Big Boos trade

Team: 2018-19 San Jose Sharks

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 12, 2019

Published: Jan. 12, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Here is the theory behind the Deal:

1. Blues: they are quickly falling out the playoff contention this year (7 pts out with several teams between them). They may want to make a stretch run of it, but will be looking more toward the future.

However, the blues are not going to want a complete rebuild. They are already missing the 2019 1st rounder and have guys signed to compete now. They won;t want to blow it up.

As such, STL will want to be competitive for next year and beyond, add to the longer term future, while getting value for this likely lost year.

Sharks want to win this year big time, and also in the near future. They also need space to resign EK 65, pavs, meier, donskoi, etc. They will want to upgrade the current roster, as well as near future without killing the long term.

Hence this deal:

FOr STL: They get the top shutdown pairing in place of piertangelo. Braun only had one more year, but pickles is still 31 and signed long term. This keeps STL competitive for next, and potentially helps them beyond that. They also get a 22 year old top 9 forward with top 6 potential. They also get a top defensive prospect leading the entire OHL in D scoring, the leading scorer in the entire CHL (WHL, QMJHL, and OHL combined), and a high pick (since the 2nd is from FLA so it's nearly a 1st, making losing their own 1st less painful). That's a nice combo for now and future for them. This is doubly more attractive if they are unsure if they can resign peitrangelo and Schenn long term. It makes little sense to keep them going into a contract year and risk losing them for nothing or for some picks in a deadline deal next year. This trade gives them good assets for the near term and the long term.

For the Sharks:

1. Though they lose 11M and add 11M on the cap next year, They drop 4.5M from the D, making resigning EK 65 easier.

2. the sharks arguable upgrade their D with a top 3 of Karlsson, Burns and Pietrangelo with Dillon, Simek, and Ryan to round it out. That's an even better top 6 then the current lineup, and (if EK65 resigns), its there next year too (at least).

3. They revolutionize the forwards as Labanc becomes Schenn. The dont rely on Jumbo to play a big Center role this year or next. They get Couture-Hertl-Schenn-Thornton down the middle with Kane, Meier, pavelski, Donskoi, Sorenson, Radil, Goodrow, and karlsson on the wings. Its a dominant 1-2-3-4 at center, and vastly more scary than today. Or maybe even better, they slot Schenn on Cooch's wing and slot Radil with Goodie and Melker on the 4th line as a physical puck possessing line. And with Schenn signed through next year, jumbo can retire and keep the stellar 1-2-3 at center through next year and beyond.

While the sharks lose a couple good prospects and another pick, they still have a half dozen very good Offensive prospects (checkhovich, chmelevski, True, Gambrell, chartier...), and some solid D guys in Disimone, wood, middleton etc. In truth though, the thin D pool is just not that important since the top 6 is so good and signed rather long term (if EK signs long term). You gotta give to get, and this is another sharp calculated risk...