to the third line seems rough considering the year he just had, but I do like the youth movement that creates on the third line. That third line would be faaaaast. Just hope it wouldn’t hamper Seto’s offensive production too much.

Finally, a voice of reason. Maybe I’ve just been reading the comment threads of David Pollak’s blog too much, which mostly seem to entail people calling for a trade of Nabby, Joe, Patty, Doug Wilson, Al Sims, and Mark Pavelich, even though he only played two games in 1992. You hit on an important point in my view- there needs to be some more competition for roster spots.

Can’t say I’d be thrilled if the Sharks started the year with the current lineup, but I wouldn’t be crushed either.

I definitely agree that making huge changes is not the way to go when a team is that good. Then again, Heatley with Thornton would be extremely dangerous. I wouldn’t be comfortable with the forward group as it is, but then again what harm can it do to give the youngsters a chance? If they can’t fill the roles, sign a leftover UFA or make a trade. If they can, great.

Sounds somewhat similiar to a trade for a much maligined BOS star that Wilson pulled off a few years ago and that seemed to work pretty well.

Yeah, that has worked like a dream, instantly changing the fortunes of both the player and the team, turning former regular season powerhouses into all-around winners. Hey, wait a second…

Of course, that line-up doesn’t quite work cap-wise; its around $3.2M over the cap when you don’t include any bonuses (this is giving Mitchell and Greiss both $750K and Staubitz the league minimum at $500K). Not to mention that there aren’t any healthy scratches ready to play if and when a player gets hurt/has a baby (which was quite a common event last year).

If Heatley is traded here, either Cheechoo, Michalek, and Ehrhoff/Vlasic or Marleau and Ehrhoff/Vlasic will have to be traded elsewhere, purely to get under the cap. And then there’s the issue with signing players to fill out a 23 man roster, which would be near impossible without trading away Marleau, Cheechoo, and Ehrhoff/Vlasic, perhaps even more if we don’t want to go the all league-minimum route.

And then of course, there’s the issue of the falling cap next year and the raises due to both Pavelski and Setoguchi. While there will be quite a few contracts coming off, that also means that more players need to be signed, and Heatley will possibly force one of Pavelski or Setoguchi out. If I had a choice between Heatley or one of those two, I would choose Pavs and Seto every time. Heatley has already reached his ceiling, while Seto and Pavs aren’t even close.

I admit, I have been completely against this trade ever since it has been rumored all those weeks ago, but I honestly don’t see how it won’t wreck the Sharks’s depth now and for the future.

We can make all of these moves but none of them matter when you can’t rely on your goalie..Nabokov isn’t the answer in goal..He has regressed as a goalie a lot the last two years, especially in the playoffs..

The Sharks are in for more of the same in the playoffs if Nabby is our goalie..His five hole has been very exposed, and his lack of ability to come up with the big save will doom this team again..

If you don’t have a goalie you can trust, you are going nowhere in the playoffs..

We always have trouble scoring goals, especially in the playoffs, a sniper like Heatley is just what the doctor ordered..Can you name me one guy on the team that is really feared?? The answer is nobody..Thornton is a passer(nobody is fears a passer), Marleau is a nice two way player, but no one fears him, Nabby, he couldn’t scare my mother, now Heatley being serviced by Thorntons great passes would be feared around the league and actually give the Sharks something they have never ever had, a sniper to be feared..

However, if we can find some way to trade for Heatley without breaking the bank, I would be fine with it. Although, of the other rumors floating about, I would rather have Kessel or Sharp. Mainly Kessel due to the potentially amazing Star Wars related photoshops.