The Sharks added two players Monday they think can help them get to the playoffs and make a postseason run, acquiring defenseman Roman Polak and center Nick Spaling from Toronto for embattled forward Raffi Torres and San Jose’s second-round selections in the 2017 and 2018 NHL Entry Drafts.
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After being part of the Phil Kessel trade during the offseason, Spaling will now head out west. It has been a rough season for the 27-year-old, as he’s tallied a meager seven points in 35 games.
Polak, 29, has played in 535 National Hockey League games with Toronto and St. Louis, posting 101 points (19 goals, 82 assists) and 423 penalty minutes. After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2003 last season, San Jose entered Monday in third place in the Pacific Division and in striking distance of California rivals Los Angeles and Anaheim for the top spot. Toronto landed a fourth-round pick and prospect Colin Smith when it dealt forward Shawn Matthias to Colorado on Sunday and also sent captain Dion Phaneuf to Ottawa in a nine-player swap earlier this month. Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello said during a conference call.
Per the release, Toronto is planning to reassign Torres to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.
“He moves guys off of puck, he’s great at stopping the play in the defensive zone”.
The Sharks hope Polak and Spaling will join the team in Colorado for a game Wednesday night. He played for DeBoer in Kitchener of the OHL and was drafted by Nashville in 2007.
The Sharks needed to include his contract to make the deal work under the salary cap.
“That’s a big factor”, Wilson said. He just needs more time to go get healthy and go on with his career. “He’s been on a tough journey”. This follows a year in which he missed every game due to a knee injury.
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The Maple Leafs now have two extra 2nd round picks in 2017 & 2018, this could leave the Leafs with three second round picks in 2017.
