After winning the lottery last week, the San Jose Sharks have arguably the top trade chip leading up to the draft. According to recent reports, particularly from The Fourth Period, the Sharks are giving serious thought to moving the second overall pick for the right move.
This isn’t to say that San Jose wouldn’t love to have Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, but they already have a glut of high-level forward prospects and only so many spots for them on the roster. Given their dire need for defensive help, it would make far more sense for the Sharks to draft one of Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, or Carson Carels. Still, by all accounts, any of those defenseman would be considered a reach at second overall, given the drop-off in talent after McKenna and Stenberg.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many defensemen available on the trade market that would satisfy the immense value of the second overall pick this season. Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils and Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs are already known trade candidates heading into the offseason. Still, it’s highly unlikely that New Jersey and Toronto would add the necessary assets to get a trade over the finish line. Furthermore, there’s no chance that top-level defensemen like Zach Werenski, Quinn Hughes, or Cale Makar will be on the move anytime soon, if ever.
However, there may be an opportunity for San Jose to acquire one of the top defensive prospects available in this year’s draft, and a younger top-four defenseman in the same trade. Enter the New York Rangers.
The Rangers already have six defensemen signed through next season, with Scott Morrow also looking to crack next season’s opening night roster. Seeking a decent raise this summer, Braden Schneider was a blue liner that New York peddled at the deadline, and will presumably be available again this summer.
Obviously, Schneider wouldn’t come close to having the value in his own right for the second overall pick. However, the Rangers have the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft, which would give the Sharks a pathway to having a guaranteed shot at Reid, Verhoeff, or Carels (assuming McKenna and Stenberg are taken with the first two picks).
As previously mentioned, given the drop-off in talent after McKenna and Stenberg, it’s likely the Rangers would have to add a few more pieces to the trade to get it across the finish line, but not by much. Center Adam Edstrom, who hasn’t exactly worked out with the Rangers so far, could benefit San Jose by giving them more size on their fourth line. Additionally, New York has four third-round picks in the upcoming draft. Including one of those four may be enough to satisfy the Sharks’ demands.
The hypothetical trade, at least on paper, appears to be a win-win for both teams. The Rangers would have the ability to draft a new face of the franchise, especially one that can jump into the roster next season, and the Sharks could add a right-handed defenseman who is already ready to go, and one of the best defensive prospects available in this summer’s draft.
Regardless, there will be a lot of movement leading up to the draft, as is the case every year, and the Sharks could very well retain the pick and select either McKenna or Stenberg to put their offensive firepower over the top.
Not by much? Much more. #5 into #2 this draft isn’t like previous years. We have a 1A/1B situation. Sharks would get a lot more, once teams lined up for the pick. Any team could use McKenna or Ivar. You make room for these players. Adding a bunch of players the team is already looking to get rid of doesn’t make it a good package deal. I thought Toronto fans were bad – glad to know it’s not only us.
From what I read and what I hear… Stenberg is sounding less like a “1B” than folks had anticipated. I think it’s far from certain – as someone said recently – two 5’11” wingers go one and two.
The most recent Athletic mock draft has Stenberg falling to 4 I think. I don’t know that anyone in the top handful has really separated themselves, including McKenna (who is still highly likely to go No. 1, of course).
The Athletic has always been garbage though :P
Maybe, I’m just saying that Stenberg may not be a slam dunk top 2 pick.
My bias is showing. I like him more than McKenna.
I feel like everyone expects SJ to draft a defenseman and I don’t see how developing a kid for 2-3 years will help them NOW. Make some trades instead. Some prospects are just ready to go compared to others. Ivar is one of them among a few.
They should trade that #2 for immediate defensive help, this years no.2 overall could be a massive return for them on the blue line
I can see a deal with VAN and SJ taking Verhoff at #3 as both an immediate and long term upgrade over Klingberg but otherwise I think they just add a star winger for Celebrini.
#2 for Lafreniere, Schneider, Edstrom, #5.
The rangers are absolutely not giving up that outrageous amount of assets to move up 3 spots especially in a draft where 2-5 don’t have a big separation. Not only that Lafrenière is on the verge of becoming the top line winger he was drafted to be. They’re not moving him for a player who might have the same ppg upside. Makes zero sense
Maybe Laff and #5 for #2. Not that far off really.
They could trade with the Kraken, who have 2 first round picks to offer plus some good young prospects. Kraken need offense.
Preds fans are wondering how having a glut of high end forward prospects is a bad thing. 😒
#2 for Nemec and a 2nd
NJ would love to have Stenberg!
