There's no denying that the San Jose Sharks have struggled this year. With problems scoring, defending, and everywhere on the ice outside of the blue paint, the rebuild and dumpster diving for a high draft position is well and truly underway. It's going ot be a long season for the team in teal, and we know that Mike Grier is going to be active at the deadline when it comes to moving players out after saying the roster is "open for business" in December.
However, there are young players around the league that are in distressed situations themselves, and we don't even have to leave the state of California to see where there is a player in that kind of position. Look up the road to Los Angeles and see winger Arthur Kaliyev, a second round pick back in the 2019 NHL entry draft, who has shown himself to be an NHL quality asset while finding it difficult to break into the top four lines on Los Angeles' forward core.
Putting up 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 2021-22 as a rookie, he followed it up with 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points in 56 games, proving he is a truly valuable asset. This season, Kaliyev has collected 6 goals and 8 helpers in 38 games. It's down from his usual totals, but he's also struggling to consistently find time in the Kings lineup. If he is going to move at the deadline to help that roster strengthen, the Sharks need to be all over it.
Los Angeles is a team that is known to be in on the goalie market. Perhaps the idea of Kaapo Kahkonen combined with one of the rentals off the forward core would persuade the Kings to part ways with their former draft pick. It's wishful thinking, but the Sharks still rank dead last in goals scored, with two less than the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Hawks have played an extra game. Adding offense has to be a priority. Kaliyev, whose just 22, would add that for a long time.