Helping Sharks begin teardown

Offer isn't too bad but the Sharks want absolutely nothing to do with Matheson's contract even in the case of a rebuild. We'd rather take on high cap hit, short term contracts than medium cap hit, long term contracts. We already have enough of those as is.

Compared to the other long term deals that the Sharks currently have, at least in Matheson's case he's reasonably young and has untapped talent, which might be reasonable gamble to take (less reasonable if you are the Penguins and you already have two LD signed long-term and a 21-year-old prospect already ready for a top four role). Basically an expensive reclamation project, which Jim Rutherford was crazy enough to take on. Wouldn't be surprised if there's another GM out there that liked Matheson a few years ago.

Matheson is 26. He's really not that young and if he hasn't shown he's capable of being an NHL defenseman at this point, very little with change with San Jose. If anything he'll get worse. Unless the Sharks are offloading one of their bad contracts @ D like Vlasic or Burns, there's just no real reason for them to do this trade and burden themselves with another buyout candidate.

The thing with Matheson is that he did show he was capable at one point and then fell off due to what seems like decision-making, scheme, and confidence issues.

Pass if we have to take Matheson back as well. Take him out and the offer is good