5 Players the San Jose Sharks Would Make Available in an NHL Expansion Draft

Over the summer, there were rumors that the NHL would expand in the next few years by two or even as many as four teams. If that is the case, the San Jose Sharks and all other NHL teams would have to make some players available in an expansion draft to stock the new teams.

Here is a list of the top five candidates the Sharks would make available in an expansion-draft situation if the draft was held in June or July of 2015. To qualify for this list, a player has to be under contract to Team Teal for 2015-16 and not be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Restricted free agents will still be considered for the list.

Players were selected based on their role or lack thereof on the Sharks, their salary-cap hit relative to their production, how easily they could be replaced in the San Jose lineup and how desirable they may be to an expansion club. By the way, all salary-cap numbers in this article were taken from CapGeek.com.

It is still unclear how many players the NHL will allow each team to protect and what the rules will be for the next round of expansion once it happens. Obviously, changes to this list will take place once the specifics of any future expansion draft are known.

Don't expect to see big names like Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau on this list. Even if general manager Doug Wilson does move those players, it will be via trade where the Sharks can get something in return for their aging stars.

Feel free to comment on the players on this list or to add any player you feel belong here. As always, indicate why you feel the way you do.

5. Tye McGinn

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Tye McGinn is a depth player who could find a role with an expansion team.

The Sharks acquired forward Tye McGinn from the Philadelphia Flyers during the offseason in exchange for a third-round draft choice.

McGinn will be 25 next summer, but to date, he has played in only 36 career NHL games. He adds a little size and grit and can score the odd goal, but he appears to be a bottom-six forward who will see the majority of his minutes on the fourth line.

The Sharks have McGinn under contract for another year before he becomes a restricted free agent, which still keeps him eligible to be included in this list.

McGinn may not have a defined and regular role on the Sharks and is expected to spend at least a good part of the coming year in the AHL just as he did the past two seasons.

While he doesn't cost much with a cap hit of just $600,000, McGinn is simply a depth player and not one who would make the Sharks terribly upset if they had to give him up in the expansion draft.

4. Raffi Torres

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Raffi Torres has problems staying healthy.

The Sharks have one huge problem with veteran forward Raffi Torres: keeping him in the lineup. The Toronto native is often either suspended or injured and has played only 16 regular-season and 12 playoff games with San Jose over two seasons.

The Sharks have already learned that they will be without Torres for at least the first half of the 2014-15 season as well.

When he is healthy and able to play, Torres is an excellent agitator. He's a bottom-six forward for certain, but he has value, especially in the playoffs, because he can get opposing players off their games.

Torres will be 32 next summer and has a cap hit of $2 million. San Jose will part with him if an expansion team is willing to take his salary off their hands.

3. Matt Tennyson

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Matt Tennyson may be expendable in San Jose.

Defenseman Matt Tennyson is already 24 years old, and this season may be his last chance to establish himself as a legitimate NHL player.

The Pleasanton, California native is expected to battle Mirco Mueller for the final spot on the San Jose blue line. If he fails to win the job this year, he is danger of being dubbed a AAAA player: someone who's too good for the highest minor league but not good enough to be a regular big leaguer.

The addition of two additional NHL teams may be enough to earn Tennyson a spot on an NHL roster, however.

The Sharks could make Tennyson available in the expansion draft as a favor to the Bay Area native. While he may be buried on the Sharks' depth chart, another team may have room for Tennyson on their roster.

Tennyson has a cap hit of just $650,000 and is under contract through the end of the 2015-16 season.

2. Mike Brown

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Mike Brown is a useful role player but may be available.

Veteran forward Mike Brown is under contract to the Sharks for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons with a cap hit of $1.2 million each year.

Brown is another bottom-six role-playing forward. He has never scored more than six goals in any NHL season, but he is capable of being a consistent checking forward and dropping the gloves to defend teammates when called upon.

Again, the Sharks have to figure they can get another player to fill Brown's role for less money. Brown will be 30 next summer, so he still has some good hockey left in him, which would make him attractive to an expansion team.

1. Adam Burish

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Adam Burish hasn't produced as much as expected.

Adam Burish is a prime candidate for the Sharks to leave exposed in the expansion draft.

The Madison, Wisconsin native will be 32 next summer. He is a bottom-six grinder who has had trouble staying healthy since joining the Sharks prior to the 2012-13 season.

Last year, Burish appeared in only 15 games and did not register a point. He finished with a minus-four plus/minus rating, particularly weak on a winning team like the Sharks.

Burish has a cap hit of $1.85 million for each of the next two campaigns.

Burish is the kind of role player the Sharks could easily replace for less money. He has a Stanley Cup ring from the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks, which may make him more appealing to an expansion club looking for experienced veterans with a history of winning.