San Jose added another young player to their roster when they acquired Ty Dellandrea from the Dallas Stars for a mid-round pick on a day when players are moving all around the league. This is a minor move compared to some of the seismic activity. In a trade that sent a 2025 fourth-round pick from Winnipeg to the Stars, the Sharks acquired another young player they hope will rebound in the Bay Area with the coming talents.
At this moment, Dellandrea isn't an offensive force. He's a promising younger player at 24 who will hopefully have more to offer as he joins a new organization. Something he does provide that the Sharks need is defensive stability among the forward core. He's a phenomenal defensive player, and he'll bring some structure to a team that struggled monumentally in its own zone last season. It's still a bit like a band-aid over an axe wound, but it's something.
Dellandrea is a restricted free agent this summer, so the Sharks will have to find a way to get him to agree to a new deal in the Bay Area, but the former 18th overall pick in the 2018 NHL entry draft still has a lot of upside. He's an up-and-coming young kid that the Sharks are acquiring at a discount rate. Taking a flier on this kid is a good move by Mike Grier.
There is minimal risk in this move. You pick up a great young player who will get elevated ice time on a young team and who has experience of deep playoff runs with the Dallas Stars for a fourth-round pick. Even if he only has 42 points in 151 NHL games, he's still young enough to think there is more room to grow. It is an excellent pickup at a minimal cost, and you have to believe a new contract will follow soon.