What Will Sharks Buy at Trade Deadline? Reimer, Barabanov, Middleton Updates

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.@Sheng_Peng provides an update on the Sharks' trade conversations before the deadline on Monday pic.twitter.com/SeGLmtZCp2

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Sheng Peng: A couple days ago, I noted the San Jose Sharks have not opened contract negotiations with UFA Alexander Barabanov. That’s still the case.

That suggests to me that he’s in play tomorrow at the Trade Deadline.

It’s peculiar that they haven’t even checked in on the UFA’s contract ask.

Pierre LeBrun reported earlier this week that the San Jose Sharks’ asking price for Jake Middleton is a second-round pick and a good prospect.

That ask is based off when the Anaheim Ducks got for Josh Manson.

Sources from around the league consider that ask “outrageous.”

They like Middleton. But they see him as a bottom-pairing defenseman on a contender – not a top-four guy like a Manson.

That said, the San Jose Sharks don’t need to move Middleton. LeBrun reported today that the Sharks are sticking to their guns with what they want.

Makes sense – he’s a young, cost-controlled RFA defenseman – the kind of guy they should want to keep if they want to compete next year.

James Reimer’s name is also in play tomorrow.

Like Middleton, the Sharks don’t need to move him either.

He’s signed for just $2.25 million dollars next year. Again, if the San Jose Sharks want to win next year, it might behoove them to keep a goalie who’s provided above-average play all year at a relative bargain price.

This is where I think the San Jose Sharks will be active tomorrow: Like last year, I believe they will buy draft picks.

Last Trade Deadline, it was Nick Foligno’s cap hit so he could go to Toronto. Sharks got a draft pick for their trouble.

They did the same for Vegas and Mattias Janmark and got a draft pick.

Don’t know if they’re a buyer or a seller – but business is open for buying draft picks