Rumor: Young center still on the trading block despite signing new contract.

When it was revealed that the San Jose Sharks had signed 23-year-old center Chris Tierney to a new one-year deal it seemed like the trade speculation surrounding him would finally die down, but that may have been premature.

Tierney became the subject of trade speculation after the Sharks signed another center in Ryan Carpenter for two-years back in June and, according to NBC's Kevin Kurnz, it sounds like that trade is still very much a possibility.

From Kevin Kurnz:

The Sharks somewhat unexpectedly re-signed center Ryan Carpenter earlier in the offseason, leading some to question Tierney’s future in San Jose. A one-year deal at essentially the smallest salary possible will do nothing to quell the trade talk that has encircled Tierney ever since Carpenter inked a two-year, $1.3 million contract on June 17.

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Tierney put up 11 goals and 12 assists for a total of 23 points in 80 games with the Sharks this past season, and his $1.3 million price tag would be very much affordable for most teams looking to add depth up the middle. 

Add to that the fact that in his first season in the National Hockey League he put up 21 points in just 43 games and he becomes even more interesting should he manage to recapture that form on a new team.