REPORT: Sharks Offered Tarasenko $6 Million?

Did the San Jose Sharks make the highest offer for Vladimir Tarasenko?

According to Andy Strickland, the Sharks offered a one-year, $6 million contract to the high-scoring UFA winger, while the Carolina Hurricanes came in at one-year $5.25 million. The six-time 30-goal sniper, instead, took the Ottawa Senators’ one-year, $5 million offer.

Told Vlad Tarasenko had a four-year offer at $5.5 m per season from Ottawa early in free agency. Had 1 year offers from Carolina at $5.25 m and San Jose, 1 yr at $6 m #GoSensGo #sjsharks #Letsgocanes

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) July 28, 2023

It is unclear from this report, however, if the San Jose Sharks made this large offer early in free agency when Tarasenko was represented by Paul Theofanous or more recently after Tarasenko switched to J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson of CAA.

It’s also unclear why Tarasenko opted for a lesser contract than what the Sharks or Canes were reportedly offering.

This is not the first offense-oriented winger San Jose has pursued this summer. Both recent free agent signing Filip Zadina and trade acquisition Anthony Duclair will hope to add offense to the team’s top-nine forward group next season.

Like Duclair, Tarasenko would have been a relatively low-risk veteran acquisition that the Sharks could either re-sign long-term eventually or flip for future assets at the Trade Deadline. Given his age, 31, I would guess the latter would have been more likely.

But what this Tarasenko offer suggests? The San Jose Sharks are willing to pony up to bring in some high-priced talent, at least for the short-term.

Tarasenko and free agent defenseman Matt Dumba were both recently linked to San Jose by Elliotte Friedman on an NHL Network appearance early this month.

SPECULATION: Sharks Interested in Tarasenko, Dumba?

Sheng Peng also talked about the upside for both the Sharks and these veteran free agents in a recent episode of the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast. “An agent texted me a couple days after free agency. We were talking about who the Sharks would put to run the power play if they trade [Erik] Karlsson,” Peng said. “He suggested Dumba.”

SJHN Podcast: Marchant & McCarthy Talk Prospects Scrimmage, Why Dumba Fits Sharks, Will Smith Interview

On this episode of the SJHN Podcast, independent scouting service Team 33 also provided a Dumba scouting report — they still project him as a top-four defenseman, despite his lower productivity this past season.

“The Sharks are a perfect place for these players to rebuild their value on a short-term contract,” Peng offered. “If you’re Matt Dumba, you’re 28 and [if] you’ve proven again with the Sharks that you can score 40 points, be a viable power play threat, and play good defense, you’re gonna get a really nice contract next summer.”

So could the Sharks still be interested in Dumba? He’s still available, though San Jose has yet to move Karlsson.

Another viable veteran UFA scoring option is 20-goal winger Tomas Tatar, who’s looking to rebuild his value after a poor playoff performance for the New Jersey Devils.

We’ll see if the San Jose Sharks have another trick up their sleeve as we enter the dog days of the off-season.