While it appears mainstays such as Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton are safe for now, the San Jose Sharks are finding other ways to build for the future in advance of Monday's NHL trade deadline, dealing centerman James Sheppard to the New York Rangers on Sunday night.
Here's Katie Strang of ESPN with the report:
The Rangers acquire James Sheppard from San Jose in exchange for 4th round pick in 2016
— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) March 2, 2015
San Jose has yet to make an official announcement on the deal.
The Bay Area News Group's David Pollak had revealed just minutes earlier that Sheppard would likely be the first to go, and it didn't take long for news of his departure to surface after.
Sheppard, 26, was acquired by San Jose from the Minnesota Wild in August 2011 for a third-round pick. He has five goals and 11 assists in 57 games this season, and 40 points (10 goals, 30 assists) over the past three seasons.
Whether or not this signals a fire sale for GM Doug Wilson with time winding down before the deadline remains to be seen, but don't count out more changes with less than 24 hours to go.
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