<p>At the start of the season, the San Jose Sharks seemed like the perfect trading partner for the Edmonton Oilers.</p>
<p>With goaltender <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/like-it-or-not-the-oilers-werent-in-a-place-to-replicate-the-mackenzie-blackwood-trade">Mackenzie Blackwood</a> posting a respectable .911 save percentage on the league&#8217;s worst team before being dealt to the Colorado Avalanche (and improving to an impressive .922) he could have been a solid solution in net. Meanwhile, Mikael Granlund, the Sharks&#8217; top point producer, looked like a potential middle-six forward option before being packaged with Cody Ceci in a <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-teams-continue-to-load-up-well-before-trade-deadline-as-stars-acquire-cody-ceci-and-mikael-granlund-from-sharks">trade to the Dallas Stars</a>.</p>
<p>The Stars made these moves possible by leveraging LTIR space, and the Sharks, with no retention slots left (thanks to holding salary on Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson, and Tomáš Hertl), were more than happy to shed those contracts.</p>
<p>Despite the flurry of trades, the 15-35-7 Sharks still have intriguing assets the Oilers might consider. Let’s explore some potential targets&#8230;</p>
<p></p>
<h2>Luke Kunin</h2>
<p>For the Oilers, Luke Kunin ticks a lot of boxes. A right-shot center with solid speed, penalty-kill experience (fifth-most PK minutes among Sharks players), and the ability to chip in 10-15 goals a season, Kunin would be a versatile depth addition.</p>
<p>This season, the 27-year-old has tallied 11 goals and 18 points in 57 games, already matching last year’s production in 20 fewer appearances. His career-high? A respectable 15 goals and 31 points with the Minnesota Wild in 2019-20.</p>
<p>Kunin’s $2.75 million cap hit makes him affordable, but with unrestricted free agency looming this summer, the Sharks may hesitate to trade their alternate captain if they believe they can re-sign him.</p>
<h2>Klim Kostin</h2>
<p>The Oilers have many strengths, but delivering heavy hits isn’t one of them. Klim Kostin could help change that. The 25-year-old Russian forward, who previously suited up for Edmonton, brings physicality and flashes of scoring ability.</p>
<p>While his current season stats (one goal and four points in 26 games) might not turn heads, he made an impact after joining the Sharks at the 2024 trade deadline, recording five goals and 10 points in just 19 games. His 2022-23 season with the Oilers also showed promise, with 11 goals and 21 points in 57 games, plus three goals and five points in 12 playoff contests.</p>
<p>Kostin’s $2 million cap hit is manageable, and as a pending restricted free agent, the Oilers could retain his rights. He’ll hit unrestricted free agency in 2026, giving any team flexibility.</p>
<h2>Jake Walman</h2>
<p>If the Oilers are looking for a puck-moving defenseman with term, Jake Walman could be a prime candidate. Traded to the Sharks from Detroit, the left-shot blueliner has been a standout this season, posting six goals and 29 points in 44 games, a significant jump from his previous career-high of 12 goals and 21 points.</p>
<p>Walman’s $3.4 million cap hit runs through the end of the 2025-26 season, making him a long-term option. The big question: Can he transition to playing on the right side alongside Darnell Nurse? If so, he might be the steady two-way defender Edmonton needs.</p>
<h2>Mario Ferraro</h2>
<p>Another intriguing defensive option is Mario Ferraro, a gritty, left-shot blueliner who logs heavy penalty-kill minutes. This season, Ferraro has played 140:24 shorthanded, the second-most on the Sharks after Cody Ceci (prior to his trade).</p>
<p>Ferraro has also added some offensive upside, setting a career-high with five goals and 11 points so far, just 10 points shy of his personal best from last season.</p>
<p>At $3.25 million per year, Ferraro is signed through 2025-26 with no trade protection, making him an attainable and cost-controlled option. As a Sharks alternate captain, however, San Jose may be reluctant to part with him unless the price is right.</p>
<h2>Alexandar Georgiev</h2>
<p>Goaltending remains a tricky area for the Sharks, but Alexandar Georgiev is at least worth mentioning. While his current numbers (4.01 GAA, .875 SV%) are grim, they reflect the struggles of a rebuilding team rather than his overall ability.</p>
<p>In 2022-23, Georgiev was lights out for the Avalanche, recording a .919 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against average across 62 games while posting a stellar 40-16-6 record. His $2.924 million cap hit, partially retained by Colorado, makes him affordable for a team willing to gamble on a bounce-back season.</p>
<p>The Sharks may be limping through a tough season, but their roster still holds pieces that could bolster Edmonton&#8217;s playoff push. Whether it’s adding depth scoring, defensive stability, or even taking a chance on a struggling goaltender, the Oilers have options to consider.</p>
<hr />
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.</span></i></p>

At the start of the season, the San Jose Sharks seemed like the perfect trading partner for the Edmonton Oilers.

