San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier said roughly five teams have been "very consistently serious" in seeing what it would take for the club to trade the No. 2 pick in the NHL draft.
"We've received a couple of legitimate offers that we've had to really think through and have conversations about, and I expect that'll continue over the next three days here," Grier said, according to The Athletic's Eric Stephens.
One of the offers San Jose has received is "real interesting," Grier added, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno. The team has also reportedly received calls about the ninth overall selection, which it acquired Tuesday in a trade that sent William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators.
The Sharks hold the No. 27 pick as well, giving Grier three first-round selections to improve the roster. They recently acquired the late first-rounder along with defenseman Michael Kesselring in a trade that sent the 20th overall selection to the Buffalo Sabres.
Penn State star Gavin McKenna is projected to go first overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs. That scenario would leave Grier with a decision to make if the Sharks keep their top selection. Forward Ivar Stenberg, the consensus No. 2 player in the draft, would fill a hole on their front end left by the departure of Eklund.
Stenberg, 18, tore up the Swedish Hockey League last season, recording 11 goals and 22 assists in 43 games. His 33 points in the SHL were the most by a player 18 years or younger since Daniel and Henrik Sedin notched 42 and 34 points, respectively, during the 1998-99 campaign.
San Jose also needs help on the back end and could look at defensemen prospects such as Chase Reid, Alberts Smits, and Carson Carels.
"Like I've kind of said all along, I don't believe in drafting for need when you're at the top of the draft," Grier said, according to Stephens. "I think it's a dangerous game to play to leave talent on the table. So, our pick will strictly come down to who we think is the best player and who will be the best NHL player down the road."
The first round of the NHL draft gets underway Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
