The move to the Sharks was hardly what the forward hoped for in his NHL career. With the right moves, the landscape can change again in the middle of the season, although a salary of five million is a small burden, writes Tommi Seppälä, EPN Urheilu’s NHL editor.
There are no bad jobs in the NHL. Especially not if you get paid five million US dollars for your work, like Mikael Granlund. The man’s four-year contract ends in the summer of 2025.
The recent player trade to San Jose was everything the player had hoped for. San Jose was the fourth weakest combination in the entire NHL last season, and the prospects for the future aren’t any better.
San Jose is a veteran team, but at the same time a very mediocre, even weak one. There are ten players in the group who are at least 29 years old, but there is still very little hard quality. The team’s best players are Tomas Hertl and Logan Coutureneither of whom can be counted as a top scorer in the NHL.
There are four players under the age of 25.
The best defender is 36 years old Marc-Edouard Vlasicwho hasn’t played at his best level for years.
You can find them in the goalkeeper department Kaapo Kähkönen and Mackenzie Blackwood.
Part of this whole is the big one Erik Karlsson – through the trade now Granlund, 31. The trade hardly made the Helsinki-acquainted Oulunsalo squeal with joy.
As a player, Granlund is at an age where his only goal is to win the Stanley Cup. The move from Pittsburgh to Northern California is a big step away from the coveted trophy.
Of course, in San Jose, Granlund gets into a completely different role than he would get in the league’s top teams. Now there is responsibility in all possible situations, including over and under power plays. In this team, Granlund is a clear top player through his versatility, skills and reliability.
That is what the Finnish player now has to draw from.
Granlund’s only goal must be to get out of San Jose – if he still intends to pursue the Holy Grail named after Lord Stanley.
Print to be put on the table
Granlund had a hard time in Nashville right after the transfer, as it was also last season in Pittsburgh right after the player trade. Now in a new club, the game should be started at a fast pace. This also means making a number result.
The 70-point limit is still unbroken by a forward in the NHL.
In terms of defensive obligations or general work ethic, there is no need to worry about Granlund.
Granlund may very well be a player who arouses interest in the transfer zone before the spring playoffs – provided, of course, that the game has been played and a result has been produced. It is especially important because of Granlund’s contract. The five million annual salary is becoming some kind of a burden for the Finn – the performances have to better match the salary band last season (58 matches: 9+27=36).
If there is interest, San Jose is certainly ready to trade the Finn. It is also good from Granlund’s point of view that San Jose has room in the salary cap. So, if necessary, it can even keep part of Granlund’s salary in order to trade him and in exchange for something better serving the future.
Equally, all stakes at Granlund are high right from the start of the season. After an exceptionally weak last season, Granlund, who played 750 NHL games, has to quickly prove to other clubs that he is still a force in the big leagues. In this way, the return to clubs aiming for success can happen quickly.
If the instrument is tuned to a minor chord, two years will easily slip by and when the contract ends, Granlund would be “already” 33 years old.
Out of San Jose. And suddenly.
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