- Mike Grier says the Sharks are “not afraid” to trade the No. 2 pick in Friday’s draft
- San Jose holds three first-round picks: No. 2, No. 9 and No. 27
- Read below for what Grier wants in return and which teams keep calling
Mike Grier isn’t ruling anything out two days before the draft.
The Sharks general manager met with the media Wednesday and made it clear the No. 2 pick is on the table for the right deal.
“It’s something we’re not afraid to do and try to get in on,” Grier said. “I think we’re at the right spot in our path here to possibly add a big piece.”
Here’s Grier with the media on Wednesday:
San Jose won the second overall pick in the second drawing of the May 5 lottery. If the Sharks stand pat, they can take Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg there.
They aren’t short on ammunition. Grier picked up the No. 9 selection in Tuesday’s William Eklund trade with Ottawa, and the Sharks also hold No. 27 after a June swap with Buffalo. Three first-rounders in one night.
The Sharks confirmed the Eklund deal on Tuesday:
Grier said about five teams have stayed consistently serious about No. 2, and a couple have put forward offers worth real discussion.
“We’ve received a couple of legitimate offers that we’ve had to really think through and have conversations about,” Grier said. “I expect that’ll continue over the next three days.”
There’s a catch. Grier won’t move the pick for a short-term fix, even with San Jose out of the playoffs seven years running.
“It would have to make sense for us to move off the second overall pick and potentially get a new player like that who can be on our roster for a long time,” he said.
Trading that high used to be unthinkable. Before Chicago shipped the No. 4 pick to Buffalo for Bowen Byram this week, no top-five pick had changed hands since 2008. Grier could make it two in one draft.
