This season is all but over for the San Jose Sharks. But they can recoup some assets with a few trades. Here’s who they should be shopping.
Over the past few years, the San Jose Sharks have made a bunch of moves to go all-in and try to win a Stanley Cup. General Manager Doug Wilson has bet a lot on this team winning a title. Unfortunately, it has become painfully clear that it didn’t work out.
The Sharks came into the 2019-20 season with high hopes, but have yet to be anything close to as good as people anticipated them to be. Entering Jan. 10, they have a 20-22-4 record and their .478% point percentage is the seventh-lowest mark in the NHL. The Sharks are eight points out of a wild card spot and nine points out of third place in the Pacific Division.
It’s time for the Sharks to admit their plan to win a Stanley Cup failed. They’ve invested a lot of assets into this team (including their 2020 first-round pick), but they can still recoup a few of them by trading some players at the deadline.
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The Sharks likely aren’t going to make any earth-shattering moves because, simply, nobody’s going to want any of their huge contracts. However, if they play their cards right, they can recoup some of what they’ve given up and begin what could be a very painful rebuilding process.
It would be ideal for the Sharks to trade Joe Thornton because he’s somebody who teams would love to add. Also, let’s not kid ourselves, Jumbo Joe deserves a Stanley Cup, gosh darn it. Thornton riding out into the sunset with a Stanley Cup would easily be up there with Raymond Bourque retiring on top.
Alas, Thornton has expressed zero intentions to leave San Jose. He didn’t want to leave even after the Sharks stripped him of his captaincy and reportedly wanted him to leave. So why would Thornton leave now?
Here’s a look at the three players the Sharks should trade (other than Thornton, which obviously isn’t happening).