According to a report in the Ottawa Sun, the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers have expressed interest in acquiring Sharks forward Marty Havlat.
Havlat has one goal and one assist in eight games, with both points coming against Buffalo on Nov. 5. On the Sharks’ recently completely road trip, Havlat was a healthy scratch on Nov. 15 in Edmonton and played primarily on the fourth line on Sunday in Chicago.
The report reads:
According to a source, [Senators GM Bryan] Murray has talked to the San Jose Sharks about acquiring right winger Martin Havlat. The former Senator recently returned from a pelvis injury and was playing on the team's third line until Friday, when coach Todd McLellan made him a healthy scratch.
The Sharks have also been asked about Havlat by the New York Rangers, said the source, but GM Doug Wilson is not yet ready to give up on the 32-year old Czech, who has a goal and an assist in eight games this season.
Todd McLellan talked about Havlat, who made his season debut on Oct. 30, shortly before removing him from the lineup for the game in Edmonton last Friday.
“For Marty, he’s now played seven games. He’s through his so-called exhibition season," McLellan said. "We’ve talked a lot about being patient with him, and letting him play his way into shape, and his timing, and all that stuff. We’ve done that. Now, it’s about results.”
Havlat is earning $5 million this season, is set to earn $6 million in 2014-15 (with a $5 million cap hit), and has a no-trade clause. Per the new collective bargaining agreement, the Sharks could retain part of his salary in a trade to another club.
Havlat was drafted by Ottawa in the first round in 1999, and spent the first four-plus years of his career there.
