Team: 2021-22 San Jose Sharks

Initial Creation Date: Oct. 20, 2021

Published: Oct. 20, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This would all come about if my personal idea about what would happen with the Evander Kane saga goes through. I feel if I were the Sharks I don't want Evander playing another game as part of my organization, period. Considering the remainder of his deal, I can see buyout being the only way out of this saga that would happen next year. As for this year, he serves his suspension, and the Sharks simply just sit him similar to the Rangers did with DeAngelo. With all that being said though, the Sharks need to buck up and go for it with the core, hence the coming Jack Eichel trade.

I did a previous cap friendly team with Buffalo's POV on this, now time for the Sharks. Yes at first glance this is a severe over payment considering what other people put on armchair GM, but for Eichel it would be worth it. For two reasons. Mainly being, the Sharks with this aging core need to go for it, and now. Pay what you need for Eichel, but you need to surround these contracts of Couture, Karlsson with talent. As for giving up Hertl, he likely will not resign here, also would likely have Buffalo in his no trade teams, but I would see this being a 3 way trade where Buffalo flips Hertl. As for giving up on Eklund already, this seems like the biggest out there part of this trade. Eklund was #2 on Buffalo's draft board and at one point were highly considering him going 1st overall. Eklund would make this trade go through, San Jose has plenty of prospects in the system who can fill that void.

In addition, after losing out 2 top 6 options in Hertl & Eklund, the Sharks sign up Eric Staal to fill that void, at only 750k, he would be a great trade chip at the deadline to a contending team, where Jack Eichel can easily slide into the top 6 by then after healing from his injury.

As the Sharks are in a very transitional part of their life span, they go out and acquire disgruntled forward Dylan Strome, in addition also taking on the LTIR deal of Andrew Shaw which the Hawks have been trying to move on from. From being the 14th forward on Chicago, Strome can come out of the gate and easily be a top 6 player for this sharks team. On a expiring RFA deal, Strome has all the motivation to play for his new deal. The return is terrible for the Blackhawks and as it should be. They are not only weighing down the value of the deal by including Shaw's deal but not playing Strome at all. So in return, a lost prospect in Dylan Gambrell, as well as a 3rd round pick.

Next up here more towards the trade deadline, the Sharks and Panthers trade two former highly touted prospects in Saarela for Merkley. Merkley more touted than Saarela, but has very much lost his way since getting traded from the Coyotes. Even with the Yotes, struggled to make the roster outside of his rookie year, was dealt to the Devils in the Taylor Hall trade, then eventually traded to the Sharks. The Panthers pick up another reclamation project in Merkley, where the Sharks pick up Saarela and look to sign him next year.

Onto the Eric Staal trade, the perfect destination here is to go to the Leafs. The Sharks pick up a 4th round pick, simple and last deal here.

The lines here (barring injuries) are my predictions for end of season lineups for the Sharks. They end up giving both Blichfield and Merkley chances in the lineup.

1.

2.

3.

4.