Elliotte Friedman Provides Update On San Jose Sharks Trade Rumors
By Conor Power
The San Jose Sharks sit at the bottom of the NHL standings. With a 6-17-2 record, the Sharks are 32nd in points percentage and sit below the Chicago Blackhawks level on points with the original six hockey club. It’s not been a good season, and as such, the team will be looking to try to move players away for draft picks and future assets that can help the team build around what will hopefully be a new core.
Elliotte Friedman provided an update on the 32 Thoughts Podcast today talking about the organization. For those who might be new to hockey and do not know the velvet voice of Friedman, he is a long-time NHL insider who works for Sportsnet up in Canada. He is the most reliable of NHL insiders. If Friedman says something, it’s as true as it can be.
He specifically spoke on the fact the Sharks blueline has been declared open for business. Specifically, he talked about Mario Ferraro. Ferraro was the subject of trade interest in the summer from the Carolina Hurricanes. This makes sense because Ferraro and Brent Burns were a good pairing for the San Jose Sharks, so the Hurricanes looking to unite the pairing makes sense.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic was also talked about. Friedman and co-host Jeff Marek talked about what Vlasic was in 2014 when he was on the brink of those Canadian international rosters. He always felt underrated as a West Coast player and came with that competitive spark. The pair talked about how the firey character he used to be is not what he is now, and the thirsty for recognition and championships has been extinguished.
It was also touched on that Anthony Duclair was once in discussion with the organization about a potential contract extension, but now the player is probably one of the largest trade chips the organization has walking into this deadline. Duclair’s production and recent return to the Anthony Duclair, some of us expected at the start of the year, may force the front office to move him.
Finally, it’s reported almost anyone on the roster is available. I think it’s pretty clear there are exceptions for players like William Eklund, but aside from that, it makes sense. This team is 13 points out of the playoff places. It would take a small miracle to get back into a competitive position. Right now, it’s about trying to prepare for the trade deadline. Judging who needs to stay and who can be on the market.