San Jose Sharks Acquire Carl Grundstrom from Kings – Hockey Writers – NHL News

The San Jose Sharks continued their busy summer on Thursday ahead of the NHL Draft. This time, general manager Mike Grier traded defenseman Kyle Burroughs to the Los Angeles Kings for forward Carl Grundstrom.

Sharks Add Depth Forward

Grundstrom is likely to serve as the starting six for the Sharks this coming season. They needed to add some depth with the departure of several free agents, including Mike Hoffman, Alexander Barabanov, and possibly others since Grier did not guarantee that Luke Kunin or Filip Zadina would return for the 2024-25 season. Grundstrom plays a very different game than many who leave the organization; however, he brings a strong work ethic and will consistently try to make an impact every night. Acquiring the Swedish striker adds a little more work to Grier’s plate, however, as he now has to negotiate with him as he is currently a restricted free agent. In all, the Sharks have six players restricted to free agency, and five will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

Kings Get Cheap Depth

Meanwhile, at a team a few hours south in Los Angeles, they found a surprise defenseman who would likely be a bottom or seventh defenseman. Burroughs isn’t afraid to stand up for his teammates, and he brings a lot of physicality to the lineup. Offensively, you won’t see much production from him, but he will make a difference on the defensive end. That being said, his average of 42 in the 2023-24 season is a bit concerning as the Sharks were not playing their best hockey when he was on the ice. I wouldn’t expect him to see the same amount of time with the Kings, as he played more than his fair share during his time in teal. More importantly, he gives the Kings a cheap depth option for the next two seasons as he carries a $1.1 million cap hit.

The Sharks and Kings traded two depth players to help each manager fill out their rosters. Neither will be a huge game changer, but both fill needed roles and could log some minutes on their new teams. It’s rare to see a straightforward hockey trade for one person these days, but this one seems like it will help both teams in the long run.