SAN JOSE — Defenseman Paul Martin is trying to not look too far ahead. It’s game day, he’s feeling good, and on Friday night, he’ll be expected to log significant minutes for the Barracuda in a rivalry game against the Stockton Heat.

In a season beset by injuries and disappointment, thinking about anything else might only add to the frustration.

“From this whole year, I’ve just learned to not expect anything,” Martin said Friday morning. “You prepare yourself, you work and you get back to enjoying the game. It’s been a good experience.

“The more I think about it or get impatient, the worse it gets. So (it’s about) what I can control.”

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What he can’t control is if he’ll ever play in the NHL again, whether it’s with the Sharks or any other team.

There was some trade chatter right around the time Martin, 36, was placed on waivers by the Sharks last month. Martin’s agent, Ben Hankinson, told this newspaper at the time that although it was early in the process, “definitely at least a handful of teams have interest and we’re trying to see if there’s a fit.”

It’s been pretty quiet since. Before Friday, Martin had played six games with the Barracuda, and may need to play a few more leading into the Feb. 26 trade deadline to see if things pick up. There is also a chance that Martin would be recalled if any of the seven defensemen now on the Sharks’ roster become injured.

Martin said Friday that Hankinson will “let me know if there’s anything. Probably wait until the deadline to see if anything happens, if there’s teams that need some depth. Just kind of wait and see.”

In the meantime with the Barracuda, Martin has been paired in games with either Julius Bergman or Michael Brodzinski, who are each 14 years his junior. Martin has played 859 games in the NHL. Bergman and Brodzinski have yet to play one. For complete Sharks coverage

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“I can’t say enough good things,” Barracuda coach Roy Sommer said of Martin. “He’s not probably the greatest skater or the most physical guy, but his stick is real good and he just thinks the game real well. He makes a lot of little plays to get us out on the breakouts, the way he gets back for pucks and how he gets under sticks. That’s kind of what he does.

“He’s getting a little long in the tooth and I think he knows that. Overall, he’s been a great guy to have around.”

The Barracuda went on a 12-day road trip to finish January, taking Martin to unfamiliar places — at least to him — like San Diego, Austin and San Antonio.

Not on a charter jet, either. It’s Southwest Airlines all the way.

“It’s a neat experience. I try not to bug them too much,” Martin said of his teammates. “I’m 15 years older than most of these guys. But you just try to relate a little bit and make it fun for them. They work hard. They’re hard on themselves and sometimes they make it hard on themselves. Anything I can do to help them along the way, I try.”

Martin’s first preference, of course, would be to still be playing in the NHL.

Martin was injured for most of the first two months of the season before he went on a two-week conditioning stint in December with the Barracuda.

When he came back right, he was a healthy scratch by Sharks coach Pete DeBoer for seven straight games from Dec. 28 to Jan. 13, as first-year NHL defensemen Joakim Ryan and Tim Heed continued to demonstrate that they belonged.

On Jan. 15, Martin was placed on waivers by Sharks general manager Doug Wilson. He cleared the next day.

Martin would have at least liked to have had the opportunity to play a game or two with the Sharks to shake off the rust and “get it going. But what can you do?”

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Perhaps his time in the AHL would turn out to be a showcase for other teams that might be interested in acquiring Martin, who has one year left on his contract that carries a $4.85 million cap hit. But at the very least, it’s given him another chance to suit up on game days..

“I’m actually good. Whatever happens, happens,” Martin said. “When I’m here, I don’t think too much about it. I haven’t been paying too much attention. Just kind of here with the guys, playing some hockey. The more games you play, the more comfortable you get.”