On Monday, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks made a major trade, acquiring forward Tomas Tatar from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for veteran forward Carl Soderberg. The Sharks have been looking to add scoring depth to their lineup and Tatar, who has scored at least 20 goals in each of the last three seasons, should help them do just that.
Tatar, a 28-year-old Slovakian, is coming off a career-high 58 points in 2018-19. He has been a consistent scorer since joining the Avalanche in 2017, averaging nearly a point per game over the last two seasons. He also brings some playoff experience to the Sharks, having played in 10 postseason games with the Avalanche.
The Sharks are hoping that Tatar can help them get back to the playoffs after missing out on the postseason for the first time since 2003. With Tatar in the lineup, the Sharks should have more scoring options and be able to spread out their offense more evenly.
In exchange for Tatar, the Sharks gave up Soderberg, a 34-year-old veteran who had been with the team since 2015. Soderberg had been a reliable scorer for the Sharks, but his production had dropped off in recent years and he was no longer seen as a long-term option for the team.
Overall, this trade looks like a win for both teams. The Avalanche get a veteran forward who can help them with their depth issues, while the Sharks get a young, dynamic scorer who can help them get back to the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how Tatar fits in with his new team and if he can help them reach their goal of making the postseason.
