The San Jose Sharks currently hold the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, putting them on the cusp of the playoff picture. As the NHL trade deadline draws near, teams across the league will be evaluating their rosters, looking for opportunities to strengthen weak spots and make a late-season push.
While San Jose has been linked to several potential trade candidates ahead of the March 6 deadline, the organization would be wise to look at ways to improve the club defensively, albeit the Sharks could be in the running to acquire an unhappy winger.
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The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun suggests that the Sharks could be an ideal landing spot for Columbus Blue Jackets winger Yegor Chinakhov, whose frustration with the Columbus Blue Jackets has been well documented. While LeBrun notes that no team has officially expressed interest, the fit between the Sharks and the 24-year-old forward appears to be a natural one on the surface, but San Jose would be wise to stay away.
The Sharks should steer clear of pursuing Chinakhov. For one, the team doesn’t necessarily need him, nor should they consider parting with valuable assets to acquire him. San Jose remains in a rebuilding phase, and navigating rough stretches is a natural part of that process. Chinakhov has repeatedly shown that he struggles to perform when the team faces adversity.
His track record points to a lack of maturity; instead of elevating those around him, he can hinder both morale and performance. His ice time has dropped significantly, from an average of 15 minutes per game to just 10, highlighting this issue.
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The Sharks do not need that type of baggage on a roster with serious long-term potential. With the team positioned to become a contender in the near future, the focus should remain on growth and stability—Chinakhov is a challenge better left to another organization.
San Jose could certainly benefit from adding a right-handed defenseman, as the team’s struggles on the blue line are well documented. With the Calgary Flames looking to move several of their veteran players, Rasmus Andersson has frequently surfaced in trade rumors as one of the more notable names available.
Finding a dependable right-handed defenseman like Andersson—someone who can log 24:10 of ice time per game while contributing effectively on both the power play and penalty kill—is no small task. Targeting a player of his caliber would likely be a far smarter move than investing in a forward who could bring more headaches than help.
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