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The San Jose Sharks acquired forward Vlasilav Namestnikov from the Tampa Bay Lightning yesterday, in exchange for forward Mikey Eyssimont.
Namestnikov is 30 years old and has had a bit of a down year, posting just six goals and 15 points in 57 games. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Lightning retained half of Namestnikov’s salary ($2.5 million cap hit) as part of the trade.
Eyssimont, on the other hand, was claimed by the Sharks at the beginning of January from the Winnipeg Jets. He did get a good opportunity and fit quite well with the team, managing three goals and eight points in 20 games.
The assumption would be perhaps the Sharks opt to flip Namestnikov for a pick, but given his production being down this season, you have to wonder whether the team can get anything for him.
Following the Timo Meier trade, the team had also acquired prospect Henry Thrun from the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, in exchange for a third-round pick in 2024.
Thrun was originally selected by the Ducks in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, but informed the team he wouldn’t be signing with them. The defenseman has posted great numbers in the NCAA with Harvard, managing 26 points in 28 games this season.
It’s clear the Sharks have a lot of confidence in Thrun to make a deal like this.
The Sharks also signed defenseman Derrick Pouliot to a deal for the remainder of the season yesterday. Pouliot is 29 years old and has spent the year with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda, registering 18 points in 26 games.
Despite the moves, there are two more pending UFAs to keep an eye on, being James Reimer and Nick Bonino. Either seems like they could return some assets and given their age and contract status, not moving them to get something back would be the wrong play.
It’s something to keep track of following tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues and up to tomorrow’s deadline.
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