In September 2018, shock waves went around the NHL when the Ottawa Senators traded captain Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks. The trade was an emotional one with the Senators trading away one of the greatest players in franchise history.
The Sharks were eager for deep playoff runs with Karlsson on board while the Senators went into a rebuild. In a shocking twist, the Sharks made only one playoff appearance and fell in the 2019 Western Conference Finals with Karlsson during his tenure.
Today, the Senators are eager to be a consistent playoff team. The Sharks haven't made the playoffs since 2019, and wish they can take a mistake back regarding the Karlsson trade.
Sharks wish they could've drafted Stutzle and not traded Norris to Ottawa
Two pieces the Senators acquired in the Karlsson trade were Josh Norris and a 2020 first-round draft pick. One year after losing in the 2019 Western Conference Finals, the Sharks finished at the bottom of the NHL in the 2019-20 season.
At the 2020 NHL Draft, what would've been the Sharks' third overall pick was in the hands of the Senators. With that selection, the Senators selected Tim Stutzle. Now five years later, Sharks owner Hasso Plattner wishes he would have Stutzle on his team.
"One mistake I want to share with you was about Stutzle and Norris were let go or not aquired in the draft." Plattner said. "Think about the last three years, with Stutzle and Norris the team would have been a different team."
Stutzle has turned into a dynamic player since being drafted by the Senators. Stutzle's 327 career points are the most among any player from the 2020 draft class.
Norris was a former 2017 first-round draft pick of the Sharks, but he was part of the Karlsson trade. In the 2021-22 season, Norris exploded for a 35-goal season. However, injuries have hurt Norris' career deeply, but he's still a solid goal scorer to have on a roster when healthy.
Since the 2022-23 season, Stutzle has recorded 240 points and is one of the top players on the Senators roster. Last season, Stutzle delivered big with leading the Senators with 79 points and being a key part of the team making the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
The Sharks do have solid young players on the roster to build on with Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund, Michael Misa, Sam Dickinson and Yaroslav Askarov.
However, having Stutzle on the roster would make the Sharks a much better team, but he's a Senator and one of the fastest rising stars in the NHL.