San Jose Sharks: Erik Karlsson makes them Stanley Cup contenders

The San Jose Sharks finally land the big fish, trading for arguably one of the best NHL defensemen in Erik Karlsson.

San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson pulled off another blockbuster move after a disappointing offseason where the prized free agent, John Tavares, opted to sign with Toronto. After re-signing current players, the Sharks did not appear to have enough bite to contend as Pacific Division opponents made moves. Until now.

With training camp about to get underway, Wilson finally pulled the trigger on a major deal, bolstering a blue line which already features the likes of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brent Burns. With Erik Karlsson now in the fold, the Sharks boast one of the top defenses entering the season.

Big moves are not uncommon for Wilson, such as when he landed Joe Thornton from the Boston Bruins, which helped propel a floundering Sharks team to the playoffs. Big names are often linked to the Sharks, though Wilson usually stays mum on management decisions.

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Wilson opted to stand pat after missing out on Tavares, stating the current roster is a work in progress and a trade could come that strengthens the team. Karlsson’s name surfaced with the Sharks before last season’s trade deadline. Ottawa is in a rebuild, and were willing to trade players for the right price.

The Karlsson trade sent shockwaves throughout the NHL, as teams are getting ready to begin their respective camps. A statement was made though, with the Sharks adding Karlsson, letting the Western Conference know their intention to make a deep playoff run.

In Karlsson, the Sharks are getting another offensive-minded defenseman similar to Burns. Both Karlsson and Burns are Norris Trophy winners as the NHL’s top defender. The two will unlikely be paired together, but could see time generating offense on the power play unit.

Vlasic will likely be paired with Karlsson, given his ability to play big minutes and shut down the top lines of opponents. The reliability of Vlasic will allow Karlsson to play at the level he is known for since joining the league.

With the addition of Karlsson, the Sharks now have the top-two offensive producing defensemen since the 2009-10 season. Burns and Karlsson have 449 points and 518 points respectively.

Emotions did come for Karlsson shortly after hearing he would be heading to San Jose. Drafted by the Senators, he leaves Ottawa as the franchise leader in goals, assists, and points by a defenseman. He won the Norris Trophy two times with the Senators.

Slated to hit free agency next summer, Wilson is going to make sure Karlsson remains in San Jose long term. In the past, Wilson did not want to make trades for rental players, opting to only make moves where the player fit long-term with the Sharks.

Evander Kane is an example of Wilson’s process. Kane came to the Sharks before the trade deadline and made the impact expected from him. He was set to hit free agency but his time in San Jose made the choice to remain a bit easier. The physical forward signed a seven-year extension to stay in teal.

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At only 28, Karlsson is entering his prime, and his skill set can make the Sharks a formidable opponent in the coming years. Expect an extension to come.

Ottawa and San Jose have made deals in the past. The most notable trade, before Karlsson, was acquiring Dany Heatley after the forward requested a trade from the team. Heatley provided an offensive scoring threat with the Sharks but became non-existent during the postseason.

Most recently, the Sharks shipped Mikkel Boedker to the Senators, in an attempt to free up cap space in pursing Tavares.

In exchange for Karlsson, the Sharks sent Dylan DeMelo and Chris Tierney to the Senators. DeMelo appeared set to be the sixth defensemen for the Sharks after signing a two-year deal. After being penciled in the lineup consistently, DeMelo took off as a solid defender on the third line.

Tierney came into last season with a chip on his shoulder after the Sharks gave him a league minimum contract. In a make or break campaign, Tierney flourished as the third line centerman, earning a two-year deal with the Sharks.

San Jose Sharks

Between the two, losing Tierney will hurt the most after the significant progress he made. The Sharks have an abundance of defensemen in their farm system, making DeMelo expendable as part of the trade.

Prospects, Rudolfs Balcers, and Josh Norris were also sent to the Senators as part of the trade package.

Baclers led the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL in points and was expected to compete for a roster spot in training camp. He will get a chance to crack the lineup with the rebuilding Senators

Norris could come back to bite the Sharks as the outlook for the 19-year-old appears promising. He currently plays at Michigan and will look to take the next step after the season concludes for the Wolverines.

Overall, the Sharks came away winners of this trade. The haul to land Karlsson is substantial, as a few draft picks got packaged in the deal. But the Sharks did not have to part with Tomas Hertl or Timo Meier, two players who made significant strides last season.

Do not expect Wilson to be done tinkering with the lineup as the Sharks are still in the market to add a forward. Perhaps Wilson makes a call to Ottawa again to inquire about Matt Duchene.

Las Vegas and Los Angeles made moves, but San Jose made the biggest splash among the Pacific Division teams. The Sharks made their intention clear — it’s Stanley Cup or bust.