Islanders: Three San Jose Sharks trade target to pursue at trade deadline

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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: (l-r) Doug Wilson of the San Jose Sharks and Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders chat prior to the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

With the trade deadline approaching, the San Jose Sharks are going to be sellers. What Sharks player should the New York Islanders target?

Going into the trade deadline, the New York Islanders are surely going to be buyers. Or at least they should be. Hopefully, Stand Pat isn’t the only acquisition they make at the deadline.

The San Jose Sharks will certainly be sellers at the deadline.

They’re eleven points out of a wildcard spot with 50 games played so far. The core of their roster is aging rapidly and carrying big immovable contracts. They have five players locked into contracts carrying a minimum $7 million cap hit through the 2024-25 season. And they don’t have their first-round pick (the Senators have it thanks to the Karlsson trade).

That last part – the one where the Ottawa Senators hold the Sharks first-round pick – is apparently causing GM Doug Wilson some embarrassment. And rightfully so, the Sharks should be in a playoff position with the aspiration of getting a cup not at the bottom of the league thinking about a rebuild.

Wilson is hoping to get back into the first-round of the 2020 draft, but the only way to do that is by trading for one. That means Wilson will have to move someone of value. Something that should greatly interest the Islanders.

So who, of value, on the San Jose Sharks roster should the Islanders inquire about?

TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 25: Kevin LaBanc #62 of the San Jose Sharks waits for play to resume against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sharks 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Kevin Labanc | LW, RW

Stats: 50GP, 11G, 14A, 25Pts

I didn’t think that the San Jose Sharks were going to be able to keep Kevin Labanc on the roster and sign some of their veterans like Joe Thornton. Unless Labanc took some sort of discount on his bridge deal. And that’s exactly what happened.

Labanc signed a single year extension for $1 million to give the Sharks one more kick at the can. And it failed spectacularly.

Not only is the Brooklyn native on pace for 41 points, well below the 56 he put up last season, but the Sharks are spiraling to the bottom of the NHL. Big decisions need to be made with the roster. Like, how will Doug Wilson approach that handshake agreement he made with Labanc when that single year extension was negotiated?

The Islanders could use Labanc to bolster their right side. Jordan Eberle is the only recognized right-wing currently on the team (Cal Clutterbuck would count if healthy).

Labanc is young, talented, and would be under team control for a number of years. He just turned 24 this past December. Labanc is the type of player that on his own wouldn’t return a first-round pick, but he’s not far off either.

He’s an exciting young player that could add that dynamism the Islanders need in their top-six. Although with a career-high 17 goals (he’s on pace for 18 this year) he’s not exactly the goal-threat the Isles looking for.

But getting the chance to add a talented young player is never one you should pass on lightly. The Islanders have a shot here to see bring in Labanc. They need to try.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 12: Tomas Hertl #48 of the San Jose Sharks smiles after he scored a goal against the Edmonton Oilers at SAP Center on November 12, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Tomas Hertl | C

Stats: 46GP, 15G, 20A, 35Pts

While Kevin Labanc may not be the goal threat the Isles are looking for, Tomas Hertl is.

Last season saw the Czech-born forward notch 35 goals and 39 helpers for a career-high 74 points. This year his stats have tumbled a bit. With 15 goals and 35 points in 46 games, he’s on pace for a 59 point season.

Assuming he holds pace and scores 25 goals, he’ll have scored 20 or more goals in four of his seven seasons in the NHL. He’s clearly not one of the premier snipers in the league, but he’s a goal threat that offers more than just being a shooter.

He’s great on the power play with eleven goals on the man advantage last year. This year he has seven points on the power play with two goals and five assists.

He plays primarily at center for the Sharks, but Hertl could be moved to the wing on a line with Mathew Barzal. Hertl could step in for faceoffs, he has a 52.4 career faceoff win percentage to Barzal’s 42.1 percent, while Barzal plays down the middle after the draw.

On his own, Hertl is certainly worth a first-round pick and more. Again, he has 70+ point potential.

He also has two more years remaining on a contract with an AAV of $5.625 million. With $5.886 million in cap space, the Isles have just enough room to squeeze him under the cap ceiling.

Hertl is a controllable asset, for this year and two more, and provides top-line production. If it costs a first-round pick so be it. It’s worth it for the Islanders to trade their first-rounder away at this point if it brings in top-line talent.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 14: Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks is congratulated by teammates after he scored a goal against the Vancouver Canucks at SAP Center on December 14, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Timo Meier | LW, RW

Stats: 50GP, 16G, 15A, 31Pts

Last is Timo Meier. The former ninth overall pick in the 2015 draft is, like everyone else for the San Jose Sharks, having a down year. With 16 goals and 31 points, he’s on pace for 51 points. That’s 15 points off his 66 points from last season.

But like Hertl, Meier would give the Islanders that goal-scoring threat they’re looking for. Since 2017-18, his second year in the league, Meier has scored 67 goals. He finished with 30 last season and is on pace to finish with 26 this season.

He’s also just turned 23 in October. He carries a $6 million cap hit until 2022-2023 where he’ll still be an RFA. Meier would be a controllable asset for years.

The cap hit sounds high for a player that’s on pace for 51 points. But this is only his fourth season in the NHL. He still has room to improve. And, again, not a single San Jose Sharks player is having a good year on the stats sheet.

Meier is young, talented, he’s a goal-scorer, and is under contract for the next three years. There’s nothing not to like about acquiring Meier.

Losing a first-round pick for a 23-year-old goal-scorer with term on his contract sounds like a perfectly reasonable move to make considering where the New York Islanders are at the moment.

Not only do the Islanders need someone today to help score some goals, but they could use someone for the next few years as well. Timo Meier would be a good player to fill that need for the Islanders.

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Doug Wilson will have to make moves to fix the numerous gaps in his roster (like goaltending), clearing $6 million is a good start. He won’t be cheap, but Meier is the type of player Lou should be looking to bring in to push the needle forward.

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