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After a fairly quiet week leading up to the trade deadline for the San Jose Sharks, the team completed a series of moves today, most notably sending Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The #SJSharks have acquired a 2025 first-round draft selection and prospect center David Edstrom from the Golden Knights.
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 8, 2024
In exchange for Hertl, the Sharks acquired a 2025 first-round pick, along with 2023 first-round pick David Edstrom. San Jose also sent two third-round picks to Vegas as part of the deal, in 2025 and 2027, and will retain roughly $1.4 million per year on the contract.
Given the Sharks’ situation, making a trade to get back some future assets for Hertl now makes sense. He’s into his 30s and there’s probably a limited period of time where his contract would be moveable. While the return was possibly a little underwhelming, and the Sharks having to retain salary for many years isn’t great, it’s still overall the right move to make for the direction of the team.
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In other moves, the Sharks also dealt goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to the New Jersey Devils, in exchange for Vitek Vanecek and a 2025 seventh-round pick. Kahkonen was on an expiring contract, and posted an .895 save percentage through 31 games this season, while Vanecek has another year on his deal, at a $3.4 million cap hit, and posted an .890 save percentage through 32 games this season.
Radim Simek was also moved to the Detroit Red Wings along with a 2024 seventh-round pick, with the Sharks acquiring forward Klim Kostin in exchange. Meanwhile, the Sharks dealt Nikita Okhotiuk to Calgary in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick, and the Sharks also completed a trade with the Buffalo Sabres, to acquire goalie Devin Cooley for a 2025 seventh-round pick.
A full analysis of the Sharks' trade deadline moves will be coming soon.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM MARCH
- Sharks’ trade candidates unlikely to bring back big returns - Sharks trade Anthony Duclair to Lightning