A recent report is working its way around the league that the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in Mario Ferraro and Luke Kunin and might be willing to pay to get them. The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta loosely hinted that a first-round pick might be on the table for Kunin, Ferraro or both. A contract or two would have to go the other way to make the deal work, but it’s hard to say no to any deal which yields a first-round pick for Kunin.
And that got us thinking, could Kunin be this season’s Barclay Goodrow?
Kunin vs. Goodrow
For fans with a short memory, in 2020, the Sharks traded Goodrow to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a first-round pick and forward Anthony Greco. The reason this has become league lore is that Goodrow was a key piece added and a key player in what became back-to-back Stanley Cup wins for the Lightning. He was good enough to earn himself a six-year deal with the New York Rangers worth $21.85 million.
Kunin plays a similar role to the one Goodrow played in his final years with the Sharks. Both players kill penalties. Both players play with an edge and aren’t afraid to mix things up with the opposing team. They are depth forwards that can help their teams make a deep run in the playoffs.
But the similarities don’t stop there.
Goodrow was 26 when he was traded. Kunin turned 26 just a few months ago in December.
Both players come with team control. Goodrow had one more year on his contract after the trade, while Kunin will be an RFA this summer.
Goodrow’s contract was a little easier to swallow. He had a $925,000 cap hit. Kunin has a $2.75 million cap hit, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the team that trades for him could sign him to another deal at around the same price this offseason.
Finally, look at what Tampa Bay General Manager Julien BriseBois said when he traded for Goodrow in 2020: “Barclay is the big center. We needed a big, physical center, and he brings that. He has the size (6-foot-2, 215 pounds), he also has the physicality, and he plays with an edge. Because of injuries in San Jose, he was asked to play a bigger role with more skilled players, and he’s handled that well. He’s been matched up against some really good players and handled it really well…I think he’s somewhat of an underrated player, a player that’s now hitting his stride and coming into his peak of play. He was given an opportunity to showcase himself this year and show that he could handle more. He’s done really well.”
Sound familiar. Like Goodrow, Kunin has been asked to step into bigger roles because of injuries to the Sharks this season. He’s played center at times. He’s been asked to play up in the lineup. Kunin has shown that he can handle more.
That’s something GMs like to see and hopefully, Sharks’ General Manager Mike Grier is getting a lot of calls about the number 11.
Is a Logan Couture trade looming?
Logan Couture’s name is starting to get out there as another potential trade target. Pagotta of The Fourth Period reported on NHL Network on Feb. 15 that teams are interested, though a deal may not happen until the offseason because of Couture’s nagging injury.
It’s a shame because playoff Couture is something that we need to experience again.
Teams reportedly interested in Couture include the Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres.
Other Sharks trade rumors
As the trade deadline approaches, teams know the Sharks are open for business. There are some things we know for almost certain, such as Jan Rutta likely won’t be returning to Tampa for a reunion with Victor Hedman.
Listening to @wyshynski on the @JeffMarek show and it sounds like he checked in on a potential Rutta Hedman reunion in Tampa. He says “no dice.”
— Fear the Fin (@fearthefin) February 21, 2024
We also know that Head Coach David Quinn would take some convincing if a trade for Mikael Granlund pops up.
"If you want to talk about Mikael Granlund, you gotta pay up. I don’t want him going anywhere."
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 21, 2024
Quinn wants #SJSharks to keep Granlund, and not just because of his comeback season on the ice: https://t.co/724Rtmxc7x
Most of all, we know many of the names floating out there.
The Fourth Period, Sportsnet, the Daily Faceoff and more all have several Sharks players on their lists of trade targets.
Anthony Duclair is reportedly an option for several teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Teams like Edmonton, Colorado, the Florida Panthers and the Lightning are all reportedly interested in Alexander Barabanov. They should feel better knowing that he’s 100% after dealing with a broken finger and COVID earlier this season.
Hoffman is apparently available, although no one is quite sure who’s calling about him. Could it be that we’re trying to stir up interest, hoping that someone, anyone calls?
Then there’s Kaapo Kahkonen who could be cheap goaltending backup for a contender. The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils have been linked to the netminder as of late.
It was reported by several news outlets that the Sharks are looking for a new home for Kevin Labanc and working with his agent to make it happen. Trouble is, it’s been crickets since then.
Fear the Fin will continue to follow all the trade chatter and hopefully have some news to share soon.
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