The San Jose Sharks have made a significant move by trading goaltender Vitek Vanecek to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Patrick Giles. Vanecek, who has struggled this season with a 3.89 goals-against average and .882 save percentage, is set to become a free agent after the season. The Panthers, in need of backup for goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, opted for Vanecek after trading Spencer Knight recently. Giles, a 25-year-old forward, has primarily played in the AHL this season and had limited success with the Panthers.

In a related transaction, the Sharks have called up Georgi Romanov from their AHL affiliate to fill the void left by Vanecek. Romanov, who has made a few appearances for the Sharks this season, will add depth to San Jose's goaltending lineup. This trade reflects both teams' strategies as they prepare for the remainder of the season and potential playoff aspirations.