The veteran defenseman reportedly seeks a move elsewhere, and Sharks general manager Doug Wilson is doing his part to accommodate him, reports Kevin Kurz of The Athletic.
While there is no timetable for the potential deal, Martin's agent, Ben Hankinson, suggests "the sooner the better."
Hankinson indicates there has been some interest in Martin's services, but what sort of return he would draw is unclear. An ankle injury has limited the veteran defenseman to just three games this season, in which he's been held off the scoresheet.
Martin finished last season with 26 points in 81 games.
The 36-year-old has one year remaining on his contract, carry a $4.85-million cap hit.
Wilson did not rule out the possibility of placing Martin on waivers if the Sharks are unable to find a deal.
Martin will not go with the Sharks on their upcoming three-game road trip, and the possibility exists he could be sent to the minors as Wilson works on a trade. Earlier this season, Martin fulfilled a four-game conditioning stint with the Sharks' AHL club, registering one assist.
It's a steep asking price for Ekman-Larsson, with Coyotes general manager John Chayka seeking two top-flight roster players in addition to a first-round draft choice for the star blue-liner.
On a poor performing Coyotes team, Ekman-Larsson has recorded 19 points in 44 games this season and is a key piece of the team's leadership core following the retirement of former captain Shane Doan.
Signed through next season, a trade for Ekman-Larsson ahead of this year's trade deadline means the acquiring team would get the Swedish defenseman for two playoff runs before his contract expires. The Coyotes used the same selling point when they dealt Keith Yandle to the New York Rangers ahead of the 2015 trade deadline.
Meanwhile, the Coyotes are also shopping Hjalmarsson. The three-time Stanley Cup champion has had little time to make an impact in Arizona after he was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks last offseason, as a series of injuries have limited Hjalmarsson to just 18 games this year.
Like Ekman-Larsson, Hjalmarsson is signed through 2018-19, though his cap hit comes in slightly lower, as he's owed $4.1 million.
Sitting eight points back of a playoff position halfway through the season, reality is setting in: The Montreal Canadiens are likely to be sellers ahead of the Feb. 26 trade deadline.
The exodus began Thursday when the Canadiens sent backup netminder Al Montoya to the Edmonton Oilers. While that was a minor trade, Montreal could make a much more substantial move in the form of dealing captain Max Pacioretty.
It may seem unusual for a Canadiens squad that can't find the back of the net to move on from its most prolific goal-scorer. However, Pacioretty's also the most valuable trade chip in the team's forward ranks.
Signed through 2019 for $4.5 million, Pacioretty's manageable cap hit makes him especially attractive to potential suitors. Like his team, he's struggled this season, with just 22 points in 41 games, but he's a five-time 30-goal scorer. Meanwhile, moving him would help the Canadiens add some sorely needed younger assets.
With that in mind, here are three possible trade destinations that would be great fits for Pacioretty, while fetching a valuable return for Montreal.
Calgary Flames
After acquiring blue-liner Travis Hamonic from the New York Islanders in a summer deal, and adding goaltender Mike Smith to stabilize the team between the pipes, Calgary came out of the offseason as a favorite to make some noise in the West.
The Flames no doubt made improvements in their own end, but the team's offensive ability remained questionable, and that's proven to be their weakness. The Flames are one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league and haven't been able to manufacture much offense outside of their top-six forwards.
The likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Matthew Tkachuk provide much of the scoring, but Calgary could use one more offensive weapon. Enter Pacioretty. The Flames don't have many draft picks to part with thanks to the Hamonic deal, but they do have a few younger pieces that could entice the Canadiens - like Sam Bennett, who could fill a center role in Montreal.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have already had success reforming a star from a Canadian market - former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel - and they have a chance to go 2-for-2 if they acquire Pacioretty.
Away from the pressures of Toronto, Kessel has excelled, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh. It's easy to imagine a similar output from Pacioretty if he's free to play without the challenge of carrying the Canadiens' captaincy.
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford has already stated he could be aggressive ahead of the trade deadline, and he'll need to be, as Pittsburgh's currently three points back of a playoff position. That race won't get any easier as all eight teams in the Metropolitan Division contend for the postseason.
