RealGM

The San Jose Sharks acquired the topflight defenseman they had been seeking, sending a package headlined by forward Devin Setoguchi to the Minnesota Wild for All-Star Brent Burns.

The Sharks paid a steep price to acquire the 26-year-old Burns, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after next season.

"There's such a shortage of high-end defensemen in this league," general manager Doug Wilson said. "That's why you better move quickly because other people are lined up and involved. There's just not enough good defensemen and centermen around in this league. When they do become available, if you hesitate you don't get them."

They sent a former 30-goal scorer who hasn't even reached his prime in the 24-year-old Setoguchi, last year's first-round pick Charlie Coyle and the 28th overall pick in this year's draft for Burns and a 2012 second-round selection.

After losing in the conference finals the past two seasons, the Sharks hope the addition of Burns helps them get past that hurdle for the first time in franchise history.

"We're right in, we think, our wheel house, our window with our team," Wilson said. "Bringing in a guy with his age and his type of game, it complements where our team is at."