With goaltender <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/like-it-or-not-the-oilers-werent-in-a-place-to-replicate-the-mackenzie-blackwood-trade">Mackenzie Blackwood</a> posting a respectable .911 save percentage on the league's worst team before being dealt to the Colorado Avalanche (and improving to an impressive .922) he could have been a solid solution in net. Meanwhile, Mikael Granlund, the Sharks' top point producer, looked like a potential middle-six forward option before being packaged with Cody Ceci in a <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-teams-continue-to-load-up-well-before-trade-deadline-as-stars-acquire-cody-ceci-and-mikael-granlund-from-sharks">trade to the Dallas Stars</a>.

The Stars made these moves possible by leveraging LTIR space, and the Sharks, with no retention slots left (thanks to holding salary on Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson, and Tomáš Hertl), were more than happy to shed those contracts.

Despite the flurry of trades, the 15-35-7 Sharks still have intriguing assets the Oilers might consider. Let’s explore some potential targets...


<h2>Luke Kunin</h2>
For the Oilers, Luke Kunin ticks a lot of boxes. A right-shot center with solid speed, penalty-kill experience (fifth-most PK minutes among Sharks players), and the ability to chip in 10-15 goals a season, Kunin would be a versatile depth addition.

This season, the 27-year-old has tallied 11 goals and 18 points in 57 games, already matching last year’s production in 20 fewer appearances. His career-high? A respectable 15 goals and 31 points with the Minnesota Wild in 2019-20.

Kunin’s $2.75 million cap hit makes him affordable, but with unrestricted free agency looming this summer, the Sharks may hesitate to trade their alternate captain if they believe they can re-sign him.
<h2>Klim Kostin</h2>
The Oilers have many strengths, but delivering heavy hits isn’t one of them. Klim Kostin could help change that. The 25-year-old Russian forward, who previously suited up for Edmonton, brings physicality and flashes of scoring ability.

While his current season stats (one goal and four points in 26 games) might not turn heads, he made an impact after joining the Sharks at the 2024 trade deadline, recording five goals and 10 points in just 19 games. His 2022-23 season with the Oilers also showed promise, with 11 goals and 21 points in 57 games, plus three goals and five points in 12 playoff contests.

Kostin’s $2 million cap hit is manageable, and as a pending restricted free agent, the Oilers could retain his rights. He’ll hit unrestricted free agency in 2026, giving any team flexibility.
<h2>Jake Walman</h2>
If the Oilers are looking for a puck-moving defenseman with term, Jake Walman could be a prime candidate. Traded to the Sharks from Detroit, the left-shot blueliner has been a standout this season, posting six goals and 29 points in 44 games, a significant jump from his previous career-high of 12 goals and 21 points.

Walman’s $3.4 million cap hit runs through the end of the 2025-26 season, making him a long-term option. The big question: Can he transition to playing on the right side alongside Darnell Nurse? If so, he might be the steady two-way defender Edmonton needs.
<h2>Mario Ferraro</h2>
Another intriguing defensive option is Mario Ferraro, a gritty, left-shot blueliner who logs heavy penalty-kill minutes. This season, Ferraro has played 140:24 shorthanded, the second-most on the Sharks after Cody Ceci (prior to his trade).

Ferraro has also added some offensive upside, setting a career-high with five goals and 11 points so far, just 10 points shy of his personal best from last season.

At $3.25 million per year, Ferraro is signed through 2025-26 with no trade protection, making him an attainable and cost-controlled option. As a Sharks alternate captain, however, San Jose may be reluctant to part with him unless the price is right.
<h2>Alexandar Georgiev</h2>
Goaltending remains a tricky area for the Sharks, but Alexandar Georgiev is at least worth mentioning. While his current numbers (4.01 GAA, .875 SV%) are grim, they reflect the struggles of a rebuilding team rather than his overall ability.

In 2022-23, Georgiev was lights out for the Avalanche, recording a .919 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against average across 62 games while posting a stellar 40-16-6 record. His $2.924 million cap hit, partially retained by Colorado, makes him affordable for a team willing to gamble on a bounce-back season.

The Sharks may be limping through a tough season, but their roster still holds pieces that could bolster Edmonton's playoff push. Whether it’s adding depth scoring, defensive stability, or even taking a chance on a struggling goaltender, the Oilers have options to consider.

<hr />

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.</span></i>

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