Doug Wilson made a surprise move early this morning in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. The Sharks will be losing the services of Mikkel Boedker, prospect Julius Bergman, and their 2020 sixth-round draft pick in exchange for forward Mike Hoffman, defensive prospect Cody Donaghey, and the Senators’ 2020 fifth-round draft pick.
Boedker has struggled in his two years with San Jose, though he showed more promise at times this past season, putting up his third-best career points (37) and second-best career goals (15). But with two years left on his four-year, $4 million AAV contract, the Sharks needed more from the 28-year-old winger.
Hoffman has been rumored to have been on the trade block since the trade deadline, where the Senators made it clear that anyone was expendable for the right price. Like Boekder, Hoffman is a left-handed forward under contract through 2020, but he comes in a slightly higher cap hit of $5,187,500 AAV, and for a good reason. Hoffman has averaged 26 goals and 56 points over the last four seasons in Ottawa.
Of course, Hoffman has been in the news more recently for issues pertaining to his off-ice issues. Hoffman’s fiancee had a peace bond filed against her by Erik Karlsson’s wife, Melinda, after she allegedly harassed the couple over the course of last season and through the death of their first child. The claims have been supported by several other NHL wives, but Hoffman and finacee Monika Caryk maintain their innocence. There was also an alleged confrontation between Karlsson and Hoffman in a parking garage several weeks ago.
Both prospects involved are 22-year-old, right-handed defenseman. Bergman has spent the last three seasons with the San Jose Barracuda, while Donaghey put up 16 points last season with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast.
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