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.