'Tis the season for trade rumors aplenty and San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson seems to always be at the forefront of trade deadline deals. It has become customary for Wilson to seemingly improve his team's playoff chances with a pick-up at the end of February to help boost their specific weakness at the time.
However, as history shows, it has yet to get the franchise past the Western Conference Finals.
This season, inconsistent play and a mix of injuries does not have many sold on the team's playoff potential. Even after the trades for defenseman Brent Burns and speedster Martin Havlat last offseason was this team poised for a Stanley Cup run. That may be why the Sharks have been tied to several key players in the NHL throughout the past few weeks.
The fact is that San Jose is currently a buyer, and the time may be now for this franchise to do all it can to finally get this team over the hump and into the promised land.
Here is the updated list of players the Sharks have reportedly shown interest in over the past few weeks and what it will cost to acquire them.
Tuomo Ruutu
Ruutu is the oldest of the rumors for the Sharks. It seems everyone and their mom is interested in Ruutu, and the Sharks just happened to be thrown into that pile, considering their willingness to spend.
For the Sharks to acquire Ruutu, it would probably take more than expected for a decent player with speed, considering the amount of teams reportedly interested in his services.
Torrey Mitchell would have to be involved, as would one of the excess defensemen, like Jason Demers.
Ryan Smyth
Whether this rumor was as serious as many thought, I seriously doubt Wilson would be interested in a 36-year-old finesse player to bolster a young and talented core and help them into the playoffs. Smyth would have close to zero affect on this team, but crazier things have happened.
Smyth has 16 goals and 20 assists this season for the Edmonton Oilers.
In order for Smyth to become a Shark, San Jose would have to offer Mitchell, Demers and some prospects to land him.
Travis Moen
The Moen rumor to the Sharks was about as serious as any rumor that we have encountered so far this season. Moen was a Shark back in 2008-09, playing in just 19 games for the team, and San Jose could use a gritty, defensive winger to place on that third line with Michal Handzus.
Moen is having his best season in recent memory, tallying nine goals and seven assists for the Montreal Canadiens.
Again, Torrey Mitchell may have to be at the center of this trade, unless Wilson can coax his way into sending some draft picks and a few favors to Montreal in return.
Ray Whitney
There is not a more fitting trade rumor in the NHL right now than the Whitney back to San Jose possibility. Whitney, who was drafted by the Sharks in 1991, would potentially finish his career in the same city he started it in.
The 39-year-old is almost sure to have his best season in three years, already putting up 16 goals and 34 assists for a total of 50 points. He had 77 points for the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2008-09 season.
There is no telling what the trade market is for a 39-year-old playing some of his best hockey. However, Wilson does not seem afraid to throw his hat into the ring for a player of his caliber, especially with such ties to the franchise and Wilson himself, who played with Whitney in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons.
The initial thought was that the Sharks would have to part with Mitchell, Demers and Niittymaki for this to work. Whitney has four more points than Joe Thornton, San Jose's leader in points this season.
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