The NHL trade deadline of Feb. 27 is approaching, and talk is starting to heat up regarding which teams will be looking to add players to their roster for the stretch run and playoffs, and which are ready to give up on the current campaign and build for the future.
The Sharks are expected to be buyers, and could use another scoring winger with the absence of Marty Havlat until what will probably be early March. Its more difficult to make trades mid-season in the salary cap era, but San Jose has managed to do it in the past, including last season when it traded for defenseman Ian White on Feb. 18, 2010.
General manager Doug Wilson was recently a guest on the "NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman. Wilson unsurprisingly didnt talk trades with Bettman, but rather explained his specific strategy regarding player movement.
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"What I try and do is keep in touch with every GM at least once a month, see how their team is performing, what their injuries are, and plant seeds," Wilson said. "Sometimes you plant a seed and it might take a year or so before a player becomes available. We did some deals with Minnesota this summer that were based upon that. We told them what it is we were looking for, and if a couple of their players they decided they were going to go in a different direction, to please call us.
Looking to add at the deadline is a position Wilson is familiar with, as the Sharks have been in contention in late February every season hes been in charge. The challenge, once again, will be to find that piece or pieces that puts the team over the top.
"We do not apologize for having really high expectations, and that's the beauty of our coach, who came from Detroit and who expects success every year. That's just the way it should be. We want players that welcome the opportunity to go out and play against the best. We've made the playoffs every year but have not been satisfied that we have not climbed that mountain completely."
For the complete article on NHL.com, click here.