On the San Jose Sharks …
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic: (mailbag) The Sharks ‘attempted spending’ will happen this offseason as they will likely look to add a big-name free agent or two. The Sharks likely don’t have enough assets to acquire a big-name at the trade deadline.
The Sharks smartest move before the deadline may be to hold pat after acquiring Eric Fehr.
A modest upgrade at forward could cost them a prospect and/or a draft pick. They don’t have a second- or third-round draft pick this year. They are unlikely to give up their first-round pick.
The Sharks could use some scoring help up front, but is skeptical if that happens in a trade. Maybe the Sharks look at someone playing the Olympics – Brian Gionta?
Hard to see the Sharks re-signing pending free agents Joel Ward and Jannik Hansen. Too early to tell on Eric Fehr. They would like to re-sign Aaron Dell. Too hard to predict what happens with Joe Thornton.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
Steve Gorten of the Columbus Dispatch: Interview with Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen ahead of the trade deadline. When asked about make a move to immediately improve your team compared to making moves with the long-term future in mind:
“That’s always going to be the decision faced on every potential trade proposal. Teams are calling each other now and everybody’s feeling each other out. Thirty-one GMs are doing the same thing. There’s going to be some offers that come across the table and we’re going to have to make decisions. We’d like to help the team, obviously — that’s what we do, every day. But not at any cost, where we make sure we put all our marbles in one basket this spring and make the playoffs — that’s not the goal for this organization.”
On not wanting to give up prospects or young players for rentals:
“No. Especially with the guys we have here. There could be a prospect that’s a reasonable price for somebody that’s a rental. A first-round pick was already in a trade last year. We don’t want to make a hole — that’s two years in a row.”