Confirmed Trade: [OTT/SJS] Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins, and 4th round pick for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, 2025 2nd round pick

[Jared Dunn]

Has to be Dallas. Locking down their franchise center Johnston with only 8 million and landing Rantanen is insane.

Imo the signing shouldn't be grouped into trade deadline regardless of it happening today but I mean yes to be honest as I hit post I did think "maybe Dallas"

 

[Mattb124]

Zetterlund is an arbitration-eligible RFA, and it could be that Grier didn’t like the tone of the discussions with Lemieux and decided to get what he could get in trade. Not crazy about the return and will miss the player, but hockey is a business and sometimes tough decisions need to be made.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

I don't love it as a sharks fan as Zetterlund I felt could have gotten more but not overly upset like some others. We don't know what his contract demands were. On a winning team, Zetterlund is a really good 3rd line winger that can fill in line 2 if needed but shouldnt be relied on as a permanent top 6. On the sharks he was playing as a top 6 the entire time and maybe was asking for top 6 money or more, we don't know. If it was a case of he wanted long term for high aav, then MG made the correct move trading him.

I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that he was asking for crazy money. Because if not, and he was only asking for second-line winger money, the team could’ve easily afforded him. And he was a great fit here personality wise, not even mentioning his solid on-ice play.

 

[Hale The Villain]

It's possible Grier sees Ostapchuk as a player that the Sharks don't have in their system and sees Zetterlund being passed by some of their skilled forward prospects in the pipeline.

One thing to mention about Ostapchuk is that he's an underrated fighter. Can really throw them. Actually beat Rempe back in his WHL days.

 

[karltonian]

GMMG must have had a breakdown about how soft the team is after getting manhandled by Colorado.

 

[dmcccdmn]

So contract talks went south, which led to Grier to get what he can. Sucks for Sharks fans, but Zetterlund forced himself out of San Jose.

 

[SpezDispenser]

So contract talks went south, which led to Grier to get what he can. Sucks for Sharks fans, but Zetterlund forced himself out of San Jose.

This makes me nervous, ngl.

 

[SmokeyDuck]

What a terrible move for SJ. Great trade for NJ OTT.

 

[SmokeyDuck]

So contract talks went south, which led to Grier to get what he can. Sucks for Sharks fans, but Zetterlund forced himself out of San Jose.

I get this if its an older guy, but with a 25 year old?

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Don’t understand this much on San Jose’s end. Ottawa did well here.

 

[Sota Popinski]

He's 25. This is basically Grier saying he doesn't intend on competing until 2030

Or it's saying he'd rather use the cap space on someone else

 

[TheBeard]

Or it's saying he'd rather use the cap space on someone else

The Sharks are currently 30 million under the salary floor for 25-26 and that includes not putting Couture and his 8 million hit on LTIR since he's never playing again.

 

[BluesyShoes]

Jealous, I'm a big Zetterlund fan. Whenever my home team plays him, he's always in the thick of things making a big impact.

 

[Vitto79]

I don’t get this one for SJ
He’s gonna get a big raise but they have the space

 

[fasterthanlight]

What a terrible move for SJ. Great trade for NJ.

SJ lost so bad NJ won despite not being involved

 

[SmokeyDuck]

SJ lost so bad NJ won despite not being involved

LOL! great catch

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

He is arbitration eligible. They may think they sold high based on his contract status and demands. Which doesn't mean he is going to decline in play, but if he wants 6x6, the standards to move him completely change.

It's surprising that this is all he went for given what some rentals attracted, but I get San Jose accepting the best offer now if paying him top dollar wasn't in their plans. He probably is not worth more as an RFA.

 

[CanadienShark]

f***ing garbage deal. What was Grier thinking?

 

[CanadienShark]

This makes me nervous, ngl.

Once you see him in your jersey, you won't be. His value lies in his "intangibles" and even his tangibles are pretty good.

 

[Boud]

For Sharks fans wanting some information on Ostapchuk:

Ostapchuk is a good player and he’s very projectable. He’s big, great skater, plays with pace, hits and has grit, willing to fight … and he has some offensive instincts. Do not look at his stat line from this year in the NHL and be dissapointed. He played this year, probably before he was completely ready, because of injuries. He was also playing on the 4th line with players who don’t create offense. After that he played for a bit on the 3rd line with tough matchups, tough thing to do for a guy in his first year.

I think a realistic projection for Ostapchuk is a match-up 3rd line checking center who can put up 30-35 points and probably a bit more in his peak. That’s extremely valuable in today’s NHL. He will 100% be a very good NHLer. There’s no doubt about it. He’s very responsible defensively so what he needs to work on is his confidence to make things happen offensively. He’ll probably be playing at 215ish in his mid 20s.

The only reason Sens traded him is really because they have the depth at center with Stutzle, Cozens, Pinto, Greig and etc. Otherwise I guarantee you Sens would have kept him and molded him for that 3rd line role.

Ostapchuk will be a fan favourite in San Jose. Just be patient with him. He will be a heart and soul guy for you for years to come and will bring a lot of value. Think someone like Adam Lowry.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Once you see him in your jersey, you won't be. His value lies in his "intangibles" and even his tangibles are pretty good.

I appreciate that side of the analysis. I only mean if he priced himself out of SJ, who knows what will happen with a cap strapped team.

Still, that's the GM's problem.

 

[Mattb124]

He is arbitration eligible. They may think they sold high based on his contract status and demands. Which doesn't mean he is going to decline in play, but if he wants 6x6, the standards to move him completely change.

It's surprising that this is all he went for given what some rentals attracted, but I get San Jose accepting the best offer now if paying him top dollar wasn't in their plans. He probably is not worth more as an RFA.

I got to thinking about this, and I can’t help but wonder that, when an arbitration-eligible player is playing above their natural position because they are on a bad team such as the Sharks, does it significantly increase the amount that could be granted to them for their next contract through arbitration? Wondering if Grier thought he was setting himself up for the perfect storm?

 

[joestevens29]

Grier better bring some actual nhl vets next year

 

[CanadienShark]

I appreciate that side of the analysis. I only mean if he priced himself out of SJ, who knows what will happen with a cap strapped team.

Still, that's the GM's problem.

To be fair, I haven't been following hockey much lately. I'm a huge Zetterlund fan. I thought for sure we'd lock him up to a long term deal. He's a perfect middle six player. He's got skill, grit, great attitude, etc.

He's not going to blow you away with his skills, but he can hang with talented players and complement them well. Or have him on a stacked 3rd line.

 

[Sota Popinski]

The Sharks are currently 30 million under the salary floor for 25-26 and that includes not putting Couture and his 8 million hit on LTIR since he's never playing again.

They were talking extension with him, so it isn't just for next year and they wanted to keep him at a certain price. If they signed him to a 6-8 year deal and overpaid him, in 3-4 years when Celebrini, Eklund and Smith etc. get paid, all of the sudden Sharks fans are gonna complain that they would have cap space to add x, y and z if Grier didn't sign Zetterlund to that stupid contract.