Coming from a Ducks fan, this might sound a bit weird, but you guys deserve something nice to get you through the next 6 or 7 years of trash that you'll have to deal with...

Eh, a decade of being one of the best teams in the NHL meant a rebuild/retool would be inevitable. The Sharks aren’t totally screwed, if they decided to begin the rebuild at the end of the season.

I feel ya. Ducks and Sharks were really good, for a really long time.

For the Sharks, my main concern with a rebuild is that EK, Burnsie, Vlasic and Jones are all but impossible to move (Though you could buy out Jones). Couture is almost in the same boat. He's excellent, but a 3 team NTC really screws you if you try to move him. Hertl has the same clause in his contract. I just don't know what the first step of a rebuild/retool is, when almost $46 mil is tied up in contracts that are all but impossible to move.

How would you go about it?

really the sharks rebuild is not a problem like people think.

If you trade one of Hertl Meier Labanc
Our cap space is near or at 10 mil.

Then we lose someone to Seattle. If we can execute the Burns to Seattle (not necessarily needed as even if he stays we can still rebuild fine). Toss is Donato and a pick to take Burns. (Burns is playing very well this year so it isn’t unlikely he could be on Seattle)

That’s near twenty mil, but as I said it’s not a necessity.
If you can sell high on this year with Kane or Coochs season currently that’ll be even more space.

Quite literally we can rebuild with zero issues. People think there is but there isn’t.

Vlasic is immovable. Karlsson isn’t really needed to move since it won’t be worth it and he’s still good (not 11mil good but few players are). Couture is on a tear right now and so his attraction could go up if we sell.

End of the day a sharks rebuild is easy. It’s just depending on the management being fine with making bold moves.

I just don't think Burns to Seattle is as easy as you think. Like, to me, Donato doesn't move the needle on that. It's a 1st rounder+++, which further delays the rebuild. So many teams are going to be looking to dump contracts on Seattle, that it's going to cost a fortune.

Edit: Just my thoughts, for discussion purposes...I'm very interested to see what the Sharks do

I’ve had this talk before about burns. Here’s my OBJECTIVE take on it.

Yes burns has a larger contract. But Seattle is a expansion team. They’re new and need fans and need money.

Burns is quite literally the best talent they have at the grasp - he’s a huge face across the NHL and he’s got a brand (lays beef jerky etc), he’s also literally on Tv on the show Vikings he’s a character. His face is also quite literally the best face in the nhl haha. He sells jerseys, still puts up highlight reel goals. Eats minutes and puts up points and is exciting (and frustrating) to watch. This year he’s been stellar; unexpected but is playing very well.

If you’re Seattle and honestly you don’t need to take on all bad contracts. But here you get a pick, a middle 6 forward Donato who’s played well this year, and Burns a top pairing guy who checks a lot of boxes for a new team trying to sell and bring in fans.

I’m not saying it’s a done deal; but once again I think people really just see the sharks and say “problems” but don’t see the solutions. Not saying it’s a done deal once again; but to me burns to Seattle is the one of the most likely large contract to Seattle. Would I rather James Neal or Burns? Burns. Would I rather Eriksson or Burns? Burns. Would I rather useless players or a minute eater for a new team? A minute eater.

Not the best option but definitely not the worst option like people play it up to be.

Yeah, I mean, I love Burnsie (I picked him for my NHL 21 expansion team and he's a video game monster ). I just feel like, on the flip side of what you've said, Seattle being new is what is going to bring fans out. It'll be 2-3 years before Seattle has to worry about selling tickets, when the new shine wears off (Unless they're winning, which is nice). The whole covid thing is really, really going to put a strain on some ownership groups, and they're going to be pushing hard to move money out. IMO, Seattle *NEEDS* to take every team in the league by the balls, and are in a better position to do so than even Vegas was. If I was them, the only long term contract trades that I'd accept would be players 30 and under.