Sharks PTO Targets: Ex-Avalanche Defenseman Could Provide Solid Depth
When the San Jose Sharks take the ice for training camp next month, there will be likely two jobs up for grabs on the blue line. The bottom-pairing role will likely go to a young player like Luca Cagnoni, Nolan Allen, or Eric Pohlkamp. While theoretically one of the two who miss out on that job could be used as the Sharks' seventh defenseman, it would make much more sense to let them get more playing time under their belt at the American Hockey League level.
Video Transcript
We have a trade.
The Dallas Stars have traded Maverick Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin to the Nashville Predators for a second round pick in 2027 and a third round pick in 2028.
Maverick Bourque, breakout year this year with 20 goals and 41 points, and Ilya Lyubushkin, also known as The Russian Bear, a defensive defenseman who brings a lot of physicality.
Ryan, explain this one from a Dallas Stars perspective 'cause I understand why Nashville would want Bourque, but why is Dallas trading a young player who is, you know, on the upside of a, looks like a really good career?
Yeah.
There were rumors of an offer sheet, for Maverick Bourque, so I'm, I'm wondering if Dallas wanted to sort of get out ahead of it and, you know, in, in, in sending Lyubushkin as well, that frees up some cap space for the Stars.
You know, Dallas is in that brutal Central division where, you know, it, it is an arms race and I, I wonder if they have designs on somebody else.
Also, Jason Robertson is still unsigned, right?
We don't know what's gonna happen with Jason Robertson in Dallas.
He's already turned down a couple of trade proposals.
You know, it, it sounds like he might want to stay in Dallas, so maybe this frees up, some more cap space for the Stars.
You know, they get futures for Maverick Bourque and, you know, a- again, those can be flipped for assets or they can just use them in the future.
But, you know, if, if you're Nashville, yeah, you're getting, maybe a second line center, maybe a third line center.
Maverick Bourque is very smart.
You know, he's a responsible player and as you mentioned, he had 20 goals, so obviously, you know, in just his second year in the NHL he's started to show some offense.
Yeah, Nashville Predators now looking pretty good down the middle, with Maverick Bourque and Brady Martin, for the next couple years.
