It was reported yesterday that Kevin Bieksa was asked by the Vancouver Canucks to provide his list of teams that he’d waive his no trade clause to go to. Friday morning, Elliotte Friedman is reporting that Bieksa would waive his no trade clause to go to the San Jose Sharks, while Bob McKenzie is reporting that the Sharks have interest in acquiring the Canucks defenseman.
Good morning. Word today is Kevin Bieksa has informed VAN he would accept a trade to SJ. Now up to the teams to work out a deal.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 26, 2015
VAN may trade Kevin Bieksa, who has full NTC. Five teams interested. Bieksa, tho, believed to have two in particular he would waive to go to
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 26, 2015
On Bieksa, one in West (believed to be SJ) and one as yet unnamed team in East. If Bieksa traded, likely for a pick/prospect or picks.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 26, 2015
Three times in his career, Bieksa has provided over 40 points from the blue line. Last year, the 34-year-old defender put up four goals and 10 assists through 60 games and didn’t wind up with any points in the Canucks first round playoff loss to the Calgary Flames.
He also finished the year with a -2.3% CF%Rel, the second time he’s had that number in the last three years. The other year of those three he was a 0.1%. That’s a notable drop off for a player who only had a negative relative possession figure in one of his seven seasons prior to the last three years. His P/60 has also tumbled, with his 0.6 posted in the last two seasons being the lowest figure of his career.
Bieksa is a veteran who fits the sort of gritty mentality that Doug Wilson likes to bring to his teams, but the Sharks will not be getting the Kevin Bieksa of years past. But even if we’re seeing the dropping of his numbers due to age, he may be a nice fit for a team that has a lot of young blueliners like Mirco Mueller coming up and a black hole in their third pairing that Bieksa would be a step up from.
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