Different message boards have been singing the praises of Steve Bernier and how the Sharks might regret giving him up in a trade for Brian Campbell at the deadline. The key word here is “might”. I think that sentence should be re-written as such.

The Sharks will NOT regret giving him up in a trade for Brian Campbell.

Steve Bernier wowed the Sabres fans with two goals in his debut but they soon will see the Stevie B we know all too well. He can score in bunches, but then he disappears and ends up in the press box. After three seasons, he had every shot to impress and DW used him perfectly as a pawn to get a number one defensemen that has made an enormous impact on the future of this team. While he is young, Bernier is nothing more than a 2nd/3rd line power forward who will never live up to his top billing. As for the number one pick the Sharks gave up in the 2008 draft, I have a feeling DW is going to use either Ehrhoff or McLaren as a pawn in a package during the offseason to get that pick back from some other team.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, my head is saying the recent upswing with Campbell has included wins against two non-playoff teams and a Detroit team decimated by injuries, playing without Shark killers Chelios, Rafalski and Lidstrom. BUT….my heart is saying….you have to admit – this is a different team with Campbell. This is a better team. This is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. For the first time all year, I am actually starting to believe that we might….”might”….have a shot at the big prize.

With Brian Campbell, the Sharks are 3-0 and he has two assists. These wins are different than the two against Philly and Pittsburgh on the road trip. Those were ugly, boring, pre-Brian Campbell wins. With Campbell, the Sharks look like an offensive hockey club instead of just plain offensive. For the first time all season, the power play is clicking with four PP goals in three contests. Campbell is fun to watch and what a difference watching him effortlessly bring the puck into the attacking zone instead of Carle/Ehrhoff making a poor pass or dumping the puck in. Everyone’s game has stepped up. My complaints about a 2nd line have been quenched because there is actually some stability on the lines with Bernier out of the picture. Little Joe has found a home at Marleau’s side and running the point with Campbell on the PP and The Gooch has been effective in his two games back. And, thank you back-up netminder gods, Brian Boucher appears to be able to spell Nabby down the stretch. Great game tonight by The Waterboy.

The team effort has changed. Vlasic, Carle, Ehrhoff all have stepped up their game since Campbell has arrived, because they’re not being asked to do things they’re not ready to do. This is the real deal with two HUGE home games coming up this week. The Tank is sure to be rocking on Monday night for the Habs game, welcoming a historic hockey team and our new star player Brian Campbell to San Jose.

Teams in the West should take notice. Brian Campbell may have awakened a potential Cup contender.