The San Jose Sharks are reportedly still looking to add to their team. When general manager Mike Grier met with the media, he said, “We could probably use a top-nine winger, if something like that comes available.”
The Sharks have had a pretty productive off-season so far. They've added John Klingberg, Philipp Kurashev, Adam Gaudette, Dmitry Orlov, and Nick Leddy. Essentially, in three days, Grier was able to reshape their blue line and is now looking to add more to the forward group.
If the Sharks want to add a top-nine forward, it shouldn't be overly hard to do. With $23 million in projected cap space, it could allow them to add via free agency. There are still a few good free agent targets left.
These are a few potential targets:
- Jack Roslovic – RW/C
- Jeff Skinner – C/LW
- Nathan Bastian – RW
- Victor Olofsson – LW
- Daniel Sprong – RW
If the Sharks are wanting a top-nine guy, they won’t want a potential fourth liner who could slot up. They’re most likely looking for someone who can play in their top six and move down to the third line if needed.
Which is why any of the five targets listed above are realistic options for the Sharks.
They could also explore the trade route and target someone like Rickard Rakell from the Pittsburgh Penguins or Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues. However, that would require more assets being traded away in order to add them.
If they want to go with a lower-tiered forward than Rakell or Kyrou, then there’s Calle Jarnkrok from the Toronto Maple Leafs or Mattias Janmark from the Edmonton Oilers. There are options, and if Grier wants to pull off a trade for a top-nine winger, he’ll make it happen. But it seems like that move may not come until further into the off-season.
