How has Penguins-Sharks trade in August worked out for each team?

There was a moment of perfect timing Thursday between two teams that haven’t experienced many good times this season.

As San Jose Sharks coach David Quinn addressed media in a hallway outside of the visiting dressing room of PPG Paints Arena, Pittburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson emerged from an auxiliary exit from the team’s medical facilities that is often used as a shortcut to the parking garage.

Upon seeing Karlsson, who was an All-Star with the Sharks, Quinn halted himself in the middle of answering a question about his second line and offered a wry grin with a sharp missive.

“I’m just glad we got rid of Karlsson,” Quinn said. “He was a pain in the (butt).”

What followed was a quick hug between the two and a few niceties before Karlsson headed home after his team’s morning skate while Quinn resumed holding court with the media.

Karlsson still has something of a presence with the Sharks approximately seven months after one of the largest trades in NHL history sent him to the Penguins.

But it’s fair to say the benefits have been few and far between — at least on the ice for the Penguins or Sharks (or even the Montreal Canadiens, who served as a “broker” in the deal for salary cap purposes).

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In 21 games with the Penguins last season, forward Mikael Granlund had five points (one goal, four assists).

Entering Thursday’s game against the Sharks, the Penguins have a 28-27-9 record and 65 points. Those figures are stretching the bounds of the algebra that keeps the Penguins mathematically alive for postseason aspirations.

As for the Sharks, they weren’t expected to be a threat for the playoffs as they are in the midst of a rebuild. But considering they are the NHL’s worst team at 16-41-7 and 39 points, it’s been a trying campaign for all involved.

Including former Penguins forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Jan Rutta, each of whom were among the 12 players or draft picks moved around between the Penguins, Sharks and Canadiens in August.

“The team is not doing great, but it is what it is,” said Rutta, currently sidelined with an undisclosed injury. “The team is rebuilding. We have a couple of young guys. I enjoy playing here. It’s been a tough year, but I’m just having fun competing and getting better every day. The goal is the same.”

Granlund’s goals — and all of his other offensive figures — have improved since joining the Sharks.

As the primary addition to the Penguins at last season’s trade deadline by former general manager Ron Hextall, Granlund woefully struggled in Pittsburgh, posting only five points (one goal, four assists) in 21 games while primarily being stationed on the third line.

He might have generated some offense in the playoffs had the Penguins qualified for them.

As such, Hextall was fired last April, and new president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas included Granlund — and his $5 million salary cap hit — as part of the bundle in the transaction that landed Karlsson.

With the Sharks, Granlund has enjoyed an elevated role in the lineup and leads that team in scoring with 40 points (nine goals, 31 assists).

“First of all, I think it was a really good summer training,” Granlund said. “For me, I got better during that summer. Obviously, there was a lot of changes with management in Pittsburgh. You knew something maybe could happen but I wasn’t really paying attention to that too much. I just tried to get ready for the season. And like I said, it was a really good summer for me in many ways. It’s been fun to play hockey again.”

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In 82 games with the San Jose Sharks last season, defenseman Erik Karlsson had 101 points (25 goals, 76 assists).

Granlund doesn’t dodge blame for his lackluster showing with the Penguins.

“Obviously coming to the team in the middle of a season, it’s never that easy,” Granlund said. “For me, personally, I don’t think I played well. … We had a really good team last season, and it kind of felt really weird that it was the first time (in 17 years) that it didn’t make the playoffs. … That’s hockey. Personally, the way I’m feeling, I’ve been playing way better hockey this season.”

Rutta was the Penguins’ most prominent free-agent addition in the 2022 offseason, agreeing to a three-year contract with a salary cap hit of $2.75 million.

A defensive defenseman by trade, he was more than adequate in that capacity through the first half of the 2022-23 season before injuries largely derailed him in the second half. A core muscle injury required surgery in April almost as soon as the Penguins’ season was completed. Four months later, he was on his way to San Jose.

“Rehab the first two months,” Rutta said in describing his offseason. “I was happy getting done, the surgery, but the rehab was a long process. Then obviously when I got traded, it was — I wouldn’t say shocking when you see the front office is changing — you know the (roster) changes are going to come. And obviously, last (season) was a disappointment. I didn’t take anything for granted. It’s just extra stuff to do with moving and stuff. An eventful summer.”

Each player has been valued through an ugly season for the Sharks.

“Just an incredible level of professionalism,” Quinn said. “(Granlund) has had a really good year. Jan’s played really well for us. They’ve been important pieces to our team under difficult circumstances. They’ve kept it together. We’ve relied on them in a lot of situations.”

The situation the Penguins and Karlsson find themselves in isn’t ideal, especially considering the grand forecasts of success for the Penguins upon his arrival.

With 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists) in 64 games, Karlsson has been a viable contributor this season. But considering he tallied 101 points (25 goals, 76 assists) in 82 games with the Sharks last season — becoming the first defenseman in 30 years to reach the century mark — so much more was expected from the defending winner of the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.

Add in the general malaise of having slim hopes for the postseason, and it’s been an underwhelming first campaign for Karlsson with the Penguins.

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In 56 games with the Penguins last season, defenseman Jan Rutta had nine points (three goals, six assists).

“(Confidence) not very high right now for a lot of us,” Karlsson said. “That’s something that as a player you go through individually throughout a season, every year. It’s hard when everybody goes through it at the same time. We’ve just got to find a way to enjoy the game again. Not worry too much about what’s going to happen, what’s not going to happen and just play and try and create confidence for ourselves again.

“If we enjoy this game — which we should, we’re very privileged to be here — if we just get that back, the rest is going to go.”

Rumors that Karlsson could return to his original team — the Ottawa Senators — cropped up last week near the trade deadline. Karlsson largely dismissed it as irresponsible speculation from media outlets and then noted his time with the Penguins is far from complete.

“I’ve been welcomed great here,” Karlsson said. “It obviously hasn’t gone the way that we expected. But it’s a great group of guys in here, and it’s a classy organization. I’ve enjoyed my time so far, and I look forward to enjoying the future of it as well.”