Sharks Trade for Desharnais

DENVER — The San Jose Sharks have traded for a veteran defenseman.

The Sharks have acquired Vincent Desharnais from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2028 fifth-round pick.

Desharnais, 28, is a 6-foot-7 right-handed blueliner, who’s logged 44 games with the Penguins and Vancouver Canucks this season. A stay-at-home penalty killer, Desharnais averaged 14:24 a game for Pittsburgh and 15:58 a game for Vancouver. He has three assists this season.

Previously, Desharnais was a part of back-to-back long playoff runs with the Edmonton Oilers. Last year, he appeared in 78 regular season (15:44) and 16 playoff (17:15) games for the Stanley Cup Final team. In his 2022-23 campaign, he played in 36 regular season (13:33) and 12 playoff (13:35) contests for the Western Conference finalists.

Desharnais has one more year left on his contract at $2 million AAV.

Desharnais is not expected to join the San Jose Sharks in Denver by Thursday for their Mar. 6 game at the Colorado Avalanche.

The addition of Desharnais does make for a potential glut of defensemen on the San Jose Sharks, when they return home to take on the New York Islanders on Mar. 8.

While pending UFA Jan Rutta, a defender that Desharnais profiles as similar to, is on IR, the Sharks currently have seven healthy defensemen on the roster.

Could one of them be on the move by the Mar. 7 Trade Deadline?

It could be as simple as sending down prospect Jack Thompson to make room for Desharnais…or a bigger move?