San Jose Sharks
As per usual, the San Jose Sharks are a team in transition.
The Sharks are entering another transition period. Joe Thornton is now 38 and skating on a surgically repaired knee. Patrick Marleau has had some fun in Toronto, but the Sharks rightfully did not match the Maple Leafs hefty contract. They need a jumpstart, and Evander Kane could be the man.
As much as the Puck Prose team endorses Sharks starting goalie Martin Jones, he can’t do it alone. On a recent four game winning streak, Thornton, defenseman Brent Burns, and captain Joe Pavelski combined for just four points (2-2–4) as Jones and backup Aaron Dell carried the load.
This week, they were thrashed 5-1 by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning as the rudderless offense couldn’t give Jones a night off.
Martin Jones back in net for the Sharks tonight. Get to know him, or at least try to, in our sitdown interview. #sjsharks #MartinJonesMonday pic.twitter.com/kLQLvsQyX6
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 23, 2017
Sharks lack assets, but great fit
This one is wish fulfillment. Evander Kane would be a perfect fit with the San Jose Sharks, but it’s hard to see what package they would put together for him.
At an average age of 28.5 years, the Sharks are among the oldest teams in the NHL. The eventual departure of Thornton will bring that number down, but they are committed to winning now. Long term deals on the blue line and a forward core in their prime mean this team has its sights set on playing in June.
Evander Kane would not put the Sharks over the top, but he would expand the window. He brings down the Sharks average age, and plugs into a top six with more questions than answers after Marleau’s departure. With Thornton’s contract off the books next year, they can easily fit an extension under the cap.
Kane slots into a top six that relies on Thomas Hertl and Joonas Donskoi along the left side. He fits a post-Thornton era power play that would see Logan Couture slide into center alongside Pavelski on the right wing. The only reason this trade doesn’t work is that the Sharks and their bottom-tier farm system would struggle to put the pieces together.
Their best tradable NHL asset is winger Mikel Boedker. Signed for two more years at a $4 million AAV, he’s from the elite scorer Kane is, but still can skate big minutes for the Sabres. The Sharks are without second and third round picks in 2018, and need to build a package around Boedker or another NHL forward to entice Buffalo.
What do you think, Puck Prose readers? Am we reaching with the Sharks? Should the Islanders stay the course? Are we missing an obvious trade partner? Let us know in the comments.