Despite hiring a new front office and new head coach, this season has started off as more of the same for the San Jose Sharks organization. The Mike Grier/David Quinn era is off to a 3-8-0 start, leading many to wonder if the organization’s original goal to return to contention with their current core remains a realistic possibility. It now seems that the Sharks’ front office might agree with that sentiment, as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN’s Insider Trading program reports that the Sharks have “let it be known that they are willing to listen on pretty much every player on their roster” other than Tomas Hertl.
This presents an interesting situation for San Jose, as while the team might be interested in dealing anyone on their current roster, the realities of their roster construction present some unique challenges. First and foremost, the players that San Jose might be most interested in dealing, players such as veteran defensemen Erik Karlsson and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, might be the most challenging for Grier to trade. Both Karlsson and Vlasic have full no-movement clauses and therefore would have full control over any trade destination.
Additionally, Karlsson’s cap hit is $11.5MM and Vlasic’s is $7MM. In an environment where most teams are struggling with salary cap space, Grier could find constructing a suitable trade involving both players to be quite the challenge.
Another factor complicating Grier’s ability to complete a significant reconstruction of this Sharks roster via trade is the lackluster performance of many of the Sharks’ players.
Vlasic, for example, is now an offseason buyout candidate and far removed from the capable defensive defenseman he once was. Karlsson, who has had a strong start with 11 points in 11 games this year, has dealt with major injury troubles in recent years, the sort of injury issues that would make any interested team think twice about acquiring him.
Beyond just Karlsson and Vlasic, the Sharks have other veterans that may be of some more interest to other clubs, such as James Reimer or Kevin Labanc, but a deal for either might not be the sort of franchise-altering move Grier seems to be pondering.
There is one player who fits the bill as both a major asset to be shipped out and also a player who might actually be realistically tradeable: Swiss power forward Timo Meier. Meier is a pending restricted free agent who is precariously close to hitting unrestricted free agency. Should the Sharks choose to forgo signing Meier to a long-term extension, trading him would be the most sensible option.
While Meier has had a brutal start to this season with just five points in 11 games, he scored 76 points in 77 games last season and would in all likelihood fetch a major compensation package in return in any trade deal.
Regardless of whether Grier ultimately finds a way to make a franchise-altering trade or not, LeBrun’s report makes it clear that Grier is contemplating significant changes in San Jose. For a club that could be going through its fourth consecutive season without a playoff berth, those sort of major changes could be exactly what the Sharks need.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Their team direction is to an abyss. Old GM signed way too many 7 year contracts.
(shrugs) Karlsson has had a bounceback, no error, but he’s still an injury-prone 32, it’s been six seasons since he’s played more than 2/3rds the schedule, and he’s got an obscene contract tolling for four more years. If San Jose wants to give him away for a song, AND retain 50% salary, they have a chance … but not much of one: how many teams could afford to take on nearly $6MM AAV right now, no matter whom?
Vlasic they should have bought out last summer. They didn’t. That’s on them. He’s been a bottom pairing guy at best for four seasons now, he’s 35, and HIS vastly overpriced contract has three seasons left to run. They ought to be cursing Doug Wilson in the streets.
Sharks are better off keeping Karlsson around if they have to retain half & get back pennies on the dollar. He is off to a good start so the Sharks should hope he stays healthy & look to move him when the cap goes up more in 2 seasons from now. Anyone else should be on the table in trade talks (Including Hertl).
Senior Wilson killed the current roster, and Junior Wilson killed the prospect pool. This team is in for a world of hurt for the foreseeable future
Grier is clueless and his hiring was a woke move by the absent and clueless ownership. Grier said when he took over the Sharks that San Jose will complete this season and WILL NOT REBUILD, And now Grier is one month into his tenure and Grier is clearly lost. I find it predictable and entertaining.
A racist right-wing fascist is suffering from confirmation bias. Nobody, is surprised by you continuing to be the 2nd worst part of this website. The only way you’d be worse I’d if you were telling us about how you make $100/hour from home. Now I shall wait your complaint about how I am the one “making this about politics”, due to your complete lack of self-awareness or common sense.
Typical opinion from someone who has their head shoved up another orifice on their body. I find it “predictable and entertaining” that you wilf would of course use the term “woke” as the reason for the hiring of the first GM in NHL history who doesn’t look like you.
Move to Russia and you won’t have to be concerned about this thing you’re afraid of and label “woke” as an excuse for your ignorance and bias!
Wilf, you are predictable and entertaining as well. Uninformed, clueless, and a master babbler, but certainly predictable and entertaining.
I can see where Wilf is coming from on this one. Other than working as a scout and an assistant coach, Grier’s only experience is one year as a “hockey operations advisor” with NYR. Performing some AGM duties. Hardly the resume of someone to fix the mess San Jose is in.
Wow, this went off the rails fast!
they should move back into the Cow Palace. ~O_o~
Doug Wilson resisted going to a full rebuild and let the team age its way into a roster full of aging players and bad contracts. Grier should have done himself and the organization a favor and just cleaned out the roster as soon as he took over. Regardless if it was ownership that was resistant to a full rebuild or if Grier was unwilling to unload players for pennies on the dollar or if it was his wishful thinking that they could still compete, he should get the full rebuild process started asap because the sooner they start a true rebuild the sooner they can get back to being a competitive team.