Sharks Rest and Rumors

When the Olympics roll around in just about a week, the San Jose Sharks will be sending eight players to compete for their respective countries. Included in this group: the team’s three best forwards (Thornton, Heatley, Marleau), their top defense pairing (Boyle, Murray), their second-line center who plays in all situations (Pavelski), and both goaltenders(Nabokov, Greiss).

There’s cause for concern as these players will be heavily relied upon, especially in net.

Evgeni Nabokov is on pace to play over 70 regular season games on top of the Olympics. Though Nabby says he can handle the workload he just can’t play that many games. Thomas Greiss has seen action in just 11 games, eight of them starts.

Greiss has proved he can be a capable backup and it’s essential that the Sharks use him if they want to keep Nabokov fresh for a long playoff run. Drawing on the level of competition at the Olympics and an AHL playoff run last season will help Greiss should he see more action.

Last night’s game against the St. Louis Blues, Greiss made 35 saves on 37 shots and held that one-goal lead for the Sharks against multiple scoring chances. Expect to see him play at least two more games in the current six-game road trip leading into the Olympic break.

As far as the other players go, most teams are sending their best players to the Olympics. It’s not an excuse for having tired players. Each of those players plays around or above 20 minutes a night. It’s up to coach Todd McLellan to distribute the minutes a little differently the rest of the way if he doesn’t want to burn out his top players.

If the Sharks have proven one major difference between this years team and last years it’s that they can rely on their third and fourth line players more.

In last nights game, the third line pitched in two goals from Ryane Clowe and Scott Nichol. Devin Setoguchi also added a tally. These are players that might see some more ice time in the final 25 games.

When the Sharks are on top of their game, McLellan can roll his lines and distribute the minutes fairly equally among his defense-man.

Even the fourth line, which in the past has been non-existent, will play a vital role for this team in the playoffs.

Rumors

Niclas Wallin’s name has been thrown out there by numerous sources as being on his way to the Sharks.

It’s no secret that GM Doug Wilson is looking for depth on the blue line. The Sharks have been associated with rumors around Sheldon Souray, Marek Zidlicky, Garnet Exelby, Darryl Sydor, and even some Tomas Kaberle rumblings.

The snag in this potential deal seems to be Wallin’s no-trade clause. What the Sharks will be sending back is a mystery as of right now but most likely it will have to be picks or young prospects.

A current roster player most likely won’t be moved. The players that are potential trade candidates are signed long-term and the team plans to keep them. The rest are unrestricted and restricted free agents in a summer that will have a distinguishably different team by the end of it.