SAN JOSE, Calif. _ The Sharks made another move with an eye towards the future Tuesday as they traded veteran Tommy Wingels to the Ottawa Senators for minor league right wings Buddy Robinson and Zack Stortini and a 2017 seventh-round draft selection.
With Ryan Carpenter making a push in recent days to stay in the NHL as the Sharks' fourth-line center, Wingels, set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, was moved as general manager Doug Wilson created a roster spot.
The move also creates some space under the league's salary cap for the Sharks. Tomas Hertl, who carries a $3 million salary cap this season is nearing a return.
"Tommy has been a valuable member of our franchise for many years, a phenomenal teammate and a true role model on and off the ice for our organization and the NHL," Wilson said in a statement. "As a team evolves and younger players push for roster spots, unfortunately tough decisions have to be made. We wish Tommy and his wife, Molly, nothing but success in the future.
"We also want to welcome Buddy and Zach to our organization. They add size and depth to our reserve list and we look forward to having them in San Jose."
Earlier this month, with Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier emerging as regulars in the Sharks' lineup, Matt Nieto was placed on waivers Jan. 4 by the Sharks. He was claimed by the Colorado Avalanche the next day.
Wingels was in the last season of a three-year contract that carried an annual cap hit of $2.475 million. As part of the trade, the Sharks are retaining 30 percent of Wingels' salary, or $742,500.
Wingels, 28, had 51 goals, 71 assists and 197 penalty minutes in 337 career NHL games, all with San Jose. Wingels was originally drafted by San Jose in the sixth round (177th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry draft.
Robinson, 25, has 12 points for Binghamton in 33 American Hockey League games. In 245 career AHL games with Binghamton, Robinson has 104 points, 104 penalty minutes and a plus-39 rating. He has appeared in six Calder Cup Playoff games with Binghamton.
Robinson made his NHL debut with Ottawa on April 6, 2016 and has posted one goal, one assist and six penalty minutes in seven career NHL games with Ottawa.
Stortini, 31, has two goals, one assist and 20 penalty minutes in 22 games with Binghamton this season. In 528 career games in the AHL with eight teams Binghamton, Lehigh Valley, Norfolk, Hamilton, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Springfield and Iowa, Stortini had 53 goals and 54 assists and 1,602 penalty minutes.
Stortini appeared in 257 career NHL games with Edmonton and Nashville, posting 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) and 718 penalty minutes.
