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.