San Jose Sharks: Make Room for More!

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Part of the key to getting a good trade is having something of value to give another team. That is one reason I proposed trading Christian Ehrhoff over Douglas Murray—being more skilled and two years younger more than compensates for a cap figure $600,000 higher.

Another key is looking at how much depth you have with that player’s assets. Ehrhoff is only the third-best skating defenceman the Sharks have, but Murray is its only hitter—you need guys to fill all the roles.

In other words, Ehrhoff is going to have a higher trade value, is more expendable, and will bring more cap relief—the trifecta.

However, even after making the suggested trade, the Sharks are two forwards short of a complete roster, plus a bit short of having the cap room to make Thomas Greiss their backup goalie. Thus, the general manager still has work to do.

Sending down a more expensive player and replacing him with a cheaper minor-leaguer is not really an option. Not only are there few minor leaguers ready to step up, but there are few players the Sharks can send down for fear of losing them on waivers or missing their vital contributions.

This means another trade is going to have to take place. But who else on the team offers significant return but can be replaced by the Sharks?

Jonathan Cheechoo. He is still young enough to have a significant career ahead of him, works hard, and is a former Richard Trophy winner as the league’s top goal scorer.

That is exactly why he would be tough to give up. But while his $3 million a year contract over the next two seasons could give the Sharks valuable cap space and certainly is more than his current play is worth, it is still a reasonable price to pay for a team that is looking for a checking line forward who might well return to form as a scorer.

What the Sharks are looking for is a cheaper checking line forward who can allow them to fit Brad Staubitz and Torrey Mitchell under the cap. If they can ship off Jody Shelley and get a better or cheaper enforcer, they may add him to the pot. If not, they should be looking to get a Day Two draft pick in addition for their sacrifice.

With that in mind, the following are a list of teams (in order of likelihood) and what they could potentially offer the Sharks in return for the pride of Moose Factory, Canada:

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