ESPN and The Toronto Globe are reporting that the Sharks had a deal in place to send Kyle McLaren to the Leafs for Pavel Kubina. Yesterday on TSN, several analysts believed the Sharks were not done after acquiring Campbell and that they might still be in the market for a “right handed shooting defensemen”. Former Leafs GM, John Ferguson Jr. mentioned several times that the Sharks liked Kubina, and he would know, since he probably had conversations with DW about several deals while he was still on the job.

The TSN guys bagged on Kubina, calling his recent play awful and he is mentally a liability, and his canon of a shot might not make up for it. Others pointed out that on a good team, example the Stanley Cup winning Tampa Bay squad, he was a +9 and this year with 23 minutes of ice time a game, he has an even +/-. So how bad is he? Would this have been a good move, he’s as tough as Kyle and huge at 6-4 and 240. How would you have felt if the Sharks got Kubina for McLaren?

It makes you wonder what else DW had on the stove that didn’t pan out. He filled two out of three pressing needs, but couldn’t come up with a 2nd liner scorer. Now Plihal is keeping Clowes seat warm since his return is coming “shortly” according to reports.

I’ve been asking…no pleading, begging for Doug Wilson to do whatever to takes to get Brian Campbell in a Sharks uniform. It ends up whatever it “took” was only Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick. Really? That’s it? I was bracing myself for losing another young roster player. This just reminds us all how good of a poker player Doug Wilson is and that he got the best defensemen, and the best player moved today not named Hossa for an underachieving RFA forward and a late 1st round pick.

Chalk another victory for Doug Wilson on the trade scorecard.

There is no way, none chance that DW is going to let Campbell walk away at the end of the year. This is the player he’s been searching for the last three years, the defensemen in the “Doug Wilson” mode and now Campbell will be here to stay. He will only make Carle and Vlasic better, let’s not forget that. Both have looked lost without Hannan, and while Campbell isn’t a blueliner in the shutdown mode, he is solid and will shine on the powerplay. I am so excited and this could bring new life into the locker room and something positive for the fans.

After the deal went down, I told Mike that I was fully expecting Ehrhoff, Vlasic or Carle to now be moved in a deal to get a 2nd line scorer. I thought a logical partner might be Philly after they lost out on Boyle and Campbell and they might send Umburger, Carter or Upshall our way for a young D-man. The deadline has come and gone, and the Sharks now have a huge logjam on the blueline – who is the odd man out? Do you send down Vlasic? Do you bench Carle? Perhaps McLaren’s knee is much worse than we know….so on that front I’m a little surprised – but I’m not disappointed. Nope. Not one bit. The Sharks got much better today, much, much better.

I’m sad to see Davison go, but he was replaced by the upswing in Murray’s play and the trade for Jody Shelley. He should be a nice role player for Ted Nolan and the Isles. Signing Brian Boucher is a move that should have happened months ago, like in October. I have to think that DW might have been chasing a back up this whole time (Halak) and when Montreal traded Huet, the deal went dead.

The Sharks are a clear winner today, along with Washington, Colorado, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. Washington must believe they can win their division and added some solid pieces in Cooke and Federov without giving up anything major. Colorado got older but nastier on the blueline with Foote and Salei but gave up nothing to do it. Their blueline is scary deep with Leopold, Hannan, Liles, Clark, Salei and Foote. I think, if the old farts can stay healthy, Colorado could be dangerous in the playoffs….although, as Mike would be quick to point out they have goaltending issues still. Tampa Bay got good return for an expensive struggling player. A starting goaltender, which they desperately needed, a 3rd liner and a 2nd line scorer. Add that to Vinny L. and St. Louis and this team just got better. Pittsburgh didn’t give up their two best young assets (Malone and Staal) to get Hossa, so that makes them a winner already. Hal Gil adds depth. They got better.

The Losers – Montreal and Los Angeles. What the #$%& is going on in Montreal? Bob Gainey repays the team after that awesome tribute by trading away their starting netminder for a 2nd round pick – and within their own conference might I add. And then, he struck out on getting Hossa. Doh! I think Dean Lombardi thought he had the market cornered. He had a bunch of UFA veterans to sell, playoff tested and ready for action – and what was he able to get in return? Nothing. A pile of steaming @#$&. Draft picks for Stuart, Aubin and Modry. If I were a Kings fan, I would want some answers.

