As we close in on the start of a new season, there are still some free agents that are out there floating around without a contract. The Sharks have a little bit of cap room now that the Erik Karlsson trade is done. While I’m not advocating for the team to make a move, I am saying that there are some deals out there that could be worth a look if the price is right.
Let’s start out with some of the free agents still available are non-starters for the Sharks. Players like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews aren’t looking for a team in a rebuild and likely aren’t taking San Jose’s calls. Others, like Phil Kessel, are simply too old to do the team any good.
So, who’s left?
We’re working off of Frank Seravalli’s list of top 75 free agents, a handful of them still need new contracts and we’ve also added a few that might be worth a look.
Max Comtois
Of all the free agents still available, Max Comtois may be the most ideal for San Jose. Comtois is 24 years old and looking for a new start after the Anaheim Ducks decided not to offer him a qualifying offer earlier this summer.
He has played 210 NHL games and has a career total of 86 points (38 G, 48 A). Drafted 50th overall in the 2017 draft, Comtois had 19 points (9 G, 10 A) in 64 games last season, playing in a bottom-six role.
If the Sharks can sign Comtois to a one or two year deal at about $1.5-$2 AAV, it offers a good upside for the team. They’re giving a younger player the opportunity to show he can add value to a team. It’s also a contract that can easily be moved at the trade deadline when scoring third and fourth liners with a low cap hit are a hot commodity.
Tomas Tatar
Tomas Tatar is a little older and his game may be falling off a bit, which could explain he still does not have a contract. However, Tatar still has some game left. He played all 82 games for the New Jersey Devils last season and scored 48 points (20 G, 28 A).
It’s likely that Tatar, like most 32-year-old hockey players, is looking for a chance at winning a Stanley Cup. However, like Comtois, San Jose could benefit from signing Tatar to a short-term, one- to two-year deal at a low price and then trading him at the deadline. Tatar, in turn, would get a boost to his numbers with extra power play time.
Side Note: Sharks fans will remember Tatar from his time with the Detroit Red Wings. His quick hands gave Martin Jones fits in 2018.
Jesse Puljujarvi
Jesse Puljujarvi is a straight project. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But he’s also just 24 years old and might be on his last shot in the NHL. The fact that he’s coming off double hip surgery as reported by Chris Johnson makes this a potential ideal time for the Sharks to sign him.
If San Jose signs Puljujarvi to a two- or three-year deal at a low price because of the hip issues, then the team can monitor his recovery and help him get back into game shape. When Puljujarvi is ready to return, he’s in a position to do so without the media glare that might occur in a place like Edmonton, Toronto or on a playoff team like the Carolina Hurricanes.
The lack of pressure, plus two healed hips, may allow the 24-year-old to realize the potential he was projected to have when he was drafted fourth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
Other players to keep an eye on
As of this writing, neither Joe Veleno or Ethan Bear have contracts. Admittedly, they are both Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) and so their rights are controlled by their respective teams. However, as training camp nears and deals remain unsigned, teams and players may decide to part ways.
Veleno, 23, has 152 NHL games under his belt so far. Last season, he played 81 games for the Red Wings, scoring 20 points (9 G, 11 A). If there’s a downside to the young forward, it’s a question of discipline. Veleno made headlines over the summer when he made this dangerous play during the IIHF Worlds.
As for Bear, the Vancouver Canucks and defenseman still don’t have a contract in place and now Bear’s on the mend. He underwent shoulder surgery over the summer, and he’ll be on the IR for approximately six months.
Bear is a young defenseman that could slot into a top four role in the future. He’s not a bad pickup if things sour with the Canucks.
Meanwhile, there were other names on the Seravalli’s top 75 list including Pius Suter and Noah Gregor. Both players are on the younger side but seem like they’ve hit their peak as 3rd/4th liners. If the Sharks are truly serious about allowing young prospects to grow, filling a lineup spot with a player who has already hit their ceiling isn’t the way to do it, especially since Gregor and Suter have both proven they have no value at the trade deadline.
Again, I’m not actually advocating for the Sharks to go out to get any of these players. In fact, if the team holds true to its word and wants to offer young prospects a shot, then San Jose should head into camp with what it has now. However, if Sharks’ management is looking for a few more trade deadline lottery tickets, then the names listed above aren’t a bad place to start.
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