On the San Jose Sharks and Evander Kane …
David Pollak of The Athletic: San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson has said in the past and continues to say:
“If you’re going to give up assets,” he repeated in a recent conversation, “it’s going to be for guys that fit for now and the future.”
Both the Sharks and pending UFA Evander Kane have said they are only worried about the season for now. Contract talks haven’t started according to Kane’s agent Craig Oster.
“(Wilson) said that there’s opportunity in San Jose both short term and long term, but that we would just see how everything went and see if it was a good fit, see if the Sharks were happy and Evander was happy and we’d address it once the season was over.”
The Sharks will also have Joe Thornton as a UFA, with Tomas Hertl and Chris Tierney as RFAs. Center John Tavares could be hitting the open market and might interest the Sharks.
“Well, I’ve got lots of cap space,” Wilson said. “That’s all I can say.”
On the Ottawa Senators and Erik Karlsson …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 650 talking about what teams could be interested in trading for Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson after the season.
Friedman notes that the Vegas Golden Knights would likely still be interested, maybe the New York Rangers if they are not in a full rebuild. How the playoffs roll out could alter some teams thinking. Had thought that the Chicago Blackhawks would be in on talks, but GM Stan Bowman said :
“That’s probably not what we’re going to be doing. He’s probably too old for what we’re going to be looking for our first-round draft pick’ kind of thing.”
Friedman believes that there could be a team that we haven’t thought of yet who gets knocked out of the playoffs and then decides they need a puck-moving defenseman.
“I really also believe the biggest thing too the biggest question the Ottawa Senators have to answer is are they making a hockey trade for Erik Karlsson, or are they trying to move Bobby Ryan’s salary with Erik Karlsson.
“Because the answer to that question determines the kind of return you get.”