Late in December, the Penguins recalled the up-and-coming Daniel Sprong in hopes of jump-starting their offense. However, that opportunity could also be seen as a trade showcase. The former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scorer - he tallied 59 points in 31 games with Charlottetown last season - could intrigue the Canadiens.
San Jose Sharks
Much like Calgary, the Sharks are struggling to score. Their tight defensive structure, coupled with the exceptional netminding duo of Martin Jones and Aaron Dell, keeps San Jose in games, but the team's lack of finish will prevent it from accomplishing anything of note when the games matter most.
With just 104 goals, only four teams - Montreal and fellow cellar dwellers Ottawa, Arizona, and Buffalo - have lit the lamp less often than San Jose this season. That's troubling for a team that holds down one of three playoff positions in the Pacific Division.
If San Jose hopes to make a playoff run like the one it did two seasons ago, general manager Doug Wilson needs to address his team's offensive woes. It's even more pressing because the Sharks' window of opportunity to win a Stanley Cup is closing fast - the average age of their top four scorers is nearly 33.
Pacioretty has just nine goals this season, but only two Sharks have exceeded that mark, meaning the Canadiens star certainly has something to contribute to San Jose's forward ranks.
Shea Weber will be sidelined for the immediate future.
The Montreal Canadiens defenseman is doubtful to return to the lineup until after the Jan. 28 All-Star break, the team announced Wednesday, as he continues to recover from a foot injury.
Weber has missed the last seven games since his previous appearance in a 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 16.
On Monday, Canadiens coach Claude Julien noted Weber does not have any broken bones in his foot and that he is simply rehabbing from the injury. Weber was wearing a protective boot as of Wednesday.
The veteran defenseman has tallied 16 points in 26 games this season.
The latest rendition of the Winter Classic proved to be another memorable affair, as the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers suited up to give fans everything under the sun in a 3-2 win for the Broadway Blueshirts.
Meanwhile, photos from the overtime thriller were just as iconic:
Citi Field, home of the MLB's Mets, played host to the game.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the only team standing between the Vegas Golden Knights and the best odds of capturing the 2018 Stanley Cup, per the latest release from the Westgate SuperBook.
Nearing the season's midway point, the Lightning own an NHL-best 28-8-2 record for 58 points in 38 games.
The Golden Knights aren't far off, sitting just four points back of the Lightning for the NHL's top spot.
It's a big turnaround for the surprising Golden Knights, who entered the season with the worst odds of winning it all. That distinction now belongs to the Arizona Coyotes, with the Desert Dogs' odds pegged at 2000 to 1.
On Monday, Canadiens coach Claude Julien reassured fans that Weber isn't dealing with any broken bones, but added there's no timeline for the blue-liner's return as he continues to rehab from the injury.
Weber has appeared in 26 games, recording six goals and 10 assists. His return to the ice would be a big boost for the Canadiens, who sit eight points out of a playoff position.
Connor Hellebuyck has backstopped his way to first star of the week honors.
The Winnipeg Jets netminder wrapped the week with three victories in which he combined for a 1.67 goals-against average and .952 save percentage, including a 5-0 shutout win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Boston Bruins center David Backes received third star honors after he potted three goals and three assists in as many games. The stretch included a pair of goals vs. the Washington Capitals. The veteran forward has tallied 15 points in 20 games this season.
The Canadians tallied twice more in the third period, getting one goal from Maxime Comtois and another from Gadjovich, who was named Player of the Game for Canada. Captain Martin Bodak received the honor for Slovakia.
Goaltender Colton Point earned the shutout in his first game of the tournament, stopping 20 shots.
Canada's next game comes Friday against the United States, while Slovakia will play the Americans on Thursday.
The Dallas Stars bench boss picked up his 800th career win Thursday. In perfect Hitchcock fashion, his team prevented the opposing Chicago Blackhawks from finding the back of the net, as Dallas won 4-0.
Only two coaches stand between Hitchcock and the top of the chart: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville (868) and legendary bench boss Scotty Bowman (1,244).
