San Jose Sharks Explore Roster Enhancements
The San Jose Sharks are exploring opportunities to bolster their roster as they aim for a playoff berth this season. The team appears to have set its sights on acquiring winger Artemi Panarin, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current NHL season, according to reports from San Jose Hockey Now. Interestingly, it seems Panarin is also open to the idea of joining the Sharks.
Current Situation with Panarin
Reports indicate that the New York Rangers are currently sidelining Panarin while they consider trade options, and he is unlikely to play before the upcoming Olympic break. The Rangers, in the midst of a roster reconfiguration, have determined that they will not extend his contract. Despite possessing a no-movement clause which allows him to influence trade talks, Panarin is said to be looking at a potential contract extension as part of his next move.
“Did the Sharks have discussions with them? Yes,”
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun confirmed, adding that there has been communication between the general managers of the Sharks and Rangers, Mike Grier and Chris Drury, who have collaborated in the past.
Sharks’ Commitment and Recent Moves
However, LeBrun expressed some doubt regarding the Sharks’ serious pursuit of Panarin, particularly after their recent moves, which included signing 31-year-old Alexander Wennberg to a three-year, $18 million deal on January 4.
„Beyond that initial conversation, I’m uncertain about how committed San Jose is to this endeavor,”
he stated. Additionally, the Sharks recently added forward Kiefer Sherwood to their lineup after executing a trade with the Vancouver Canucks, which involved sending Cole Clayton and two second-round picks to Vancouver.
Sharks’ Current Standing and Panarin’s Career
As it stands, the Sharks are holding on to the final wild card position in the Western Conference, an impressive turnaround after finishing last in the league for two consecutive seasons. Panarin, a two-time NHL First-Team All-Star, boasts an impressive career record, having tallied 321 goals and 927 points in 804 games since his debut, playing for teams such as the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New York Rangers.
This information first surfaced in a piece by USA TODAY discussing potential trades involving Panarin, raising questions about whether the Sharks will make a significant move for him.
