The NHL Trade deadline is March 7. Top insider Elliotte Friedman speculates that there isn’t much interest in the San Jose Sharks’ pending UFA goaltending tandem of Vitek Vaneck and Alexandar Georgiev.
San Jose has six pending UFAs, and on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman says those players are the key to Mike Grier’s trade deadline plans.
“I think that’s what you’re looking at. San Jose, what do they do with their UFAs, and what else can they accumulate,” Friedman said.
As for the goalies:
“I don’t know how much interest there’s going to be in either of the goalies, Vanecek and Georgiev, who are both UFAs,” Friedman said. “Georgiev has just had a really, really rough year between the two teams.”
Geogiev was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in a trade that sent Mackenzie Blackwood the other way. San Jose has won just five games following the trade.
We have traded Alexandar Georgiev and Nikolai Kovalenko to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Mackenzie Blackwood and Givani Smith. pic.twitter.com/04rknVkWGX— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 9, 2024
In 18 games for the Avalanche, Georgiev had a .874 save percentage and a 3.38 goals-against average. His numbers haven’t improved in 16 games for the Sharks, where he has a .879 save percentage and a 3.93 goals-against average.
Vanecek was acquired from the New Jersey Devils during the 2024 offseason, and although he has shown flashes of solid play, he has also struggled. However, the netminder suffered a freak injury when he broke a cheekbone while serving as the backup goalie against the Winnipeg Jets.
Sharks Goalie Suffered Fractured Cheek On Flukey Play
I went back and looked and here’s what happened. Right after the goal a puck was deflected out and went right on the #SJSharks bench and hit Vanecek. 🎥: @NBCSSharks pic.twitter.com/97tiXu9UZz— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) December 18, 2024
In 18 games for the Sharks this season, Vanecek has just three wins, a .882 save %, and a 3.88 GAA. He has had at least a .900 save % in three of his last five games.
There are many links to other Sharks UFAs, but the goaltenders might be the hardest to trade for GM Mike Grier and the San Jose Sharks.
Which Sharks Player Is The Next To Get Traded?
The Sharks Have A Thomas Bordeleau Decision To Make
Don’t forget to read more on Sharks Hockey Digest posts with the links below! Make sure to bookmark the page and follow Sharks Hockey Digest on Twitter @SharksHKYDigest!