San Jose Sharks
The Sharks had a very disappointing season. They began as hopeful contenders for the Stanley Cup but by the time trade deadline came, general manager Doug Wilson had turned the Sharks into sellers. Now they will have six players who are set to become UFAs.
Joe Thornton
The biggest decision Wilson had at the deadline was where he’d move Jumbo Joe Thornton.
There were rumours that Thornton would be sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs but when the trade deadline passed it didn’t happen. In fact, Thornton didn’t get moved at all, much to his disappointment.
After contemplating retirement last year, he decided to sign a one year $2 million deal to remain with the Sharks and take one last shot at winning the Stanley Cup.
Thornton hasn’t made his future plans known but when he officially becomes a UFA, he might choose to hang up his skates.
That being said, there’s also the possibility that Thornton tries to finish what he’s started and joins whichever team he feels will give him the best opportunity to capture hockey’s biggest prize. While not fleet of foot, Thornton does still have enough left in the tank for one more campaign. The decision will be his.
Melker Karlsson
Melker Karlsson is another long-serving member of the Sharks. He has spent six years with the organization, making it the only NHL club he’s ever played with. Going undrafted, he earned his way onto the team by playing in Sweden and proving his worth.
Having earned $2 million each of his last three years, Karlsson should try to re-sign with San Jose at a similar price point.
For the Sharks, it’s not necessarily in their best interest to bring the six-foot center back. Since he didn’t produce as desired over the term of his deal, they would most likely prefer to fill his slot with a younger player.
Antti Suomela
Another six-foot center about to become an unrestricted free agent is Antti Suomela. He split time this year between the minors and the Sharks. Getting paid the league minimum he could very well sign a two-way contract and remain a depth piece for the organization.
Aaron Dell
The Sharks’ backup goalie Aaron Dell is also about to become a UFA. He had a record of 12-15-3 with a save percentage of 0.907 and a goals-against-average of 3.01. At 30 years old, Dell would be a fine candidate to return on a one year deal for the Sharks.
Tim Heed and Brandon Davidson
Tim Heed and Brandon Davidson are the two defensemen the Sharks have that will be UFAs. Neither player had a large role with the team this season. Heed played an average of 13 minutes of ice time per game for the Sharks through 28 games this season. His possession numbers were decent enough to get Heed another NHL contract with a bump in pay.
Davidson played just 12 NHL games between two clubs along with 34 games with the Stockton Heat in the AHL. Though he looked good in the minors, he wasn’t as impressive in the majors. Davidson may struggle to secure another NHL contract next season.