Sharks add OEL

[MJK]

The Sharks have climbed the standings in the last month and are battling for their playoff lives. In a last ditch effort to make a playoff push and try to stay in the picture, the Sharks made a couple of deals over the weekend.

Trade #1
To SJ
Zach Smith

To VAN
2019 2nd(cal)

Smith gives us a legit #2 C until Crosby gets back from injury. Our C depth use to be great but when we are staring at a lineup with Frans Neilsen and Mike Ribeiro, we knew we had a problem. Zach Smith acquisition cost was reasonable and if we can find a way to keep him on our team after the season, we will.

Trade #2
To SJ
Oliver Ekman Larsson

To MIN
2018 1st(cal)
2018 1st(dal)

This is the price you pay to acquire really good players and we were in desperate need of another good D to play with Big Byf. OEL is still only 25 years old but one of the very best D.

We think we made our team significantly better in these 2 trades and we'll just have to see if that translates into more wins.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Need to start create room on the team for a guy like McAvoy for next season. For this year, Murray will step in.
I may have been able to find a comparable deal in the summer for OEL but his game is going on the wrong direction. So this seems like appropriate value.