3. What impact will Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba have on defense?
The Sharks acquired veteran defensemen Darnell Nurse (trade with the Edmonton Oilers) and Jacob Trouba (signed as an unrestricted free agent) on July 1. Both are expected to help shore up the blue line this season.
San Jose was among the worst defensive teams in the League last season, giving up an average of 3.54 goals per game. Only the Toronto Maple Leafs (3.60) and the Vancouver Canucks (3.83) conceded more goals per game.
Nurse, 31, played 11 full seasons with Edmonton and is going into the fifth of an eight-year, $74 million contract ($9.25 million AAV) signed in 2021. Trouba, 32, who signed a four-year, $33 million contract ($8.25 million AAV), is going into his 14th NHL season and played the majority of the past two seasons with the Anaheim Ducks.
“Having these two guys on our back end will allow us to not have to rush any of our young ‘D’ prospects and also not force them into roles they’re not ready for,” Grier said. “It gives them some time and gives Verhoeff, Lin and (Eric) Pohlkamp some time underneath, to not rush them up here.”