San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson disappointed with Timo Meier trade

One of the biggest dominoes of this season’s trade window fell on Sunday when the San Jose Sharks traded Timo Meier to the New Jersey Devils in a multiplayer deal.

While Devils fans will be thrilled with the trade, not everyone in San Jose is quite so happy. Sharks star defenseman Erik Karlsson is concerned with what Meier’s departure means for San Jose’s future.

Karlsson seems to think that by trading Meier, the Sharks are committing to a long rebuild. At 32, the two-time Norris Trophy winner is unlikely to see such a project through.

“I don’t think that shows that this is going to be a quick turnaround,’ Karlsson said of the trade. “It just sucks that it happened to be where I’m at this stage in my career.”

Karlsson is having his best season since joining San Jose from the Ottawa Senators in 2017 (19G, 77P in 60GP), but his monster salary means he is unlikely to join Meier in being traded from the Sharks this season.

“I’m anticipating [Karlsson] being here the rest of the season,” GM Mike Grier said. Grier will not dismiss talks of a Karlsson trade out of hand, though. “If someone wants him bad enough …where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Karlsson’s $11.5 million salary makes him the league’s fourth-highest-paid player. If the 13-piece Meier trade is any precedent, the Sharks will need to get creative to move that contract, which runs through 2027.

“With five days to go before the deadline to make everything work, it might be something that’s difficult to pull off,” Grier said.

Erik Karlsson on his immediate future: "I think it would be weird if (Mike Grier) comes to me with three days left and asked me to waive my no-move. We've had plenty of time for that if that was the case so I'm not too worried about it. I'm just here to play hockey."

— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) February 27, 2023

Meier, a three-time 30-goal-scorer, was a significant departure for the Sharks, but isn’t the only asset the team will consider moving.

Karlsson and fellow veterans Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture are all coveted assets with lengthy, expensive contracts and veto power over any proposed trade. Grier’s strategy regarding the three during the summer could shape San Jose’s hockey future for years to come.

The Sharks will begin their post-Meier era against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday at 10:30 pm ET.