from Kevn Kurz of CNSBayArea,

“Depending on who you talk to, there are teams that say some big names are potentially in play,” Dreger said of the Sharks. “Certainly the Sharks are willing to consider just about anything. San Jose is willing to part with a defenseman – Dan Boyle's name, believe it or not, has been thrown out there – but they would need to get a forward in return and preferably someone who could fit in their top nine.”

Dreger went on to say that even captain Joe Thornton’s name was even mentioned as a trade chip, although he thought that didn’t make much sense (and neither do I). As long as the Sharks are in a playoff position and the bottom doesn’t drop out on the season, the Sharks will almost certainly keep their core players together. Not to mention Thornton, Boyle, Patrick Marleau, Marty Havlat, Michal Handzus, Brent Burns and Brad Stuart all have some form of no-movement clause, either full or limited.

Trading Boyle for a forward, even though he's the elder statesman at 36, would be playing with fire. He's still arguably the Sharks' best and most valuable defenseman, and if this team has any legitmate shot at a championship, Boyle is going to be a part of it. He leads the team in ice time again, with more than 23 minutes per game, and the Sharks simply have no one on their roster to replace those minutes.

The Sharks do need another forward that can put the puck in the net, though.

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