Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period joined Sirius XM NHL Network Radio with Nate Thompson and Steve Kouleas and was asked concerning the San Jose Sharks’ plan on the NHL Trade Deadline.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Nate Thompson: “One other team, I take a look at David, that’s the San Jose Sharks, and also you’re seeing their 19-year-old leader and what he’s doing (and did) on the Olympics now for Team Canada. And I’m just wondering, is that this a situation where they see what he’s doing and where their team’s at and so they’re in the combo for a playoff spot? Do they not do anything, or they go on the market and add? If Mike Grier said ‘Okay, we’ve got Macklin here. He’s having a season, so we got to reap the benefits of this.’”
Dave Pagnotta: “I feel it’s proceeding with caution. I feel it’s what the Sharks are doing. Because there’s like, they’re still doing each things. I don’t think they need to deviate from their, their plan. Just like the Montreal Canadiens, they’ve got a plan in place, and so they’re doing well. Something falls into their lap, they’d obviously pounce at it. But beyond that, they don’t need to force the problem.
NHL Rumors: Blues, Jets, Flames, Rangers, and Predators
And I feel San Jose’s in the same position where, Macklin is looking amazing in Milan (looked amazing), which is great to see in case you’re a Sharks fan or simply hockey fan basically. They brought in Kiefer Sherwood just a few weeks ago. So way ahead of the freeze. He’ll be healthy by all accounts and able to go for the club afterwards. So you must see type of he does.
But at the identical time, due to short runway between the freeze ending and the deadline, they’re each trying to add and subtract, and by subtract, I mean, they’ve got assets, especially on that back end, with guys like (Timothy) Liljegren and (Mario) Ferraro and (John) Klingberg and so forth, which can be pending unrestricted free agents that they will get a solid return for.
That’s what they’ve been trying to do. These guys have been available for a very good chunk of the season. They’ve been willing to take calls on them. At the identical time, they’ve also been trying to shore up that back end. But they need anyone who matches the type of early to mid-20s that may grow with this group moving forward. And that’s what they’ve been on the lookout for.
And I feel that model follows type of where they’re at within the mid-20s up front as well. You would like to just insulate. You don’t want to only have the club, rolling young 20-year-olds the entire way. You would like to insulate that with some veteran presence. That’s why they’ve (Tyler) Toffoli and (Alex) Wennberg and others.
NHL Rumors: Kings, Canadiens, and an NHL Trade Watch List
But additionally they need to ensure that they’ve got a very good nucleus moving forward and so they can add to it, especially on that back end. So I feel the Sharks are willing to do each, but I don’t think they’re going to force it and suddenly, go after an enormous player, in the event that they don’t feel it’s the appropriate move to make.”
Have you ever subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumor roundups and hot topics from across the league. We’re also posting some stuff on Instagram.