The trade deadline has finally come and gone. If you were a Sharks fan this year, the trade deadline was just another day during the week. Quite frankly, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and the Sharks aren’t
that broken (even though it may seem like it after tonight’s game).
My prediction that the Sharks would pretty much stand pat was about 95% reaffirmed, but I was pleasantly surprised with the additions that Doug Wilson was able to add to the roster.
Forward Travis Moen and defenseman Kent Huskins will no doubt add some extra grit and a little extra security to the team. Injuries have taken a big bite out of the Sharks, and with the absence of Mike Grier, Moen should be able to step in nicely during Grier’s absence. Plus, Wilson’s always emphasizing the need for experience, and Moen was a large part of the Anaheim Ducks’ Stanley Cup-winning run.
Both players are UFA’s after this season, but in the situation the Sharks are in, that’s okay in my opinion. The great thing about this whole trade is that the Sharks were able to improve without giving away any roster players. Sure, it wasn’t the most exciting trade, but it quietly added more depth and will build toward a (hopefully) deeper playoff run.
Well, I guess I’ll be moving on to tonight’s 4-3 OT loss against the Minnesota Wild that left me scratching my head. I think the high point of the entire night was hearing the Sharks fan behind me try to rhyme every word imaginable with “Mikko.” Sure, most of it didn’t make sense, but it was entertaining enough to get my mind off of the train wreck that unfolded in front of my eyes. Of course I’d be able to witness a game like that in person when I was able to score some great seats near the glass.
The Sharks are going to have to create a hell of a lot more offense than what’s been generated if they’re going to turn things around. There’s no scoring from the majority of the lines, and the back end seems to enjoy joining them in that department.
It should be a simple system; throw pucks to the net, get guys in front of the net, and before you know it, there’s a goal. That’s where your scoring is supposed to come from. Yet the Sharks have managed to forget that simple system that gave them so much success so early in the season.
What’s even more appalling to me is the fact that the Sharks, after gaining a three-goal lead and showing strong play early on, managed to let a defense-first team like the Wild score four goals in a row. It’s unacceptable and a little absurd.
But at this point, what else do you really expect? The team’s at about half of their normal roster, with only half of those players not injured actually showing up to play every game. Then you add in a few lines mainly comprised of guys from Worcester, and that’s the formula for the Sharks team that looks somewhat reminiscent to the “old Sharks” that we all see today.
It’s been three losses in a row for the Sharks, and almost a month of lazy, sloppy play. Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks needs to be a win, no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. No more excuses.
-Danielle
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