Over the past few seasons, the backbone of the San Jose Sharks has been their defense. Behind their Norris-Trophy defenseman in Brent Burns and one of the more underrated defenders in Marc-Édouard Vlasic, the Sharks have two solid anchors on their blueline — but when someone like Erik Karlsson is available, then it doesn’t hurt to have to acquire another Norris-winning defenseman.
Although the Sharks have three defensemen that will bring all the attention, the other three spots on the blueline are essential as well, since one likely has the assignment of being Burns’s partner.