According to Stefen Rosner of The Elmonters, the San Jose Sharks were heavily interested in signing Brock Boeser long-term.
In his latest story, Rosner reports that the Sharks and New York Islanders were both in on the Vancouver Canucks forward.
“Per sources, the Islanders’ offer to Boeser was extremely close to what he ultimately signed with Vancouver,” Rosner writes. “The Islanders weren’t the only team eying Boeser.”
“However, the reason the Islanders were a front-runner was because Darche was willing to offer the length and AAV that Boeser was looking for. One Western Conference team was willing to go as high as $8 million annually—but only for four years.”
“Boeser cared more about the years. I believe the San Jose Sharks were the only team besides the Islanders who were prepared to offer seven years.”
Rosner informed SHD this morning that he had also been told, via a source, that the Sharks were willing to offer seven years.
Boeser, who was widely believed to be leaving the Canucks, ultimately decided to stay. Even with the Sharks and Islanders reportedly heavily involved, Boeser signed a seven-year contract with a $7.25 million AAV.
This report comes as a bit of a surprise given what San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier has said about long-term contracts. Boeser, 29, was the perfect candidate to sign with the Sharks for a shorter-ish term deal with high AAV.
“I’ve been pretty consistent of saying I don’t want to hand out long-term contracts necessarily right now. That this might not be the time to do that,” Grier said. “Of course, there will be a time where we’ve got to lock up some guys and give them a little bit of term, but I don’t think we’re quite there yet.”
Rosner told SHD Islanders GM Mathieu Darche echoed a similar statement about long-term deals. Clearly, there were exceptions, as both appear to have been willing to give Boeser a long-term contract.
The Sharks are still in the market for a bona fide top-six winger. Grier can acquire one via trade and is reportedly working to move a defenseman.
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