Hard pass on this proposal. NJ would need to pony up a lot more. Nemec has never learned how to actually play defense and does not seem like a Mike Grier kinda guy.
The Sharks young core will start to peak in about 5 years. Before that time, they could compete for the playoffs. But they can’t compete for the Stanley Cup.
For this reason, they don’t need any immediate upgrades. They don’t need to make the playoffs either. Dropping out of the playoffs this year delivered them a 2nd overall. Wasting it on a “win now” player would be stupid.
I have to think the Blackhawks will want whoever of Stenberg or McKenna is left at #2 to Bedard’s wingman. Rinzel and the #4 pick would do it, I would think, for the Sharks.
This might be the most legit offer on this thread if both teams could live with it
I’m not a fan of Edmonton or San Jose, but a trade involving Evan Bouchard for the #2 overall pick and other pieces (another future first-round pick, a prospect, and/or depth player(s)) could work.
Bouchard would give the Sharks one of the best offensive defenseman in the game. While Bouchard isn’t the most stout player defensively, he’s better than most assume, as he plays hard minutes and kills penalties. His main issue is that he has lapses and makes egregious errors, but that comes with the territory with a player who handles the puck as much as he does. Bouchard is signed for another three years at $10.5M per year, so he fits within the Sharks’ window and salary structure.
Edmonton, meanwhile, gets cap space and a top prospect to restock their shallow prospect cupboard. With this trade, they can aggressively go after Raddish or another right-shot defenseman (Andersson, Trouba?) and potentially add a middle-6 forward or two (e.g., McMann).
Just an idea.
McDavid would leave
#2 oa and Pohlkamp for Bouchard and a 3rd
There is real merit to this idea. Bouchard is perhaps the only Oiler that has value and they can trade. It is way more realistic than Oiler fan trades that mostly seem to involve trading underwater assets like Nurse and Jarry for other team’s stars
Depends on what the Oilers do with the cap space and the second overall pick. If they can sign Darren Raddysh to take Bouchard’s spot and take Stenberg at #2 to play alongside McDavid or Draisaitl, the Oilers arguably would be a better, deeper team.
If I was Edmonton, I would ask for San Jose’s two first-round picks (#2 and #20) in this year’s draft plus a prospect like Cam Lund, who could step into a bottom-six role.
With the 20th pick, trade it plus Jarry (25% retained) and Josh Samanski (who could be a good player third or fourth liner / energy guy) to Minnesota for Filip Gustavsson (note Jarry is added to make the salaries work).
Anyway, the whole idea for Edmonton is to create more options for the organization to improve the team. Bouchard still has a high trade value, and he could land the Oilers multiple pieces plus cap space to help improve the roster around McDavid and Draisatl.
Thinking Van could be the ideal place to send Bouchard. (diabolical)
Bouchard and Jarry and Quin Hutson for Hronek and Demko.
Would Hronek waive to play with Connor? I think so!
Jarry goes just to stay in the NHL.
Trade has to be before Demko’s no-trade kicks in in July. Oh, and wrap him in bubble wrap!
If Quin is too much, switch for Beau Akey
I truly doubt the Sharks will want a one-dimensional player like Bouchard for the 2OA and another 1 AND a prospect. I could see the Sharks considering that, but only for Mo Seider. Bouchard is not a GM Mike Grier guy, Seider is.
Canucks trade the #3 and D-Pettersson or Marcus Pettersson (both left side D) and San Jose gets not only a 2nd pairing (or 3rd paring younger Dman) but also the defensive pick they probably want already.
SJ picks Stenberg and trades Eklund for Marcus Petterson
Neither of those move the needle, hronek sure.
Hronek for #2 OA , Van keeps #3 yes
Why bother discussing it? No one trades out of the top five or hardly the top 10.
Are either McKenna or Steinberg really franchise changing players to begin with? From what I’ve seen or heard, they’re quality players, but not the “face of the franchise” types quoted in this article.
No way SJ is trading this pick. Sharks have a history under Grier to take the best available player which would be Stenburg. They also have a pick in the twenties to pick defense if they absolutely want to…
The reality is Celebrini scored more points than Wennberg and Will Smith (3rd and 2nd on the team) COMBINED. He needs help still. They also won’t take on a massive contract due to having to pay Celebrini (an RFA) McDavid money, plus Smith next year, and rebuild half the defense as 3 of the starting 6 are UFAs.
Everything you hear Neither Mckenna or Stenberg are franchise changers. They are not Celebrini , Schafer or Bedard Will be with better linemates.