Since joining the Sharks, MJK has made several trades to immediately improve the team. That trend continued today.
Since Day 1, MJk has been trying to block out of his mind that this team did not have a legit #1 goalie. He kept telling himself that it would be OK. But things just weren't sitting well so a trade was made to bring in a guy to solidify the position. The cost to acquire was not cheap, but so the story goes in the CPHL to get a keeper.
To SJ:
Martin Jones
Matt Niskanen
To Washington:
Michael Neuwirth
Erik Karlsson
Andrew Mangiapane
There were only a handful of goalie sin the CPHL that we would trade Karlsson in a deal to acquire and Jones was at the top of the list. Jones is still relatively young and his contract is still manageable as a RFA.
With no intention to trade Burns (ever), Karlsson was the guy who had to go. But in his departure sees another solid D coming back in Matt Niskanen. he is no Karlsson but he is still a top end D.
It's an interesting trade but we feel to get a goalie we like and have confidence in being a starter for a long time, it was worth it.
Thanks Hesla for the trade talks, he was a tough negotiator on this one and wasn't willing to move very much.
Sharks Land a Goalie
