Three Potential Trade Destinations for San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund

Carolina Hurricanes

A depth piece that plays a complete 200 foot game just oozes Carolina Hurricane. With none of the best offensive players in the game, Carolina has developed its success in the NHL standings by creating a roster than has no weaknesses. Capable of playing a strong defensive game, scoring well, and pressuring teams into mistakes, they've become a Stanley Cup contender in recent seasons.

However, recent years have seen their production in the postseason dry up at the worst possible time. To be taken seriously, the Hurricanes are going to need to address its scoring issues before the trade deadline, and Granlund seems like a good fit for their specific system. Given tat Granlund can also play down the middle, this seems like a very natural trade partner.

Given the cap space the Hurricanes have from Frederik Andersen being on LTIR, this is definitely one of the teams that could afford to do a deal like this without requiring subsequent cap moves. We've seen Mikael Granlund's ability to put a team on his back in the recent weeks and break a game open. That is something the Hurricanes have lacked since the dawn of time, so the cap space and needs are both present.

However, Carolina is also notorious for diliking the idea of rental additions. It makes it seem like Granlund would need a contract extension for Carolina to become a viable option. But with two second-round picks and their own first-round choice as well, this could be a destination for the Sharks to consider. We know Don Waddell and Mike Grier have a working relationship because of the Timo Meier negotiations and the Brent Burns trade.