Losing Streak Reaches Five
Sharks 2, Devils 3
The current San Jose Sharks losing streak is bad. Simply bad. The team out on the ice seems so foreign to me. How can Team Teal be playing so terribly? Is everyone worried about who's going to be around after the trade deadline? Or, do we just suck? No matter what the cause, these five losses are hurting the Sharks in the standings AND in the trade marketplace.
Not only are the Sharks losing all of their games in hand, but they are also making things difficult for GM Doug Wilson. Imagine being Wilson at a bargaining table, trying to swing a deal; one in which he doesn't have to give away the farm. But then, the Sharks lose five in a row and it's clear that the squad needs help...badly. All of the sudden, the seller may be inclined to ask for more in return...and why not? Team Teal must be getting desperate by now.
If San Jose was winning, Wilson could probably get the goods while paying basement dollar prices because "heck...my team's winning...I don't really need to deal". But instead, the GM sitting across the table is the one holding all the cards at the moment.
In this unfortunate scenario, I wouldn't be surprised if Wilson had to up the ante to get what he wants at the trade table. For example, instead of Carle/Marleau for Boyle straightup, the asking price might now be Carle/Marleau and a pick. (Note: I would do the Carle/Marleau for Boyle trade in a second. I know that Carle will be really good one day, but this losing streak is making me feel like nobody's untouchable. Besides, Boyle is a solid Stanley Cup winner and if he ends up just being a rental, San Jose will probably get a decent pick in return. Finally, I'm not to worried about losing a young/inconsistent defenseman because we still have Wishart and Petrecki waiting to make the big club.)
Regardless of what happens now until the trade deadline, something needs to change if San Jose wants to have a chance at winning the cup. As of right now, the Sharks are not even within the top 6 teams in the West, let alone the NHL...pretty sad.
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