3 Trade Deadline Perfect Fits for the San Jose Sharks
Jimmy Howard
The San Jose Sharks have been hindered in goal the entire season. They’re recording the leagues worst save percentage at 89.91% at 5v5. The starting net-minder Martin Jones has not been his normal self this year posting the NHL’s second worst GSAA with -17.39 at 5v5, per Corsica.Hockey.
Without a doubt Team Teal’s biggest hurdle this season has been overcoming their lackluster goal-keeping. So it’s extremely impressive that the San Jose Sharks offense has been dynamic enough to carry them through the first 75% of the season. Imagine if this team had a goalie that could at least post league average numbers. The standings would look very different heading into February 25th’s trade deadline.
That is why a trade for the Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard makes perfect sense for the San Jose Sharks. He’s having one of the best seasons of his impressive 13 year career. He’s situated as the league’s 5th best goalie in GSAA at 5v5 with a ridiculous 9.13. Howard’s 93.05 save percentage should make Sharks fan wonder of what could have been if they would have started the season with the veteran goalie.
However there was no way that the Sharks could have known that their traditionally reliable starter Martin Jones would crater this season. Jones has performed better recently saving 0.922% of the shots he has faced in the past 5 games. But this team shouldn’t bet on this continuing into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
In no way should they trade Martin Jones but a goalie tandem with Howard gives this team their best shot at winning. One could argue that this might rattle Jones’ confidence at the wrong time but perhaps some time with Howard mentoring him he can regain his footing. Even though Jones is 29 years old he is still in the beginning stages of his career.
This move would button up the San Jose Sharks most glaring weakness this season but it would probably be very costly. Despite that, a trade for Jimmy Howard would put Team Teal in the upper echelons of the Western Conference.
Mats Zuccarello
The New York Rangers have plenty of attractive pieces on their roster that would help bolster any team. With players like Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes, and Mats Zuccarello being discussed in trade rumors many teams are turning to the Big Apple for reinforcements at the trade deadline.
Out of the three big names being shopped by the New York Rangers the most realistic and best fit for Team Teal is Mats Zuccarello. He’s on the last year of his 4 year deal and is producing at nearly a career high points per game pace, per Hockey-Reference. Zuccarello’s play making and scoring ability make him a perfect addition to this San Jose Sharks roster.
The 31-year-old skater can play both sides of the ice and can be slotted up and down a team’s lineup. Ideally the San Jose Sharks are looking for someone to play on the right or left side of Joe Thornton. This would give coach Pete DeBoer 3 potent scoring lines at his disposal.
Mats Zuccarello is an extremely useful player and plays a 200 foot game. He’s cataloged an impressive 37 points playing a hefty 19:58 of ice time per game. His 9 goals would tie him for 11th on the Sharks roster but goal scoring isn’t where he makes most of his impact. It’s Zuccarello’s ability to make plays and set up his teammates for success that makes him a perfect fit for the Sharks.
19 of his 21 points at 5v5 were primary, which means that Zucc is heavily involved in scoring plays for the New York Rangers. The San Jose Sharks elite scoring talent would benefit immensely from some ice time with a player who can drive play like the greatest Norwegian hockey player ever.
The San Jose Sharks could use some extra help on the wings and the addition off Zuccarello would really bolster this already explosive line up. The Rangers are in a “rebuliding” process so they’ll probably want prospects or picks for one of their fan favorites.
Eric Staal
This one might come as a surprise to some but the Minnesota Wild have been struggling lately and are open to trading key parts of their roster to shake things up. This makes Eric Staal instantly one of the most intriguing players on everyone’s trade list propels. He is an unrestricted free agent with a modified no trade clause, but the San Jose Sharks will likely be 1 of the 10 teams he submits as possible suitors for the Wild.
The 34-year-old centerman is having a down year along with the rest of Minnesota Wild roster. His 37 points with 17 goals through 58 games played. He’s on the lowest goal and point pace since he joined the Wild in 2016 -2017 off-season and has gone ice-cold lately going scoreless in his previous 8 games.
Perhaps a change of scenery can help spark this former superstar. Eric Staal’s underlying numbers illustrate that this is a player who can still contribute at a high level. His CF% (53.15), FF% (54.69), and SF% (56.35), per Corsica.Hockey exhibits that he’s able to generate some significant offensive zone time while he is on the ice.
The San Jose Sharks could use another centerman to crystallize their depth down the middle. They’ve recently shifted Tomas Hertl to center recently and it has paid off big for Team Teal, however this is most time he’s seen at this position since he joined the franchise. So if he or another centerman starts to slow down, Eric Staal can slot in easily in between any two wingers.
Eric Staal’s value is falling each day with his lack of production being more and more disheartening for the Wild. His contract could be added with ease and would give the San Jose Sharks the deepest center group in the entire league.
dark. Next. 3 Bargain Trades for the San Jose Sharks
Regardless of which path the San Jose Sharks take they will almost certainly try to make a move in response to the inevitable bolstering of the other teams around the Western Conference. The lack of trade pieces will put General Manager Doug Wilson in a tough spot, still don’t be surprised if he is able to pull off a big splash in the upcoming week.