San Jose Sharks Vastly Overpay For Jannik Hansen

The Trade Deadline Has Passed. The San Jose Sharks Had Some Trade Activity This Season But Ended Up Overpaying For Jannik Hansen.

The San Jose Sharks added a real good player to their roster in Jannik Hansen. Hansen will be a good depth scorer on a team that has a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

I have nothing but great things to say about Jannik Hansen’s game, and he’s not just a rental as the player has another year remaining on his contract at $2.5 million.

The Issue

The big issue was the cost to acquire him; Nikolay Goldobin.

Goldobin was the Sharks’ first-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and was one of, if not their best prospect.

Goldobin is scoring at almost a point per game rate for the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL while playing 11 games in the NHL over the past two seasons.

The young Russian prospect is a likely call-up option for the Vancouver Canucks after they sell off the rest of their rentals. Goldobin will get the chance to prove to his new club that he is a bonafide NHL player.

It’s not out of the question to assume that Goldobin will never play in the AHL again after his next call-up. This is a player with solid skill, and he has the scoring track record to prove he can score in the big leagues.

I could live with the 4th round pick heading to Vancouver, but the fact that it has the potential to become a 1st round pick makes me shake my head.

Of course, the Sharks would be happy to give up a 1st round pick in exchange for a championship, you have to give it to Canucks GM Jim Benning for convincing Sharks GM Doug Wilson to throw in that particular condition.

Moving Forward

If the Sharks do win the Stanley Cup, of course, the deal will be worth it, but Jannik Hansen’s impact on the Sharks club won’t equal what Goldobin and a potential 1st round pick will have on the Canucks.

Next: Martin Hanzal Good Fit for Minnesota

I expected Hansen to only net a return of a 2nd round pick and a B-level prospect like Noah Gregor, but Jim Benning was able to drive the value up for his players.

Hindsight is 20/20 and maybe the Sharks soured on Goldobin more than I have. We will have to wait and see, but I’m still willing to bet the Sharks will rue the day they moved a potential top six scorer for a quick fix third line winger.