Steve Palumbo: Sharks Make No Additional Moves; Host Habs Tonight

Just wish Dell was getting the start tonight :/

Wilson filled the holes he needed to. Unless a trade offer blew us away, I agree with standing pat.

The Polak trade was shrewd. He made a handshake deal with Lou to drive up the price of rental defensemen by paying Reimer's price with Polak's deal, then after Lombardi complained Rental prices for Yandle/Hamhuis were too high and traded for Scuderi, they announced Reimer to the Sharks for 2 cap dumps and a 4th immediately after. Reimer is a decent #1 who now gets to play backup on a much better team and truly let's us rest Jones. Imagine if Jones was injured and we had scheduled Loss Stalock as our only option?

Overall it was Polak, Spalling, Reimer for Cap Dumps Raffi Torres, Smith and Stalock + two 2nd's and a conditional 4th.

Icing on the cake is Montreal taking Brown, so now he can no longer be played for energy(I.E take stupid penalties at the worst times) and we can roll 4 skilled lines. Tierney/Zubrus/Karlsson have some chemistry as a 4th line.

The bigger question going forward is can we pace LA and Anaheim and possibly win the division. Obviously we would rather face a wildcard team and have those two face each other. Being 14 points ahead of Arizona and Vancouver feels a bit relaxing.

I was happy to see them empty their gas tanks last night with the lead rather than the usual "Foot off the pedal"

We play Canucks, Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Devils, Capitals, Bruins, Yotes, Rangers, Yotes, Blues, Oilers, Stars, Kings, Canucks, Canucks, Preds, Wild, Jets, Yotes.

Winning those games vs the Canucks and Yotes will be crucial to keeping our lead, but with such a big lead, there should not be tremendous pressure.

Anaheim/LA does not have a tough schedule either, but it is a bit tougher than ours.

I always thought of Polak being a slug bottom pairing guy who tries to hit more than he plays actual defense.

Unless he's trying extra hard in his first few games, this dude can wheel. Good hard tape to tape passes and skates very well... I really like him and Dillon rounding out our D pairings.

At this point we are a virtual lock to make the playoffs and have an over 80% if playing either the Ducks or the Kings. So there's that.

Im happy with the deadline.

What im not happy with ... Why are the lines betting changed? We got spalling and all of a sudden the bottom nine all change winters. Why?! We were on a winning streak and starting giving up points trying to make chemistry in the dying games of the season. Get back to regular lines.

Solid win for the boys, lets hope Optimus Reims starts thurs and gives Jonsey a breather.

Im happy with the deadline.

What im not happy with ... Why are the lines betting changed? We got spalling and all of a sudden the bottom nine all change winters. Why?! We were on a winning streak and starting giving up points trying to make chemistry in the dying games of the season. Get back to regular lines.
- keithward

What lines being changes? The Sharks have shown themselves most effective when Using Thornton/Couture/Marleau as centers instead of loading the top 6.

Wingels is injured and Tierney + Zubrus + Karlsson have shown great chemistry.

Why would you break up a terrific 4th line?

Marleau and Ward have been good together and Nieto/Marleau have complimentary speed and have shown chemistry in the past.

That leaves Spalling on Couture's line. Couture and Donskoi are doing well together. At least till Wingels comes back.

Those two lines are both 2nd line caliber and both have decent offense and shutdown capabilities.

I see no problems with how he has set them up.

Deboer wants to run 4 skilled lines and he is happy as hell to be rid of Brown. He is managing to get more out of the skeleton of Zubrus than I thought.