3 sound trades that will catapult the San Jose Sharks rebuilding efforts
Everyone in the San Jose Sharks organization knew they were in for a rough season, so now, their rebuilding efforts will launch as we approach the trade deadline.
When you think about major sellers for the 2024 trade deadline, the San Jose Sharks are the first team that comes to mind with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks being close runner-ups. If there is any good news for Sharks fans everywhere, it’s that they do have some hidden talents on this roster who should at least give them a positive return in the form of prospects and draft picks.
While the players listed below may not have had high price tags in the past, their value will inflate as the NHL’s top contenders seek to hoist the Stanley Cup come June 2024. Therefore, don’t be surprised if and when the Sharks get some decent returns for the following three players.
Anthony Duclair would complete the Edmonton Oilers while giving the Sharks assets
There isn’t a single player on the San Jose Sharks who isn’t struggling, so it’s premature to believe Anthony Duclair won’t bring in a sound haul. Duclair had a down season last year with the Florida Panthers thanks to an Achilles injury limiting his availability, but his sheer ability to score in the past will increase his value.
Remember, Duclair scored 31 goals during his final full season with the Panthers before injuries struck, and a team like the Edmonton Oilers that is only one solid scorer short of a magical playoff run will be interested in his services. They also have a few solid and high-potential future assets to hand over to San Jose.
Philip Broberg is the first name that jumps out, but the logistics of this trade would be tough for the Sharks since it would require retaining some of Duclair’s salary, and they only have room to retain one more.
Instead, Nikita Yevseyev and Matt Copponi head over to San Jose, along with a pair of lower-liners in Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark, and a 2024 second-round pick to complete this trade. This gives the Oilers their scorer, plus valuable assets to the Sharks along with two players who will be unrestricted free agents in the offseason, further freeing space for San Jose to build for the future.
Kaapo Kahkonen could spark the Carolina Hurricanes goaltending woes
Kaapo Kahkonen will be going to a good team with questionable goaltending, and there are a few contenders who need his services. Teams like the New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Colorado Avalanche stand out, but the Carolina Hurricanes may find themselves in the worst situation since there is no playoff-caliber goaltender in their lineup.
At least there was a time when Antti Raanta could play, but his current 0.872 save percentage and 2.99 GAA are uninspiring. Pyotr Kochetov’s 2.61 GAA looks like it’s shining, but when he’s facing just 23 shots on goal per game, it should be even better. Plus, 13 quality starts in 23 games played (25 overall) isn’t impressive.
While Kaapo Kahkonen has struggled in San Jose this season, you can blame the team before you put any onto him. Not even a top Vezina contender would save that situation, as Kahkonen has faced an outrageous 31.25 shots on goal per game, roughly the same as what he faced last season.
So, the Sharks will deal Kahkonen to the Hurricanes for a second-rounder in 2024 and a prospect in Jackson Blake. With the Hurricanes possessing so much cap space, the Sharks don’t need to retain any portion of Kahkonen’s contract, making this one an easy deal.
Alexander Barabanov should revitalize his season with the Avalanche
This final trade came down to Mike Hoffman and Alexander Barabanov, but the latter, when healthy, has shown us recently that he can be a potentially high-impact player. Despite just nine points in 31 games this season and struggling with injuries, let’s remember how well Barabanov produced last season when he put up 47 points in 68 contests.
He can also play top-six minutes if needed, and he’s also an asset on the power play, as 13 of his 47 points came when the Sharks played at 5-on-4. Overall, Barabanov is one of those players who will more than benefit in the right situation, and if he maintains his health.
In this situation, he goes to the Colorado Avalanche, who can use a little more depth at forward. A player who has shown he can find the net in the past would be an ideal fit, and Barabanov’s 12.5 shooting percentage from the previous season fits that mold.
While this looks like a tough trade for the Avalanche considering their lack of cap space, they will trade Ryan Johansen, a fourth-round pick in 2024, and a third-rounder in 2025 to San Jose. This wouldn’t bring in a prospect, but the Sharks are still getting a mid-round pick this year and next year, plus a potential leader in Johansen, something they will need in a rebuild, even if the center has struggled lately.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 9th, salary information provided by Cap-Friendly)