The Jury is Out – Dallas. I’m not convinced this is going to help them. Losing Halpern and Jokinnen might not have an effect on the stat sheet, but it could be felt in 3rd/4th depth. To me, it is like us trading Grier and Mitchell for Brad Richards. That was a heavy price for a player that has the worst +/- in the NHL…..

Great day for San Jose. It’s good to be a Sharks fan today.

He comes to town, with Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick headed back to Buffalo. Huge deal, and a great one for the Sharks. With Doug Wilson’s and Campbell’s shared close ties to the Ottawa 67’s, I have to believe that Campbell will sign an extension here.

Doug Wilson, great job. Again.

It’s  before 6am, and both grier and myself are awake and tuned to TSN’s “Tradecentre ’08” coverage on the NHL network.  I’m just pissed I have to go to work today.

As most people know, the NHL trade deadline is noon EST tomorrow. The Sharks have been in the midst of rumors for every NHL player this side of Theo Fleury. Sundin (before he asserted his NTC) McCabe (before he asserted his NTC), Redden (before he… you get the idea), Hossa, Jokinen, Holik, Boyle, and mostly, Brian Campbell. Because I enjoy looking like an idiot, I’m going to call it right now. The Sharks will not make any big deals. Maybe they’ll get a minor piece like Bryce Salvador, but none of the big names floating around. This is so for two reasons.

1. There are so many buyers, and the price is too high. A reasonable deal for Campbell would be Ehrhoff, Setoguchi, and a high draft pick. But when you have half a dozen teams in the mix, Buffalo can command a deal that isn’t reasonable. Some teams (and the Sharks might be in this group) are so desperate for playoff ticket money they might just mortgage the future so they can push for the playoffs and break even money-wise. I’d like to think that DW is too smart for this, and he’ll let Dallas trade Mike Smith, Trevor Daley, and a pick for Brian Campbell. Then in two years the Stars will be screwed.
2. No one wants to play for San Jose. If soon-to-be UFAs are the ones being looked at, it’s good business to see if they would want to sign and extension before they become unrestricted on July 1. As we’ve see with Redden, Chara, and others, players don’t see San Jose as a good hockey destination, despite strong attendance numbers and a loud arena. Players want to be king s^&*# in town. Just look at Forsberg. He’s joining a team with a ton of problems; they’re four points out of the playoffs right now. Even though their big three just came back, there’s no guarantee any of them will stay healthy. It’s an ego move on his part, and lots of other players around the league are the same way. They don’t want to live in a city where a guy like JR or Thornton can walk down the street and not get mobbed. They want their multi-million dollar paycheck and have panties thrown at them.

So get ready to crawl back under the covers tomorrow morning, Sharks fans. The roster you see today will (mostly) be the one you see tomorrow.

The Sharks must get Brian Campbell before Tuesday. He is a key missing piece to our puzzle and the Sharks will never be able to move forward without a #1 defensemen on the roster. He rejected Buffalo’s latest contract offer of three years and less than 18 million dollars. I’m starting to think that Darcy Reiger doesn’t want to build a winner in Buffalo with a lame, token offer like that. DW can and will do better than that offer, he might put on the table something in the six/seven year range at over six million dollars per season. Give them whatever they want. I can hear Mikey right now, “What about Dan Boyle?” Well…I read that Boyle has a no-trade clause, and we know what that means for the San Jose Sharks. He won’t be coming here. No one wants to come West. Campbell doesn’t have that choice and once he gets here, he’ll love it. Nolan, Ricci, Whitney – all these guys still live here – so NHL’ers just need to give the Bay Area a chance. Get Brian Campbell in Teal by Tuesday. Make it so.

Okay…I’m done.

I have decent expectations for the rest of this road trip, depending on a few factors. If the Penguins win today at home vs. Ottawa – they might overlook the struggling Sharks and San Jose will win tomorrow morning. A victory in Detroit might actually happen because of how beat up the Wings are on the blueline. I’m thinking the Sharks could finish the trip 3-1, with their only loss coming in Columbus of all places.

Talk to you on Tuesday after the dust has settled. Go Sharks.

… the one eyed man is king. That’s what I felt like I was watching yesterday in the clash of the two worst-playing teams, the Sharks and the Flyers. The Flyers triumphed in the who-can-turn-over-the-puck-more-egregiously contest, and I tip my hat to them. The #1 line was looking good again for the Sharks, but all other lines are in constant flux, working together one night, invisible the next. The announcers are saying it, grier is saying it, there is no real second line for the Sharks. There’s a second-line player, Patrick Marleau, and a cast of thousands.

