Scouts Have Consensus Choice on Best Bottom-Pairing D for Sharks

Doug Wilson spelled it out last week — and if it wasn’t clear, player agents know too.

The San Jose Sharks have “five NHL-quality d-men” and need another one, probably a right-hander. I would also presume, considering their cap situation, that they’re also looking for blueliners who would accept around the league minimum.

Why a righty? After all, don’t the Sharks have Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns?

However, after Karlsson and Burns, they have Nick DeSimone, Nicolas Meloche, and Ryan Merkley, three right-handed defenders with a combined zero NHL games played. Granted, Mario Ferraro and Jake Middleton can slide to their off-side, but an NHL-quality RHD makes a lot of sense here.

I can say that a couple player agents have pitched the San Jose Sharks on their NHL-proven UFA right side defensemen clients…and haven’t heard back.

So let’s evaluate the candidates: Will San Jose sign one of these 11 cost-friendly right-siders? And who might fit best with Ferraro?

I asked three scouts about Jan Rutta, Yannick Weber, Trevor Daley, Madison Bowey, Korbinian Holzer, Deryk Engelland, Tim Heed, Michael Stone, Slater Koekkoek, Cody Goloubef, and Christian Folin.