What’s Sharks’ Big Picture Vision? Thoughts on Grier’s Post-Karlsson Trade Presser (+)

What’s the San Jose Sharks’ plan to get back to contention?

We’re starting to get a clearer idea with the trade of reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, prospect Dillon Hamaliuk, and a 2026 third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2024 first-round pick (top-10 protected), and veterans Mikael Granlund, Jan Rutta, and Mike Hoffman.

Here are my takeaways from GM Mike Grier’s post-trade press conference — here’s what I think Grier, president Jonathan Becher, and owner Hasso Plattner are trying to pull off.

Grier, on if the Sharks and Penguins were close to a trade around the Draft: “No, that wasn’t accurate. We weren’t close at the Draft to doing anything.”

Takeaway: There were multiple reports that the San Jose Sharks and Penguins were close to a Karlsson deal on Jul. 1, but both Grier and Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas shot that down. For what it’s worth, San Jose Hockey Now reported that afternoon that a trade wasn’t close.

Right now, I'm hearing a Karlsson trade isn't that close, but of course, that could change in a second

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) July 1, 2023

Grier, on how many teams were serious about Karlsson: “When it came down to it, it was probably down to two teams that were really more aggressive and trying to land the player.”

Takeaway: This is obviously the Pittsburgh Penguins, and likely, the Carolina Hurricanes. I believe, even after signing Tony DeAngelo, that the Canes weren’t out on Karlsson.