- Editor's note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California's Sharks coverage for the 2021-22 season. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
For good reason, most of the Trade Deadline chatter surrounding the San Jose Sharks has been about star centerman Tomas Hertl. There’s also been some ink splashed about other pending UFAs Alexander Barabanov and Andrew Cogliano.
But here’s an interesting one, courtesy of Pierre LeBrun.
“An under-the-radar name for the Sharks that’s garnering some interest? Defenseman Jake Middleton, who has partnered with both Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns at times this year. He’s part of that penalty killing crew that’s ranked second in the NHL,” LeBrun said on TSN’s Insider Trading. “He’s a restricted free agent at the end of the year, he’s making only $725,000, he’s a bit of an old-school physical brand that teams headed to the playoffs like to stash on their roster. Among the teams that have kicked tires I’m told [are] Tampa Bay, Boston, and St. Louis.”
Middleton has three goals, five assists, and 62 penalty minutes in 39 games this season.
Corey Masisak of The Athletic added this, about Middleton’s impending free agency:
So what’s likely RFA but possible UFA Middleton worth on the open market?