Slumping Sharks deal away players before trade deadline

Slumping Sharks deal away players before trade deadline

Despite the recent slump, they are only two points out of a playoff spot at the deadline and don’t believe they have given up on the season just yet.

“We’re certainly not throwing the towel in,” forward Tommy Wingels said. “That’s not how we think, that’s not how the coaches think, that’s not how management thinks. We’ll do everything we can to be in the playoffs and make a run at the Stanley Cup.”

Kennedy never fit in with the Sharks after being acquired for a second-round pick during the 2013 draft. He had eight goals and 18 assists in 92 games with San Jose.

The Sharks will receive a seventh-round pick in 2015 for Kennedy unless the Islanders win the Stanley Cup and Kennedy plays in at least half the games in the final. In that case, San Jose will get the lower of New York’s or Vancouver’s 2016 third-round pick.

Desjardins had five goals and three assists in 58 games for San Jose this season. He also is used as a penalty killer. He is eligible to be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Smith had five goals and four assists in 61 games. He is under contract for one more season and is expected to arrive in time to play Monday against Montreal.

The Sharks have lost their past two games in regulation despite leading after two periods, a first in franchise history. The team responded by canceling practice Sunday for a players lunch meeting.

“We’ve tried a lot of things to get our game turned around,” center Logan Couture said. “It was just another thing to try. It doesn’t matter what we do unless we come out and play some better hockey.”

The Sharks held onto some of their pending free agents, most notably goalie Antti Niemi and defensemen Matt Irwin and Scott Hannan. Wilson said the rest of the season will help determine the futures of many of the players who stayed, as well as the coaching staff.

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