Mediocre No More? Sharks Make Big Changes

With the Sharks making some serious waves on the trade front over the past 48 hours, the San Jose Mercury News has gathered three EHE experts to discuss the moves, the current state of the team, and where things could go from here.

Making up this esteemed panel is Chip Whitley, the EHE beat reporter based in Chicago; John McCarthy, a recently-retired player who spent part of 2019 with the Sharks' AHL affiliate; and Filip Kylemann, who has no official EHE qualifications, but does bear a striking resemblance to Sharks GM Kyle Phillips wearing a fake mustache.

Chip Whitley: Gentlemen, it's been a shocking weekend here in San Jose. Glad we could get together to dissect it. And of course, many thanks to the Mercury News for putting this together, and to the SAP Center for hosting us today.

John McCarthy: It's been crazy around here for sure. Definitely didn't see all this coming, based on the conversations I had with Kyle Phillips during free agency.

Filip Kylemann: Indeed, indeed. Truly some 12-dimensional chess by an incredibly shrewd—and might I add tremendously handsome—general manager.

CW: Uh, right. So we may as well kick things off with the first of the three big trades: PK Subban and 750 grand straight across for Adam Gaudette. Thoughts gentlemen?

JM: Bit of a weird one, I'd say. I mean, Subban is still a quality player but Gaudette has really come along nicely this year and I think he could make a big impact soon. So maybe it's good value there, but it's not like the Sharks had a huge need on D.

CW: I'm with you, John. The value is probably fine, but the organization already had a handful of mid-level young centers, plus a few mid-level veteran defencemen. Especially after bringing in Matt Niskanen a couple of weeks ago. So this feels like shuffling the deck while getting older in the process. Not to mention taking on a pending UFA. 

JM: Which goes against what they've been doing for almost three years.

CW: Exactly.

FK: A brilliant piece of tactical maneuverization, I say! Subban surely has another top-notch season in him before he's all washed up! And Phillips can just use a franchise tag on him anyway! Take that UFA status! Take that 2020 Silly Season!

CW: Sure, but he'd have to be nuts to use a franchise tag on a declining, 30-year-old defenceman. 

*checks notes* 

Oh. Oh I see.

JM: Yup, Nick Holden is a buddy of mine, and we're still having plenty of fun every summer thanks to that contract. (laughs)

CW: I don't doubt it. (laughs) Alright, moving on to the second deal, which happened at almost the same time as the first, we've got the Sharks shipping out a pretty good chunk of youth in exchange for Josh Anderson, Vlad Namestnikov, and a million bucks. John, what are you seeing here?

JM: This one's tough too. I love Josh Anderson, man. Absolutely love the way he plays, and I think he's gonna be huge for them over the next 60 games. But that's a lot of potential going out the door.

CW: Absolutely. Along with moving Gaudette, it basically wiped out that young center depth I mentioned a minute ago. And every analyst I've talked to, from the more traditional pro scouts to the analytics guys, is predicting that Anderson's production is really going to fall off a cliff next season. This is a home run swing, with no small amount of risk behind it.

FK: *visibly agitated now* Surely you heathens can see that this is a breathtaking bit of talent acquisition! Nuts to offensive production! Anderson will have a long career of mashing opponents into a pulp! And how convenient that you forgot Vlad, that beautiful dual-position dual-citizen! He's so versatile it brings a tear to the eye!

CW: Whatever you say. So that brings us to the third, and dare I speculate, final deal of this nutty weekend, which basically boils down to Rasmus Andersson and a small fortune in cash being shipped to the Rangers to bring in Kevin Hayes. I know you've gotta give to get, but nine million dollars? I'm not sure how the organization can justify that.

JM: Yeah, wow. Honestly not sure how Kyle convinced the owner to go along with this one. That's like a third of their cash reserves.

CW: Not to mention that attendance seems to be slipping for the Sharks, and their AHL revenues are in the toilet yet again. So it's not going to be easy to make back that money.

JM: Right. I mean look, Hayes is another guy I love. Plays the game the right way, super underrated, but—

FK: ENOUGH OF YOUR SHENANIGANS! KEVIN HAYES IS THE NUMBER ONE CENTER THIS TEAM HAS BEEN WAITING FOR! JUST WAIT UNTIL HE LEADS THEM STRAIGHT TO THE PACIFIC DIVISION TITLE! FLAGS FLY FOREVER, MY FRIENDS! AND ALL THAT WITH FOUR YEARS LEFT ON HIS GORGEOUS CONTRACT!

CW: No need to get worked up, Filip. We're only saying that the price was a little steep—

FK: EEEEENOUGGHHHHH!!!

*Kylemann rushes to the window, flings it open, and hurls himself into a dumpster full of discarded Travis Sanheim bobbleheads*

CW: Well, that's one way to wrap things up. John, I want to thank you again for joining us.

JM: No problem. This was fun, we, uh... 

*McCarthy glances nervously at the open window*

JM: ...we should do it again sometime.

CW: Absolutely. I'm looking forward to it, and I guess we'll see if the Sharks give us even more to talk about this season. Take care.

- With Thanks to Thomas Gidlow for lending out his local reporter.

- Presented by the San Jose Mercury News and San Jose Sports & Entertainmant Enterprises