San Jose Sharks trade Devin Setoguchi for Minnesota Wild’s Brent Burns –NHL offseason Update
San Jose Sharks paid a hefty price on Saturday during the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft as it traded its right winger, Devin Setoguchi, along with last year’s first round draft pick, Charlie Coyle, and the 28th pick of this year’s
draft for Minnesota Wild’s defenseman, Brent Burns.
It looked like Sharks was desperate for a good defenseman and it did whatever it could on Saturday to make it happen.
"There's such a shortage of high-end defensemen in this league", San Jose general manager Doug Wilson said. "That's why you better move quickly because other people are lined up and involved. There's just not enough good defensemen and countermen around
in this league. When they do become available, if you hesitate you don't get them".
Without a doubt, Brent Burns is a top of the line defenseman.
The blue-liner registered 46 points in the previous season in 80 games played including 17 goals and 29 assists.
The 26-year-old was drafted in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft as the 20th overall pick in the first round by the Wild. Since then, he has played seven seasons with Minnesota and is involved in his first trade.
"He has some offensive instincts that forwards would have driving the puck to the net, protecting it and taking it to the post because he's played up there before", Sharks Coach Todd McLellan said. "And he's very good on the blue line. He's a hybrid".
According to sources, it was McLellan’s idea to the general manager of San Jose, that they should acquire a defenseman of Burns calibre, who would be an ideal player for many seasons to come.
Sharks have their eyes set on winning their first Stanley Cup, and for the consecutive past two seasons, they have not been able to get past the Western Conference Finals.
Wild also received a top-notch forward player in Setoguchi.
The 24-year-old has definitely a lot of potential and is set to become one of the top attackers in the lead. He registered 41 points last season in 72 games and was a huge contributor throughout the playoffs.
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