LetsGoSharks.com - Inside San Jose Sharks Hockey
Support this community by becoming a Sponsor
  
Granlund and Ceci dealt to Stars
Sharks clear out 2 UFAs ahead of trade deadline
2/1/2025 - By Mike Lee

The Sharks finally pulled the plug on two impending unrestricted free agents on Saturday by trading centerman Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci to the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2025 1st round draft pick and a conditional 2025 3rd round pick. Both players were scheduled to be free agents this summer and the Sharks did not feel inclined to overpay to keep them around.

Granlund leads all Sharks in scoring with 45 points on 15 goals and 30 assists. The Finnish centerman was acquired in a package that sent Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh in August of 2023.

Filling the role of veteran mentor, Granlund also produced, which made him one of the Sharks few commodities in terms of trade capital. The Sharks likely felt the 32-year-old forward was not worth extending given his age. They've been hamstrung by a handful of bad contracts that created the mess that has had them cellar dwellers for the past 6 seasons.

Ceci was part of a defensive corps that is miles behind the development of the offense in the Sharks rebuild. San Jose ranks dead last in the league in goals allowed and goals allowed per game. Ceci was swapped along for Ty Emberson this past August. That trade also landed the Sharks Edmonton's 3rd round draft pick this summer.

The move means that that players like Jack Thompson will see more ice time and fans may see the return of defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin.

San Jose may not be done in dealing current players.

Forwards Luke Kunin and Nico Sturm are both scheduled to be unrestricted free agents this summer. Defenseman Jan Rutta is also free to sign with whomever he chooses after July 1st, but the Sharks may be more inclined to keep one of the few veteran blueliners they have left.

Anything is possible, so blueliners Mario Ferraro and Jake Walman could be playing for new teams come deadline day. Both are making more than $3 million a season and they each have one more year remaining on their contracts. It's highly unlikely that anyone will touch Marc-Edouard Vlasic's $7 million contract, which still has another year left on it, unless someone gets something more valuable along with the 37-year-old defenseman.



SHARE THIS STORY:



What did you think of this article? Post your comments on the Feeder Forums

 





Privacy Statement   |   Contact Us   |   Advertise
Copyright 1997-2022 LetsGoSharks.com. All rights reserved.
This website is an unofficial and independently operated source of news
and information not affiliated with the San Jose Sharks, any team, or league.