Sharks defenseman Paul Martin wants to play hockey again, wherever that may take him.
He's only played in three NHL games all season, and has not played with the Sharks since Dec. 7. The 36-year-old played four games with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda from Dec. 12 to Dec. 17, but has not seen any game action since.
As a result, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson confirmed to reporters Sunday that he, Martin, and Martin's agent are working together "to explore options," according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz and the Bay Area News Group's Curtis Pashelka. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman first reported on Saturday that San Jose was looking to move Martin.
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“I just want to play,” Martin said on Sunday. “It’s been a long couple months. That’s basically it. We spoke a couple times to figure out what we can do. It’s early.”
Martin will not travel with the Sharks on their upcoming three-game road trip, but told reporters his "number one choice" is to regain a regular role in San Jose. He played at least 78 games in each of the previous two seasons, and skated primarily on the team's second pairing alongside Brent Burns, before finding himself eighth on the team's depth chart this season.
Ben Hankinson, Martin's agent, reiterated to Pashelka that his client's preference is to remain with the Sharks.
“That’s his first choice but obviously the goal is to play somewhere and help a team win in the NHL. Now we’re going down that path and trying to find a team," Hankinson told Pashelka. "[Martin] wants to play and he’d love to win.”
San Jose Sharks
When could a deal happen? "The sooner the better," Hankinson told Kurz, but he said it may take time for Martin's options to develop.
San Jose will have time to let that happen, after a pair of transactions. Fellow blueliner Dylan DeMelo was activated from injured reserve on Sunday, and the Sharks loaned winger Marcus Sorensen to the Barracuda in a corresponding move.