San Jose Sharks: Seven Players on the Trading Block

In the second chapter (the first can be found at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/216835-san-jose-sharks-getting-out-of-cap-trouble) on what the Sharks must do to relieve their cap space, we take a look at which players are most likely to be traded, from least to most.

There are seven players on the short list, and some pros and cons are listed for each player.

In my next article, I will explore the teams that might be interested in any of these players.

Brad Lukowich

Brad Lukowich was brought in to provide a stay-at-home defender with Stanley Cup experience, not a point-producer from the blueline. He was exactly what they expected him to be: In 58 games, he had no goals and eight assists, but was plus-five with only six minor penalties (no points and plus-one in six playoff games).

The problem with trading him is that he is the lowest-paid member of the blueline at $1,566,667, so he will not create as much space as anyone else. Moreover, he provides leadership and a steady hand in the Sharks’ end.

Jody Shelley

It would be hard for the Sharks to trade Jody Shelley for a player of similar value, as he does not possess the skills of most players who earn $725,000 per year.

Most likely, he will be released, especially if the team can keep younger enforcer Brad Staubitz.

With two goals, two assists, and a minus-six rating in 70 games, he leaves much to be desired on the offensive end. As an enforcer, he leaves almost as much to be desired.

According to HockeyFights, where viewers vote for winners, Shelley finished 6-6-4 in his 16 fights in 2008-09, and that record seems generous to me.

Douglas Murray

Douglas Murray is a stay-at-home defender who makes $2.5 million a year.

It might seem sensible to trade him considering he is a rather slow skater and a liability on the offensive end (seven points in 75 games in 2008-09, and 23 points in 229 regular season and playoff games in his career).

But the 29-year-old is steady under pressure (plus-28 for his career), and by far the Sharks' best hitter.

Patty Marleau

Patrick Marleau has been the source of trade speculation since midseason in 2007-08.

Yours truly called for his departure last offseason, pointing out that Patty had been minus-26 with 56 points in 101 games from the second round of the 2007 playoffs through the 2008 playoffs.

Marleau has a no-trade clause, but Tampa Bay demonstrated how to thwart the stipulation last year with Dan Boyle: threaten to waive him if he does not waive the clause. Then he has no control over where he goes and likely ends up on one of the worst teams in the league.

Patty is scheduled to make $6.3 million and the Sharks could really use that space.

I'm convinced that the captain's quiet demeanor is not helping the Sharks passionless playoff performances.

However, since the Sharks’ problem is a lack of playoff scoring, dumping the only player on the team who has scored more than a point per game in any playoff season (14 in 12 games in 2006) may not be wise.

In fact, when the Sharks finished last season's playoffs, he was still best in the league in game-winning playoff goals since 2002.

Moreover, Patty has worked on his defensive game, finishing plus-16 last season. He also became a good penalty killer and short-handed scoring threat, getting five shorties to finish second in the league.

Jonathan Cheechoo

Jonathan Cheechoo comes to mind because he signed his extension during the Richard Trophy season, but his points have fallen off from 93 that season to 69, then 37, then 29. While he did miss six, 13, and 16 games, that only suggests another reason he is a player who has past his peak.

In that time, he has fallen from the first to third line. While that fall has made him less attractive trade bait, his past scoring and reasonable $3 million contract for each of the next two years still make him appealing. His transformation into a capable checking-line defensive forward also helps.

Milan Michalek

Milan Michalek is one of the Sharks most dynamic players, but he epitomizes the Sharks’ struggles.

In the past two seasons, he has disappeared as much as any scorer in the playoffs, with just five points in 19 games.

In his career, he has 214 points in 317 regular season games (.675 points per game), but just 16 points in 39 postseason games (.410 per game).

Moreover, the Sharks have plenty of good skaters, but lack the presence in front of the net that Milan has been unable to consistently provide. He is the perfect trade bait: 24 years old with a cap figure of $4,333,333—big enough to create room trading him, but low enough that teams will be willing to take that chance.

Christian Ehrhoff

Sorry, but this one is a no-brainer.

With the signing of Kent Huskins and all the other defencemen returning, Christian Ehrhoff looks to be the odd man out.

His skating ability and asset on the offensive end do not compensate for his tendency to turn the puck over under pressure, especially when his contract is tied for third-highest in the unit.

Ehrhoff was just re-signed last summer to a five-year extension worth an average of $3.1 million per year. While the 27-year-old surged to a career-high 42 points last season, this may only have boosted his value.

He had a team-low -12 rating (Travis Moen finished minus-18, but was just minus-one after joining the Sharks), and no points and a minus-two rating in six playoff games.