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New York Rangers: 4 teams that may want to add center by trade deadline

By John Williams

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: Vladislav Namestnikov #90 of the New York Rangers carries the puck amid pressure from Dennis Seidenberg #4 of the New York Islanders during the second period at Barclays Center on April 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: Vladislav Namestnikov #90 of the New York Rangers carries the puck amid pressure from Dennis Seidenberg #4 of the New York Islanders during the second period at Barclays Center on April 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 16: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks skates during warmups prior to Game Three of the Western Conference First Round against the Anaheim Ducks during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 16, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Scott Dinn/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 16: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks skates during warmups prior to Game Three of the Western Conference First Round against the Anaheim Ducks during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 16, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Scott Dinn/NHLI via Getty Images) /

San Jose Sharks

On paper, the Sharks have enough depth at center to make a deep playoff run. Veterans Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture and Joe Thornton are all returning, and the team has a few of their top prospects waiting in the wings for some ice time at the pivot.

But we all know that the team is going to go all in again while their core is still in tact this season. After all, this team has been the model of consistency over the last 15 years now that the Red Wings’ empire has fallen. General manager Doug Wilson has never been gun-shy about making a big trade-deadline move either.

But while the Sharks have that aforementioned depth, one of those key pieces (Joe Thornton) has torn his ACL and MCL in each of the last two seasons. At age 39, nobody knows how those old legs will hold up. And while the team has plenty of other players who have played center in the past, most of them are primarily left or right wings.

The Sharks don’t have their 2018 first round pick, but they have two second round picks to work with. Would a second round pick for Vladislav Namestnikov get the job done for both sides? I think it could work on a market where so many teams hesitate to sell.

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