With the offseason right around the corner, there will undoubtedly be a lot of movement as teams look to reshape their rosters for next season. Regarding the Sharks, we are still in the rebuilding stage, but with 41 million in projected cap space and a bounty of excess goods at our disposal, could we add some significant pieces to our young core? And who would be our ideal targets on the market this offseason?
Sam Bennett (UFA)
Looking at the top of this year’s free agency class, two names stand out above the rest, Mitch Marner and Sam Bennett. While Mitch Marner would be a big-time grab for the Sharks, would paying Marner 14 million a year be smart business? Probably not. Sam Bennett, on the other hand, would cost much less, albeit probably still fall in the 8-9 million range on a deal with the Sharks. Sam Bennett has established himself as a heart and soul guy for the Florida Panthers and is a key piece on a Panthers team heading to the cup final for a 3rd straight year. At 28, his experience would be highly valuable for our younger guys while still being young enough to be useful as we move into the next phase sometime down the road. Making him my ideal fantasy target for the Sharks this offseason.
Bowen Byram (Trade)
On the trade side, Bowen Byram is widely speculated to be on the move this offseason as he looks for a more significant role than he has in Buffalo. The Sharks' trading for Byram makes too much sense on paper. At just 23 years old, his age lines up with the rest of their core. Byram could also find the Sharks an attractive destination since they have tons of opportunities for him to take on a larger role. He also is a significant need for the Sharks. Byram could Quarterback the Sharks powerplay next season and add a capable puck mover in their top 4 for the foreseeable future. It seems like a perfect marriage; the only issue is what would Buffalo want. If they are fine with picks and prospects, the Sharks could easily make a competitive offer, but if they value NHL-ready pieces, the Sharks don't have much available that would be too enticing for Buffalo. However, it will be an interesting situation to follow in the coming weeks and would be a fantastic fit for the club going forward.
Chris Kreider (Trade)
Finally, we have Chris Kreider. An acquisition of Kreider aligns more with what the Sharks have been doing in previous seasons. At 6.5 million for two more seasons and coming off a down year, Kreider’s value is at an all-time low. The Sharks could take the contract off the Ranger's hands, who could look to shake things up after a dreadful season. While Kreider had a bad year by his standards, he still managed 22 goals, and with less pressure and a larger role with the Sharks, he could rediscover his game and reinvigorate his value for the Sharks to flip in a year's time. Even if he doesn’t, the Sharks need to get to the cap floor, and he would be another great voice to have in a young locker room next season.
These are just some scenarios the Sharks could explore this offseason. While we likely won’t be significant players this offseason, with a player like Celebrini in the fold, it's not impossible that we shift our focus from rebuilding to building this offseason.