San Jose Sharks: 10 Trade Options To Sink Their Teeth Into

Western Conference runners up, the San Jose Sharks, have had a up and down season thus far. In the Pacific Division, anything can happen.

The last place team (L.A. Kings) and first place team (Dallas Stars) only stand five points apart. Every team has to play less than thirty more games and then it will be time for the playoffs.

There are three weeks left until the trade deadline and the Sharks can make some moves that can help them come out on top of the Pacific division, guaranteeing them a playoff seed. Here are ten different trade options for the San Jose Sharks this season.

Devon Setoguchi

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 17: Devin Setoguchi #16 of the San Jose Sharks warms up before before the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 17, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian

Devon Setoguchi is a sniper but has yet to play a full season with the Sharks. Though his numbers aren't horrible, the Sharks can deal the Canadian for one or two more players.

Setoguchi is a younger player at the age of 24. Trading him away can both benefit and not benefit the Sharks—it's quite the risk. 

If Matt Moulson didn't make his statement of wanting to be an Islander for life, these two could swap teams before February 28th.

Ben Eager

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 26: Ben Eager #55 of the San Jose Sharks skates during warm up prior to their NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on January 26, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Kings defeated the Sharks 3-2 in shootout

Could Ben Eager find himself being on a third team this season? 

If he is then he should be dealt back to Chicago in return for Niklas Hjalmarsson. Eager would be bringing back the physicalness that he showed all throughout the playoffs and, why wouldn't he want to be back on the defending Stanley Cup winners' team?

Hjalmarsson has been having a decent season so far in Chicago. In the playoffs he's shown that he can get out of position on defense but has success with transferring the puck into the offensive zone.

Chicago may be uneasy about trading him away with aging defenders like Nick Boynton, Jassen Cullimore and even Brian Campbell.

Antero Niittymaki

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SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 6: Goalie Antero Nittymaki #30 of the San Jose Sharks make a save against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL hockey game at the HP Pavilion on January 6, 2011 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Deal him to New Jersey for Johan Hedberg and David Clarkson and throw in a fifth or sixth round pick on the Sharks behalf.

New Jersey needs a younger backup goalie or even starting goalie. There two main goalie's now average for an age of 38. Maybe that's why they're doing so bad...

Antti Niemi is still young but hasn't had the year that he did in the Blackhawks playoff run last season. Trading him instead of Niittymaki wouldn't be in their best interest. 

As for Clarkson? A physical grinder who will drop the gloves every now and then could be the new enforcer for the Sharks. Can also score a goal or two once in a blue moon.

Douglas Murray

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 17: Douglas Murray #3 of the San Jose Sharks during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 17, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Im

The New Jersey would love to have a defender like Murray, but what would they have to give in return that San Jose would want?

You trade him to a team like the Columbus Blue Jackets for Nikita Filatov, a player who is going to emerge in the next few years. Back in 2008, in the only eight games he played that year, he put through four goals. The tables have turned now as he has managed to put together seven assists in only 23 games.

If the Sharks take a chance by giving a top defender to a struggling bottom of the barrel team for a risk on a former sixth overall pick, it could benefit them in years to come. Especially with players like Dany Heatley and Jumbo Joe Thornton being on the other side of thirty. 

Patrick Marleau

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 26: Patrick Marleau #12 of the San Jose Sharks skates on the counterattack against the Los Angeles Kings during their NHL game at Staples Center on January 26, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Kings defeated the Sharks 3-2 i

Let's not get too crazy here but the Sharks should trade Patrick Marleau to Edmonton for Taylor Hall. Think the Oilers will bite?

Edmonton has so much talented youth on their team (especially in the forwards department) that maybe the thing they're missing is experience. Shawn Horcoff and Steve MacIntyre (only has played 16 games this season) are the only forwards for Edmonton who are 30 or older. 

The Sharks might be affected right now by not having a long time leader on the team, but the Oilers could have the advantage of helping their offense out greatly.

The positive for the Sharks? Arguably the next big thing in hockey for the next ten plus years.

Jumbo Joe Thornton

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 17: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks sits on the bench during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 17, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian

Sharks fans will hate to hear his but San Jose could possibly trade Jumbo Joe back to Boston in return for Zdeno Chara. 

Both players contracts will be expired by June 2011 so the burden of having to keep someone's contract won't be a worry. 

Boston could use a player like Thornton back at the TD Garden, and they would welcome him back with open arms. Especially with Savard now gone due to yet another concussion. 

They would indeed be giving away their best player (on both sides) but providing the trade that appears on the next slide goes through, the Sharks won't be missing Jumbo Joe as much as one would think.

Reel in Stamkos

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 25: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Pete Times Forum on January 25, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Leafs 2-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Imag

If Joe Thornton goes to Boston, that's a huge loss at the center position. Yes, the Sharks will still have Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture and even Patrick Marleau could step into the dot.

The Sharks go out and get Stamkos before the Lightning have a chance to sign him an enormous contract after it expires this season. But what will the Lightning want in return for their superstar?

You need to give them youth. Steven Stamkos is only 21 they wouldn't want anyone who's significantly older than him. The Sharks deal the Bolts either Pavelski or Couture and Jason Demers. If they still don't say yes give them a late round pick.

Get Picks

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SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 11: Kent Huskins #40 of the San Jose Sharks in action against the Toronto Maple Leafs at HP Pavilion on January 11, 2011 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

They can always try and get their fourth round pick after losing it in the Ben Eager trade.

Older players like Kent Huskins or Niclas Wallin could be put out on display for other teams to look at. If they leave though the Sharks would be losing their fourth and fifth best shot blockers. But they'd be gaining an opportunity to add more youth to their team. 

Give Away Picks

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 11: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers skates against the Montreal Canadiens on January 11, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Montreal defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

San Jose is missing Evgeni Nabokov this season, and they're missing him more ever since he wanted to come back, but had to go through waivers before they got a chance nab him.

It's obvious that the Sharks could use a better goalie than Niemi, who's let them down when compared to his playoff run. Niemi was a reason that the Sharks got swept in the Western Conference Finals.

Perhaps the Sharks send Niemi and a first or second round pick to New York in return for Henrik Lundqvist?

They Don't Do Anything

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 17: Patrick Marleau #12 of the San Jose Sharks leaves the bench during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 17, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christia

Yup, that's right. They just sit back, relax and wait to see if any trades come there way. They're in third place in their division, but that doesn't mean they don't have a shot at the Pacific title. Heck, Los Angeles still has a shot.

The Sharks have young talent on the team in Jason Demers, Logan Couture and Marc-Edouard Vlasic that they want to preserve and help make the franchise grow for years to come.

Nothing's guaranteed for the trade deadline, the moves stated previously are pretty gutsy calls for a team that doesn't need to do anything drastic to become better. They made the Western Conference Finals last season, there's no saying that they won't make it this year.

We'll just have to wait and find out what they do with the trade deadline less than three weeks now.