One free agent every NHL team should sign this offseason
By C.L. Kohuss
San Jose Sharks: Riley Nash, Center
What the San Jose Sharks do in free agency could be largely dependent on whether or not star forward Evander Kane resigns with the team after being dealt from Buffalo at the trade deadline.
With $20 million available, Kane will want somewhere around $7 million to $8 million at least. The Sharks also have to consider that Tomas Hertl is a restricted free agent and already making $3 million. That price is going up. Aside from that, they have four free agents who are set to hit the market, including 38-year-old Joe Thornton. Thornton was priced at $8 million this year, but age and injuries will lower his value.
Assuming he leaves for someone else (a Boston return, maybe?) and Evander Kane sticks around, Riley Nash would be a good complement to the pieces they already have in place. Plus, he’s going to be more cost effective than most other players who put up the same numbers (15 goals, 41 points). Nash made $900,000 this past year.
San Jose is also pretty healthy in most areas. It still features Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic on the blue line with Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture manning the scoring up front, and the aforementioned Hertl. Martin Jones was excellent in goal this season.
For efficiency, Nash could come in and produce much the same way he did with the Boston Bruins. He won’t be relied on to score 30 or more goals or put up 70 points. Then again, this could look a lot different if Kane decides to head off.