Scouts on How Gawanke Can Help Sharks (+)

What do the San Jose Sharks have in Leon Gawanke?

Yesterday, the Sharks traded 22-year-old defenseman Artemi Kniazev to the Winnipeg Jets for 24-year-old defenseman Gawanke.

The 6-foot-1 right-hander was tied for the AHL lead among defensemen last year with 20 goals for the Manitoba Moose but couldn’t crack the Jets’ line-up. The RFA has actually never played in the NHL, despite his AHL success, and looked set to return to native Germany to suit up for Adler Mannheim next year.

According to Gawanke’s agent Claude Lemieux, however, Gawanke will sign with the Sharks to compete for an NHL job in training camp.

Gawanke, Acquired in Kniazev Trade, Will Sign With Sharks

So what does Gawanke bring to the San Jose Sharks?

I checked in with two NHL scouts.

Is Gawanke capable, if the Sharks trade Erik Karlsson, of running an NHL power play? And why hasn’t the four-year Moose veteran played in the NHL yet?