San Jose Sharks' Worst Trade Of The Past Year

The San Jose Sharks didn't have a great offseason as they fumbled a couple of bigger trades. Though they got worse and that's the goal, Brent Burns and Adin Hill could have each gotten better returns for the production they have given both of their new teams this season.

Burns (34% retained - $2.72 million AAV) was first dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes along with Lane Pederson in exchange for only Steven Lorentz, Eetu Mkiniemi, and a 2023 third round pick that is the lower of the two Carolina possesses. Burns, now 38 years old, hasn't slowed down as he has scored 13 goals and 54 points in 73 games. It has been his most productive season offensively since 2018-19. The Hurricanes get him for another two years at $5.28 million to be their number one offensive defenceman and run the power play while the only thing the Sharks could really get of value was a third round pick.

Even though Mattias Ekholm and Burns are very different players, the difference in returns is significant. To the right team or with better negotiating, the Sharks could have gotten more for Burns.

The other trade in question is the one that sent Hill to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2024 fourth round pick. The 26-year-old hasn't had a bad season in the NHL yet and had a solid season for the Sharks in 2021-22. They chose to stick with James Reimer, who they couldn't move at the deadline, and Kaapo Kahkonen, who hasn't been good at all this year, while Hill has posted a .915 save percentage, .640 quality start percentage, and 8.2 goals saved above average. He also has three fewer wins than both Reimer and Kahkonen combined. They traded away their best goalie for a minimal return and have struggled immensely in net.

So which of the two were worse? Despite the age of Burns and the uncertainty that comes with players that old, he hasn't shown signs of declining any more than he has over the past few years. As he is still one of the top defencemen in the league, that trade is the Sharks' worst of the past year.