Sharks ready to deal, deadline looms
The Sharks may have locked up center Tomas Hertl to a long-term contract extension but that doesn't mean assistant general manager Joe Will will be quiet between now and Monday's NHL trade deadline.
Forwards Alexander Barabanov and Andrew Cogliano and defenseman Jaycob Megna are all pending unrestricted free agents and defenseman Jacob Middleton has drawn interest from a handful of teams. All four players are earning $1 million or less this season, potentially making them attractive targets for capstrapped teams looking to add depth for a playoff push.
The Sharks, per a source, have not initiated any contract talks with Barabanov after the Hertl deal was completed, and Tampa Bay, Boston, Toronto, and St. Louis have all reached out to the Sharks and Will about Middleton, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic.
Middleton, 26, has averaged over 19 minutes of ice time per game this season as he's been paired with both Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns at different times. Middleton has a physical, no-nonsense style and an easygoing office
personality that would seem to fit into any NHL locker room.
Will said he's talked to every general manager in the NHL “numerous times” and won't hesitate to pull the trigger on a deal if he feels it makes sense for the Sharks.
“People ask if you're a buyer or seller, I say we're a listener,” Will said Wednesday, “and you're a listener because if it's a great deal for the franchise, now or in the future, you have to weigh it and that's what we're looking at. We know that we're trying to replenish and get some talent in this roster.”
The Sharks have been
sellers at the deadline in previous seasons and, realistically, have to start laying the groundwork for next season and beyond after Hertl was signed to an eight-year, $65.1 million contract extension on Wednesday.
“It is nice (for Hertl) to get that over with,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said Thursday about the uncertainty Hertl had faced. “I know there are a few other guys that are probably thinking the same thing right now and are probably holding their breath a little bit until Monday.
“So we're dealing with it and I think we've dealt
with it pretty well.”
Three years ago, Cogliano was traded from Anaheim to the Dallas Stars as the Ducks' own teardown began in earnest as the club began to get younger. Dallas made the playoffs that season but lost to St. Louis in the second round in seven games.
“It's part of the business,” Cogliano said. “This time of the year when guys are unrestricted, that's what happens. Their names are out there and if teams can get assets for them, they usually do.
“I've been very fortunate. I've played 100 playoff games. I've been a guy that loves playing in the playoffs. I think it's the one reason why you play this game, really, is to play in the playoffs with the amount of emotion and how fun it is. But you just continue to play and you see what happens.”