Sharks Can Game Expansion Draft By Trading for One of These Centers | SJHN+

The trades are coming! The trades are coming!

Thursday’s Viktor Arvidsson swap promises to be the first of many as teams position themselves for the July 21st expansion draft.

Essentially, Nashville, instead of losing the skilled Arvidsson for nothing to the Seattle Kraken, sent the winger to Los Angeles for 2021 second-round and 2022 third-round picks. The Predators aren’t going to be the only team that chooses to sell low on an asset instead of losing it to Seattle.

Could the San Jose Sharks make like the Kings and undercut the Kraken too?

In April, Doug Wilson stated that San Jose would be looking to improve themselves at third-line center and in goal.

Exit Interview: Doug Wilson Plans to Add 3C, Address Goaltending | SJHN+

He added: “We are in a really good position to get through expansion, not only get through it, but also use it as an opportunity to potentially add some players that other teams might have to make available.”

The Sharks could also boast some serious cap space if they buy out Martin Jones — I project about $10 million dollars space for a center and two goalies.

So who are some potential third-line centers and starting goalies that might be available via trade before the expansion draft?

Let’s take a look at pivots today, netminders later.

It should be noted, if the San Jose Sharks trade for any of these centers, they’ll probably protect this forward from Seattle. This would change their current projected expansion protected list of Logan Couture, Evander Kane, Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, Kevin Labanc, Rudolfs Balcers, and Jonathan Dahlen.

Are these centermen worth the risk of possibly losing a prospect like Dahlen?