Henrik Lundqvist to the San Jose Sharks makes sense, believe it or not

The New York Rangers may not want to move Henrik Lundqvist, but if they do the San Jose Sharks make a ton of sense as a landing spot.

The New York Rangers may be turning their rebuild into a push toward real contention, on the heels of acquiring defenseman Jacob Trouba from the Winnipeg Jets. So any idea they would trade veteran goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, or that he would ask for a trade and be willing to waive his no-trade clause, may be fading.

Beyond his no-trade clause, Lundqvist’s age (37) and $8.5 million salary cap hits for each of the next two seasons are barriers to a trade. So it would be a narrow market, comprised of teams with cap space, some level of Stanley Cup aspirations or past ties to Lundqvist.

The San Jose Sharks are coming off a run to the Western Conference Finals, and they’re staying all-in with the extension they just gave defenseman Erik Karlsson. Some tough decisions are coming, with captain Joe Pavelski now unlikely to be back, but general manager Doug Wilson could find a way to make a push for Lundqvist.

Larry Brooks of the New York Post didn’t report the Sharks are going to trade for Lundqvist, but he wonders about the possibility as some others have. Brooks starts with the idea Lundqvist wants to lead the Rangers back to the playoffs, and the team isn’t necessarily in a hurry to move him. But…

"But what if a serious Cup contender were to come after him? What if Wilson were permitted to make a pitch? Lundqvist’s sister lives in the Bay Area. And, of course, his good friend Karlsson would be on hand to help with the transition. And he’d be playing behind a defense that, for the first time since 2011-12, would help shield him."

Lundqvist could form a nice goalie pairing with Martin Jones, who was subpar during this past season and into the playoffs before playing a lot better. Trading Jones, and his $5.75 cap hit through the 2023-24 season, could also be on the table for San Jose if there’s a chance to add Lundqvist.

It’s all hypothetical, and other teams can offer a better return to the Rangers in exchange for Lundqvist. But an effort to add him fits the template for the Sharks, and even a slim chance is worth keeping an eye on.