The 2024 NHL Trade Deadline has now passed, and the rebuilding Sharks have completed five trades today, more than any other team and including one shocker that no one saw coming. There's plenty to cover in this recap post, so let's begin:
First, I plan to cover every trade in sorta chronological order and based on when each trade became official. The first Sharks deal of 2024 Trade Deadline Day acquired forward Klim Kostin from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for defenseman Radim Simek and the Devils' 2024 seventh-round pick. Here we have a trade where both players involved needed a change of scenery more than anything. Kostin has three goals and one assist for four points in 33 games with the Red Wings this season and set a career-best 21 points, 11 goals, 10 assists, and two game-winning goals as a member of the Edmonton Oilers during the 2022-23 season. In total, Klim Kostin has 19 goals and 17 assists for 36 points in 136 career NHL games split between the Red Wings, Oilers, and St. Louis Blues, along with 34 goals, 58 assists, and 92 points in 207 career AHL games with the Bakersfield Condors, Springfield Thunderbirds, and San Antonio Rampage. As for Simek, he spent this season stuck in the AHL with the Barracuda, and this trade helps to clear some of the logjam at defense in the Sharks organization, recording four goals and 12 assists for 16 points in 40 games. In total, Simek has seven goals and 22 assists for 29 points in 209 career NHL games with the Sharks, along with 11 goals and 34 assists for 45 points in 109 career AHL games with the Barracuda. He was also named captain of the Barracuda on February 2 and the Sharks Rookie of the Year during the 2018-19 season.
Next up, the Sharks traded defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk to the Calgary Flames for a conditional fifth-round pick that originally belonged to the Blackhawks. San Jose will receive the highest of Chicago's selection that the Blackhawks own at the time of the draft. During his tenure with the Sharks since being acquired from the Devils in the Timo Meier trade over a year ago, Okhotiuk totaled one goal and seven assists for eight points in 43 games, along with one assist in five AHL games with the Barracuda. I wasn't the biggest fan of Okhotiuk when he was with the Sharks, as it didn't seem like he contributed much to the success of Team Teal, so I don't carry any strong feelings regarding this specific deal.
The third Sharks trade of the day saw San Jose acquire goalie Devin Cooley from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick originally owned by the Capitals. This specific deal was made to shore up goaltending depth in the Sharks organization with Mackenzie Blackwood currently injured, the next trade in this post that I will explain shortly, ensuring that Magnus Chrona doesn't have to carry such a heavy workload in net, and Eetu Makiniemi not ready to take the next step in his development. A native of Los Gatos and a former member of the Jr. Sharks in 2011-12, 2013-14, and 2014-15, Cooley compiled a 6-6-2 record, a 3.77 goals-against average, and an .891 save percentage with the Rochester Americans in the AHL this season. In total, Devin Cooley has a 32-24-6 record, 3.16 goals-against average, and a .900 save percentage in 66 AHL games split between Rochester, the Milwaukee Admirals, and Chicago Wolves.
The next-to-last Sharks trade of the day saw San Jose ship goalie Kaapo Kahkonen to the New Jersey Devils for goalie Vitek Vanecek and a 2025 seventh-round pick. Kahkonen was decent at times throughout this season so far, but received little to no support from his offense and defense most nights he was in the crease for the Sharks, compiling a 6-20-3 record with a 3.36 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage in 31 games. On the other hand, Vanecek had a bit of a down year with the Devils this season and is currently injured and may not return at all this season, compiling a 17-9-3 record with a 3.18 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage in 32 games. He had his best season in the NHL so far in 2022-23 with the Devils, posting a 33-11-4 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .911 SV% along with three shutouts and a career-long ten-game win streak from December 30, 2022 to February 6, 2023. In total, Vanecek has a 91-42-17 record, .905 SV%, 2.70 GAA, and nine shutouts in 163 career NHL games split between the Devils and Washington Capitals. Kahkonen is a pending unrestricted free agent at season's end, while Vanecek has one more season on his current contract.
Last but not least, the blockbuster that came out of nowhere: Sharks forward and franchise centerpiece Tomas Hertl has been dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights, along with two third-round picks in 2025 and 2027, in exchange for prospect center David Edstrom and a 2025 first-round pick. The Sharks will also retain 17 percent of Hertl's salary for the remainder of his current contract, which doesn't end until 2030. This unexpected blockbuster trade came about due to Hertl's full no-movement clause in his current deal and his desire to play for a contender and win now. He has recorded 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 48 games this season and led the team in almost all offensive aspects before the All-Star break. Hertl is currently out with an injury after having surgery to remove loose cartilage from his left knee and expected to make his Golden Knights debut before the end of the regular season. In addition, Hertl is a two-time All-Star with 218 goals, 266 assists, and 484 points in 712 career NHL games, along with 24 goals, 18 assists, and 42 points in 62 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He ranks fifth in goals, sixth in points, and seventh in assists in Sharks franchise history. On the other hand, David Edstrom was the Golden Knights' first-round selection in 2023 and is currently with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League, where he has recorded six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 42 games. Edstrom previously represented Sweden at the World Junior Championships and the 2023 U18 hockey championships, and has a high potential at the NHL level.
Overall, the Sharks were very active at this year's trade deadline in progressing their rebuild, and I am most upset about them trading Tomas Hertl out of left field to their biggest rival in the Vegas Golden Knights, and I am still processing this deal. He was my favorite player on the Sharks this season and one of my favorite Sharks of all time, and it truly sucks to see him depart the only NHL franchise he's ever played for like this. At the same time, Sharks GM Mike Grier objectively made the right decision to trade Hertl while he could to help accelerate the Sharks' rebuild for the long term. Besides his offensive prowess and significant role in San Jose's most recent playoff runs, Tomas Hertl was a great clubhouse presence with his overall positive attitude and wholesome personality, and I will certainly miss him in a Sharks uniform. Although he is now on my most hated team, I have nothing but love for Tomas Hertl for everything he has done for the Sharks in his 11 seasons spent with the team. The Hertl trade absolutely stings, and with Logan Couture confirming that he won't play again this season, things will get much worse for this Sharks team in the short term before they get better in the long run. Team Teal remains in a prime position to win the draft lottery and land Macklin Celebrini this year, and I continue to remain hopeful that this awful season will turn into one of the biggest blessings the Sharks could ask for.
Source: Sharks + SAP Center App
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