When the Flyers first goal went in with 5.8 seconds left in the period, I thought to myself, “This is it. Sharks are done.” If that goal came in the middle of the period, that might have been true. But RW and Co. must have said something decent, because the Sharks kept coming in the third and ended up winning by two. Also, thanks to boneheaded penalties after the period was over, the Sharks got to start on the power play. Which is fairly meaningless, becuase they are 1-for-8 billion, or whatever their latest PP drought is.

A word on the standings- the Sharks are currently 6th, only two points ahead of the 7th and 8th seeds. Luckily both of them face Detroit in their next matchup, with Calgary getting Minnesota after that. Of course, we are facing the Pens, a game the Sharks pretty much need to win. I figure win at CLB, loss at Detroit, win at STL, then losses at home to OTT and MON. Playing .500 hockey for the next month might not keep the Sharks in the playoffs, but that’s all I’m expecting.

I admit, I like to read Hockeybuzz for the sheer entertainment value of hockey gossip and some decent commentary by some of their team bloggers, but what has gotten into Sharks blogger Ryan Garner? I thought I’d comment on his bizarre suggestions of how to fix the Sharks roster .

Patrick Marleau for Ryan Smyth? Why even make the suggestion when it is impossible. Considering the rumor mill, Doug Wilson tried to get Smyth and Ryan wanted to play with his buddy Sakic instead of live in Sunny California. How about Garner’s brilliant suggestion of Matt Carle for Brian Seabrook? A great deal for San Jose and a deal that Chicago would never make – NEVER. Seabrook signed to a cheaper extension and, right now, he is the better player. How about a few realistic suggestions on how to improve this roster right now, for this season and for the long term. We all know the problems and components this team lacks – a number one defensemen, a 2nd line forward and an effective 4th line role player. Let’s get real for a moment. The Sharks have a top line (Thornton, Cheechoo, Michalek) and a 3rd line (Grier, Mitchell, The Rizz). They have no 2nd line to speak of. None. They have two players who seem intersted in doing protypical, 4th line duties (J.R. and Shelley). That leaves some players without a role, due to their own underachievement or possible lack of consistent opportunity to play in a scoring line situation.

Here is what the Sharks have to offer. Look at this as a value menu of talented, young players who might not have a role on the Sharks and let teams pick and choose.

You may order one of these young, inexpensive forwards: Bernier, Setoguchi, Pavelski
You may order one of these young, inexpensive defensemen: Carle, Ehrhoff, Vlasic
You may order one proven 80 point scorer who is having a down year and comes with a two year extension: Marleau

Now, fax your menu to all the GM’s in the league and go shopping.

PRIORITY NUMBER ONE: GET A NUMBER ONE DEFENSEMEN AND LOCK HIM UP
I’m of the mind right now that if the Sharks don’t get Campbell or Boyle or McCabe, then it is another failure in a long string of failed attempts for DW in his quest for a #1 puck-moving D-man. I know what he wants. He wants himself – Doug Wilson!! Someone in his own image on this team. A puck moving, hard nosed guy who would play without a helmet and provide the ROCK this team desperately needs. Settling for a 2nd tier player here will not suffice. Just say no to Brad Stuart and Bryan Berard. The time is now for the Sharks to get an impact defensemen to pair with Craig Rivet. Get the man and make him a Shark for the next six years. This is a need that will always haunt the Sharks until they address it.

To Buffalo: Setoguchi, Ehrhoff and 2008 #1 pick
To San Jose: Brian Campbell and sign him for six years/36M

PRIORITY NUMBER TWO: GET A TRUE SECOND LINE FORWARD
Let’s assume Marleau stays, okay? Who the hell does he have to play with? It’s not really fair to say to Patty go out and get 80 points with Plihal and Bernier on your wing. The Sharks need a 2nd line scoring winger. Prospal, Satan, Straka. All these guys could be available for a young forward and, if Marleau stays, he deserves to have two weapons on his wing – Ryane Clowe will be one and I don’t think the Sharks have the other currently on the roster. How about Wilson going a little off the map and getting a guy who is under contract for one more year who might also need a change in scenery. Carolina’s recent deal with Ottawa sends the message that they want to get younger while remaining competitive today.

