Fabian Zetterlund returned to San Jose Sharks practice on Monday and opened up about Mikael Granlund getting traded to the Dallas Stars.

Getting a first-rounder in return is a great bit of business for the Sharks, especially without any salary retention (since San Jose has all three spots filled). Granlund and Ceci both came to San Jose as salary dumps, and the Sharks managed to turn them into something that should help push their rebuilding process along.

The Stars announced Saturday morning that they had made a trade with the San Jose Sharks, adding centerman Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci while giving away a first-round pick and a conditional pick in the 2025 NHL draft that will be a third-rounder if the Stars reach the Stanley Cup Final this season and a fourth-rounder otherwise.

The injury-plagued Stars are loading up with reinforcements, acquiring forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci from the Sharks in exchange for a 2025 first-round draft choice and 2025 fourth-round selection.

While some praised Jim Nill’s work, others wondered if the Stars made a mistake sending a first-round pick away in Saturday morning’s trade.

Dallas sent a 2025 first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick to San Jose for Granlund and Ceci just over a week before the league takes a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

One day after seeing Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci get traded to the Dallas Stars, an already thinned-out San Jose Sharks team was forced to pick up the pieces Sunday and figure out the best way forward without their leading scorer and arguably their best defensive defenseman.

It is no secret Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci were well respected in the San Jose Sharks locker room. Players were clearly in a down mood and gave their reactions to the trade after practice on Sunday.