The San Jose Sharks have acquired goaltender Adin Hill and a 2022 7th round pick from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for goalie Josef Korenar and a 2022 2nd round pick.
As the trade freeze prior to the expansion draft comes, the Coyotes had a bit of an issue. They have to protect starter Darcy Kuemper but that would mean exposes Hill. The Kraken would certainly have Hill on their radar, but now he goes to a team that will protect him. Hill has never been a starter in the NHL, meaning that he can be replaced by Arizona. The return is very good. A second-round pick is much higher than they should have gotten. Plus, they add a goaltending prospect in Korenar who is signed for one year at the league minimum of $750k. He comes back in this trade really so the Coyotes have a goaltender to expose to Seattle. This is a really nice trade for them.
Korenar, 23, made his NHL debut in 2020-21, with a 3.17 GAA and a .899 save percentage in 10 games. He also played in the Czech league this past season, where he had a 2.44 GAA and a .904 save percentage in 11 games.
The Sharks really need a goalie. Martin Jones and Devyn Dubnyk were a terrible tandem last year. Dubnyk was traded to Colorado at the deadline, while Jones remains and could be bought out. At the moment, this does not appear to be happening. So, the Sharks could get another goalie, or rock with a Jones and Hill tandem. Hill is a capable goalie who is still young with some NHL experience. He is about to be a restricted free agent, but he should not command much. Hill could be the 1A or 1B to Jones, or to a completely different goalie. Yes, a second-round pick is too much. But, it does accomplish what the Sharks need. Hill is still young enough to develop into someone worth that pick.
Hill, 25, had a .913 save percentage with a 2.74 GAA in 19 games for the Coyotes in 2020-21. In his NHL career, all in Arizona, Hill has a .909 save percentage with a 2.79 GAA in 49 games.
CarterHud 