Quinn Talks Potential Karlsson Trade, Blackwood & Duclair

Erik Karlsson or not, David Quinn is excited to be behind the bench for the San Jose Sharks this fall.

Quinn spoke with local media for the first time since the premature end of the Sharks’ season in April, giving his thoughts about a potential Karlsson trade, newcomers like Mackenzie Blackwood and Anthony Duclair, and top prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin and Thomas Bordeleau.

Here’s a selection of his comments, you can check out his full availability here.

David Quinn, on what he knows about Blackwood:

He was, I thought, one of the better goalies in the league, young goalies coming up when he was with New Jersey while I was at the Rangers. He’s a young goalie still, if he stays healthy, we really think we’ve got something, a guy that can carry this organization for a while.

Quinn, on what Kyle Burroughs brings:

Burroughs is a hard-nosed defenseman, makes life difficult for the opponents, stands up for his teammates. That’s certainly something that we want to add to our organization. And he’s a right shot.

Quinn, on Givani Smith:

He’s a very effective player in a lot of different ways. That’s probably his calling is to be a physical guy and protect his teammates, but also establish a forecheck and be responsible defensively.

Quinn, on Anthony Duclair:

He certainly fits in the mold of the way we want to play. We’re very excited to get him.

He’s excited [to join us]. He’s excited for a lot of reasons.

Quinn, on the Erik Karlsson trade rumors:

I’m not the general manager, and he’s still here until he’s not. When I look forward to our D corps, he’s on it. If he’s not here, it looks a lot different. But certainly, if he’s not here, then it’s probably people coming back and opens up an opportunity for us to maybe get somebody else.

We’ve just got to hold and wait to see what we look like in September. But I’ve made it clear how we feel about him as an organization.

He was phenomenal in so many ways last year. On and off the ice. A season for the ages for defenseman. The fourth-leading scorer in the National Hockey League 5-on-5, that really says it all. Just really happy for him. It was a tough few years leading into last year from an injury standpoint.

When he’s healthy, he certainly has shown that he’s the best defenseman in this league.

Quinn, on how much the San Jose Sharks will have to change how they play if Karlsson departs:

I wouldn’t say much. Your system isn’t tailored to one guy.

Quinn, on what the San Jose Sharks are seeing with Shakir Mukhamadullin:

When [Scott Gordon] watched him for the first time, he really was impressed with what he saw and the abilities and capabilities of him as a prospect. I mean, that size, that skating, his puck decisions, there’s an awful lot to like [about] him.

He’s still young, very young. We’ve got to keep that in check and not put too much pressure on him.

Quinn, on Thomas Bordeleau:

He’s got a great opportunity here to make our team. I know how he feels, he feels that this is time to get it done.