Last night didn’t end pretty, but I’m sure we’ll all take it. We need all the points we can muster before Selanne comes back to the Ducks. It’s not a matter of if with Selanne – it’s a matter of when. Last night, Bernier continued to prove my preseason criticism wrong – he is showing why so many talent scouts believe he can be a 30 goal/100 PIM player. His goal last night was Sportscenter material. I told Mike during the game that I wouldn’t include Steve Bernier in any deal right now. He should be the next RFA Doug Wilson resigns this season. Three years/10 million might get it done, don’t you think?

While “In Doug Wilson I Trust”, I do have to question one move he has made this season – or lack of move I should say. Not acquiring a proven NHL back up as an insurance policy for Nabby. Can you imagine a scenerio where Nabby injures his shoulder and groin and misses thirteen games (05-06) or misses four games with a groin pull (06-07)? What would Ron Wilson do? With other division leading clubs, the coach can look down the bench and see Kevin Weekes in New Jersey or Curtis Sanford in Vancouver. These guys don’t play much.They shouldn’t. But they can be more than Nabby’s towel boy and caddy and carry the load for a few games if the #1 guy needs to rest an aching back or groin. So why didn’t Doug Wilson claim David Aebischer when Phoenix waived him, or trade a low level draft pick for Alex Auld before he was claimed by Boston, or put in a claim on recently demoted veteran backstop John Grahame in Carolina? Why hasn’t he made a play for Sharks-killer Curtis Joseph, sitting on the UFA pile?

I’ve been back and forth and I can only come to the conclusion that Patzold isn’t here to play. He must give a good massage or pick up Nabby’s dry cleaning because he certainly isn’t here to play hockey. Ron and Doug Wilson have zero confidence in him, no matter what they might say. So – if Nabby goes down – the plan must be to have Greiss leap frog from the AHL and start immediately. Greiss looked great in the preseason and could be the future in the pipes when Nabby’s contract is up in 2010. But how can Team Wilson think he can succeed by being thrust into an NHL playoff race without a single minute of game experience. I have no problem going with youth. Don’t get me wrong. But you have to let the rookie play. Anaheim is going this route with Jonas Hillar, but the difference is he has started seven games so far so he won’t #$&% his pants if he has to play for an extended period of time.

I say trade a spare part or pick and get a veteran back up. Which option would you pick Sharks fans?

1. Light a candle and let Nabby start all 82 games, which has never been done before. The record is 79 by Grant Fuhr.
2. Call up Greiss after the All Star break and let him spot start Nabby every seven/eight games so he could perform in the playoffs, if needed.
3. Acquire a proven veteran back up for this season. If so, who would you want and what are you willing to give up?

On a side note – I do get sucked into Eklund’s rumors from time to time – and his linking hard hitting defensemen Mike Commodore to the Sharks made me smile. Not only because I had him on my wish list in the off season, but because he would be an excellent addition of leadership and toughness for a 2nd round grudge match with Anaheim or Detroit. If he truly is available, I would offer Ehrhoff in return. I would think Carolina would have to think that over.

UPDATE: PATZOLD WAS PUT ON WAIVERS YESTERDAY AND GREISS HAS BEEN RECALLED TO BE THE BACK-UP STARTING THURSDAY VS. VANCOUVER. DOUG WILSON SAID ALL THE RIGHT THINGS ABOUT PATZOLD, THAT THEY HOPE HE CLEARS AND THEY WANT HIM TO BE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION. IF THEY REALLY VALUED HIM, THEY WOULDN’T PUT PATZOLD OUT THERE FOR FREE. GREISS IS HERE TO STAY AND I’M EXPECTING TO SEE HIM START A GAME IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, POSSIBILY EVEN AGAINST TORONTO ON SATURDAY OR JAN 15TH AT PHOENIX.