to the other players mentioned in this piece that makes it difficult to judge how effective he’d be if he was given more offensive responsibilities.

Riley Sheahan is a very useful player even though he lacks a scorers touch. His above average skating ability will help the San Jose Sharks keep pace with some of the faster teams in the Western Conference. He even has the potential to play big minutes on the penalty kill if the San Jose Sharks see fit.

The 27 year Ontario native is also effective in the face-off dot. He’s logged a 48.7% FO% with 380 face-offs taken during his 55 games on the ice this season, per Puckbase. He would be a good insurance policy for Barclay Goodrow when it comes to taking face-offs on the left side dot.

The San Jose Sharks are definitely looking to round out the edges of this already formidable roster. But with their limited amount of ammunition it might be difficult to make a move that actually moves the needle. However their are plenty of avenues for Sharks management to explore in the coming weeks.