This is an interesting trade. The picks are off. I feel the Sharks would have to give a higher one than PHI. Probably a 2nd from the Sharks and a 5th from PHI.

I'm not sure the Flyers need Braun as much as the Sharks could use Simmonds.

I like the deal insofar as I think Braun is gone in the offseason anyways to clear room to resign karlsson. Further, if pickles is healthy, he is not so needed now given the top 4 of EK, BB, MEV, and Dillon with Simek and Ryan playing solidly too, and Heed as the insurance.

The only thing I don't like is that Simmonds may not have the speed at his age to play the sharks' game, and he is 99% a rental given his ago and likely contract demands. He has been -18,-16, and -15 the last three seasons (including this year), and his offensive product has dipped from 60 pts to 54 to 46, and now on pace for just 35. He plays a physical, tough game, and while injuries havent hit him, I worry about his two-way game. He is also a PP superstar pottng double digit PP goals every year (top master extraordinaire), but the sharks PP does not need any help.

I just wonder if simmonds is a guy worth targeting or whether it makes more sense to aim higher for a panarin, stone, hayes, krieder, nyquist or another younger, faster, and more dangerous player. The sharks also dont need another 'heart and soul' guy either, ala joel ward or eric fehr. They have those guys already, so I think a more dangerous sniper for the top 6 might be better.

Lastly, I wonder if the Flyers would rather get younger, not an older vet signed for just one year. My feeling is that if they move simmonds, theyd rather get a package of young NHL talent, or prospects, or picks given that they are out of it this year and clearly looking to the future.

The reason I believe this would be a smart trade for
both sides is that both players are around the same age and have similar contracts! Philly would be getting a very underrated & proven top 4 D-man in Braun who they could desperately use in their lineup as a role model for their talented up and coming backend prospects. Also as we know in the NHL a Defensmans stock is much higher than a Forwards.. that is why I have the Draft picks the way I do.. it’s more of just to show that both teams would probably involve draft picks in the neighborhood of what I had put.. Sharks giving up a 2019 because Flyers could potentially want to fill their prospect pool and get younger quicker but ultimately giving up a similar pick a few years later!

You’re both right Simmonds would most likely be a rental player unless he were to be a spectacular fit in a top 9 role. The reason why I believe the Sharks shouldn’t go for a Panarin or other speculated Sniper is that they *1 they can’t fit someone in the 5 million+ range because of salary cap and *2 In the playoffs we see the gritty goals count the most at the end of the day those grinders and powerforwards are what make the biggest difference it seems like.. the the Patric Hornquivst’s in recent years.I think Simmonds is an outstanding role player and would really thrive on a team like San Jose who’s pushing for a deep cup run!