5 Things I’m Most Excited About With Sharks Post-Trade Deadline

Check out my “Sharks Pregame Live” hit!

The Trade Deadline is over, and the San Jose Sharks won’t be making the playoffs, but there’s still plenty of hockey to be played!

Entering the last 20 games of the season, this is what I’m excited to watch on the Sharks.

Tomas Hertl

The points are there for Hertl, he’s got 48 points in 59 games, but for most of the season, it feels like there’s been something missing, be it a half step or that customary puck protection. He’s been doing both of those things better recently, I think, so I’m looking for a strong finish to the season for a guy who has to lead the San Jose Sharks on and off the ice for the next seven years.

Kaapo Kahkonen

Kaapo, at the moment, is the only San Jose Sharks goalie, in the entire organization, signed beyond this season. The 26-year-old struggled earlier in the year, but has a .925 Save % since Jan. 28, that’s fifth in the NHL.

Kahkonen has made some adjustments to his game in season, they appear to be paying off now, and hopefully they’ll pay off next year for the Sharks who desperately need to find stability in the goaltending position.

Prospects

William Eklund is making his season debut tonight, we’ll see how his game has evolved from his NHL debut last year. From what I’m hearing and seeing, I think you’ll all be pleasantly surprised.

I would also figure that Thomas Bordeleau will get a call-up at some point this year too.

And if defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Henry Thrun – who I expect the Sharks to sign – if their seasons end early, I could see them with the Sharks too.

Erik Karlsson

You can’t blame Karlsson if he’s disappointed to not be playing on a contender, he’s had such a good season. Can he finish it off right? Karlsson currently has 78 points in 62 games, he’s still on pace to be the first defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 to score over 100 points.

Where Will Sharks Finish?

It’s weird to be a San Jose Sharks fan right now, right? On one hand, you want all the guys to do well. On the other hand, the more they lose, the more likely they’ll get to draft a top prospect like Connor Bedard or Adam Fantili.

Right now, they’ve got the third-best odds for the first-overall pick.