To Carolina: Steve Bernier and a Worcester defensemen (Joslin or Spang)
To San Jose: Erik Cole

PRIORITY NUMBER THREE: GET A GUY WHO LIKES DOING THE FOURTH LINE WORK
Get Chris Gratton and let him loose on the 4th line. He is good enough to play some spot 2nd line duty, but he is physical and skilled. The Sharks are forcing kids (Pavelski and Bernier) to play on the 4th line when they are unable and not suited for that kind of constant grit.

To Tampa Bay: Joe Pavelski
To San Jose: Chris Gratton and a 3rd round pick

Let’s crunch the numbers – Setoguchi is signed for 0.85M, Bernier, Ehrhoff and Pavelski are all due for raises in the offseason, so let’s say the forwards both get 2.3M per and Ehrhoff gets 3M so that’s roughly 8.5M in salary. Campbell and Cole make 10M for 2008-09 and puts the Sharks at 45M in salary, leaving 8-9 million or so (once the cap goes up)to resign Clowe, Goc, Rissmiller or keep Gratton and hit the UFA market. Sounds like alot of cash, right? Well, as we’ve said before, the Sharks have probably 13M in RFA’s and UFA’s to deal with anyways. So, what will prevail – staying at around 45M in salary or fielding a Cup winner? It’s time to stop waiting on the young guys go out and get the veteran help this team and this fan base so deeply deserves.

Just got back from Vegas where I stole big bucks from the MGM Sportsbook going 3-0 on NHL picks this weekend. Thank you to the Blackhawks, Canadiens and Predators for supporting my habit.

Great to come home and see that nothing has changed. The Sharks played decently yesterday against the Rangers, who in a lot of ways mirror the Sharks, except the Rangers have more current upside for this season. I believe if they can get rid of Jagr, the Rangers will flourish. There are too many solid top line players combined with some young talent that really understand their roles. Now the Islanders are a bizarre mix of veterans no one else wanted during the offseason and young players your average hockey fan has never heard of – but these guys play hard. For San Jose to blow a 2-0 lead to this collection of nobodies and nobodywanted’s is embarrassing. P.S. 0-4 without Marleau and three of these games the Sharks have blown leads. Inexcusable. And in retrospect, the Sharks coaching staff probably regrets putting Nabby back in the game after he got his face destroyed. Why put him back in? We know Nabby is the man, he is tough and all that stuff – but the Sharks would have busted their ass to hold on for Greiss and instead they relaxed when Nabby returned and, in a New York minute, it was over.

With no relief in sight, you have to believe the Sharks are going to lose in New Jersey and Pittsburgh. Could it be the Sharks will be the team the Flyers break their seven game losing streak against? Now nine points behind Dallas, is it possible the Sharks will be fighting in the final month just to make the playoffs? Yes. I think so. Doug Wilson can not be looking at this season as a “buy for now” situation. Any changes must have an eye on next season – no expensive rental players please. That means no to you Mats Sundin and you too Rob Blake. That means YES to players like Brian Campbell or Dan Boyle, who I believe will never leave San Jose because Doug Wilson will pay them over six million dollar a year to stay in Teal.

Is the season over? No #$%&-ing way. The Sharks, with the right tweaking, could get hot and with the right matchups in April, could find themselves advancing deep into the Cup run. Marleau on IR might effectively kill any moves that involve him switching jerseys unless he can come back and play before the deadline.

Right now, the team and us Sharks fans are in a tail spin. We have to brace ourselves that it is possible that the Sharks could lose the next five in a row on this deadly road trip. Next stop New Jersey. Light a candle for the boys.

On a side note, I had defended Matt Carle here a few weeks ago and since February 1st, he has gone promptly in the toilet. Seven games, zero points and a minus six. After seeing Chicago sign Seabrook for 3 years/10.5 million, it is making the Carle extension look even worse by the day.

I’m a little pissed at you, Sharks. You play up and down hockey all year. You combine spectacular effort and dominating performance with listless, boring hockey. For every up story, there’s a down story. For every young kid playing well, there’s a young kid not playing to his potential. You can’t expect this crap to play in the playoffs, can you? When you can’t even win at home against a bad team decimated by injuries?

What am I saying? We need a break from each other. To put it bluntly, get the F away from me. Just go on the road or something. Get some New York hookers, and come back refreshed. Oh, I’ll check in on you from time to time. But I hope you can get your head straight. Take a couple of weeks. Please. And for God’s sake, get it together.