Could Erik Karlsson’s Days with Sharks be Numbered?
The San Jose Sharks are likely to be sellers at the March 3rd trade deadline, and according to general manager Mike Grier, almost anyone could be available.
At 6-9-3 through 18 games, the franchise is in an all too familiar position yet again: near the bottom of the standings. Destined for a fourth straight playoff-less summer, it’s becoming clear that the front office can start shopping players, which may include All-Star defenceman Erik Karlsson.
The 32-year-old is off to a red-hot start, scoring 10 goals and 14 points while averaging 25:11 minutes of ice-time per game – his highest total since 2017-18 (26:44).
Karlsson does, however, feature a full no-move clause in his contract, which runs through 2026-27. So any final decision comes down to him. But that doesn’t mean the Sharks won’t listen to offers if other teams inquire about the four-time All-Star.
“I’ll listen, but at the end of the day too, a lot will depend on Erik too,” Grier said after the NHL GM meetings on Tuesday. “He’s got the trade protection and [has control over] what he wants to do. I know right now he’s happy. He’s happy in San Jose. His family’s happy there. And we’re thrilled with how he’s playing.”
Trading Karlsson won’t be easy, especially since his deal carries an $11.5 million cap hit over the next four seasons after this current one. But if San Jose is willing to eat part of that figure, maybe a deal can happen closer to the deadline.
“He’s a dynamic player,” Grier said. “To me, he’s probably one of the three best offensive defensemen in the League, and he’s been great for us. He’s done everything we’ve asked as far as preparation, practicing [and] playing. He’s been great.”
“So maybe there’s a scenario where a team comes asking for him [via trade], because I do think he’s a difference-maker. He’s someone who can go out there and win you a game — or win you a series, for that matter — so maybe something will come up down the road. We’ll see.”
Unlike previous seasons, Karlsson hasn’t needed to worry about his health so far this season, which has helped spark his impressive start. So too, have the connections he has made with Grier and head coach David Quinn.
The dialogue with both has remained consistent since their hiring in July, allowing the two-time Norris Trophy winner to feel more comfortable with himself – both on and off the ice.
“I think it’s just been an open line of communication,” Grier said. “If he needs a day off or [has] things hockey-wise he wants to discuss, I think we’ve had open doors with him, and I think he just feels good about where he’s at personally in his life with his family and where he’s at with our relationship, where it’s kind of a pretty open back and forth, give and take.”
And that open line of communication will remain unchanged leading up to this season’s trade deadline. Honesty is something that the Sharks’ front office intends to prioritize involving all their players moving forward, particularly with Karlsson.
“I try and stay in touch with him throughout the week, whether it’s just having a cup of coffee or things like that at the practice facility or on the road,” Grier said. “[I] just try to make sure I’m in touch with him and seeing how he’s doing, him and some of our other veterans and things like that.”
“Depending on how our season goes, I’ll try to be open and honest with those guys and keep them in the loop, and [I] also want their opinion on how they’re feeling and what they want to do as far as next steps in their career.”
If San Jose plans to trade Karlsson, though, there could be an endless list of potential suitors, perhaps even his former team, the Ottawa Senators.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Tuomas Vitikainen. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.