PITTSBURGH — Doug Wilson knew the day was coming. The Sharks general manager just didn’t know that the date would be Jan. 25, 2018.

Last Thursday, for the first time since Jan. 21, 2004, the Sharks played a game without Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton in the lineup, giving the fan base an unwanted glimpse into the future as the team played its final game before the all-star break.

Although Wilson couldn’t have foreseen that a right knee injury would sideline Thornton for a minimum of six weeks, he’s been preparing for this moment, building a bridge toward the future. That’s why he needs to stick to the plan in the second half and resist the temptation to swing a major deal before the trade deadline, even if the Sharks season starts to slip away.

Get Sharks news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Sharks Report newsletter.

As Feb. 26 approaches, rumors will undoubtedly surface linking the Sharks to marquee names such as Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens, Evander Kane of the Buffalo Sabres and Mike Hoffman of the Ottawa Senators. All three players would help the Sharks absorb Thornton’s short-term loss and give the team a chance of hanging around in the Western Conference playoff race.

But the cost of landing one of these star forwards at the deadline will be high, forcing the Sharks to part ways with a couple of top prospects, undermining their efforts to move past the Thornton-Marleau era while remaining a contender in the Western Conference.

After years of trading away draft picks and prospects at the deadline — Nick Bonino and Christian Ehrhoff leap to mind — the Sharks changed their approach about six years ago, holding onto young talent as the NHL transformed into a draft-and-develop league with the introduction of the salary cap in 2005-06.

The Sharks (26-15-7) are seeing the fruits of this shift right now as a handful of youngsters played key roles in the team’s charge up to second place in the Pacific Division in the first half.

Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation.

Timo Meier ranks fifth on the team in goals (11), closing the revolving door on the Sharks top line before Thornton suffered his injury last week. The 21-year-old forward has netted nine goals since Dec. 4 after scoring just one in his first 16 games.

Kevin Labanc is showing signs of promise, as well, ranking sixth on the team in scoring (26 points) behind Brent Burns, Thornton, Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl.

On the back end, rookie Joakim Ryan is emerging as a legitimate top-four defenseman, serving as Burns’ security blanket, Dylan DeMelo is anchoring the Sharks third pairing, posting a minus-seven rating in 29 games, and Tim Heed is sitting in the press box, waiting to unleash his trademark blast from the point that’s helped him collect 11 points in 27 games.

The Sharks young defensemen have been so good, they’ve bumped veteran Paul Martin off the roster, forcing him to prove his worth with the AHL Barracuda.

In short, trading away any of these pieces for a short-term band-aid would be foolish. A general manager can’t lay down a foundation just to tear it up when the blowing winds change direction.

The other piece of the equation is the salary cap and the rare opportunity the Sharks could receive this offseason.

The benefit to Marleau’s departure to the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer is that Wilson will have roughly $23 million available in cap space come July 1 (according to capfriendly.com), giving the Sharks a legitimate shot at hooking what could be the biggest fish to hit the open market in years.

As the winter progresses, it’s looking quite possible that New York Islanders superstar John Tavares is going to test free agency this summer and the Sharks are well positioned to land his services.

If Tavares leaves the Islanders, he’s likely to sign with a team that can pay him $10 million-plus a year while also giving him a viable shot at competing for a Stanley Cup. The Sharks are one of the few teams in the NHL that can offer both with California’s sunny weather serving as a bonus.

Most of the teams in the playoff race either have their cash tied up in a few core players (Chicago Blackhawks) or they will in coming years (Winnipeg Jets). Wilson, on the other hand, could afford to pay Tavares top dollar, and with a center alignment that would include him, Couture and possibly Thornton, the Sharks would be top contenders for the Stanley Cup.

Related Articles Former Sharks providing full value to Stanley Cup-bound teams

Home sweet home? Giants, visitors at Oracle Park, tie franchise record in win

Sharks will soon make Bob Boughner their full-time coach, per report

Game Changers: Four years after Kaepernick kneeled, a look at Bay Area sports leaders who stood before him

Sharks reach agreement with depth centerman on two-year deal That said, landing Tavares isn’t a guarantee. But it makes more sense to take a run at a future Hall of Famer who could replace Thornton for the next decade (and figure out Plan B if it doesn’t happen) than to spend that cash in panic mode at the deadline while also giving away valuable prospects.

Taking this approach won’t be popular as it could cost the Sharks a chance to make the playoffs this season. Regardless, it will give Wilson a chance to see what the Sharks future really looks like without Thornton and Marleau, allowing him to adjust his blueprint accordingly.

He knew this day was coming and he put the Sharks in a strong position to make the type of transition that most teams have failed to pull off. Now, he just needs to stay patient.