With six games played, the San Jose Sharks are hurting for theone thing they traded away last season. Offense.
The Sharks (1-4-1) only have eight goals scored and twice as manygoals against.
The trades of high-priced players such as Owen Nolan and TeemuSelanne have left the offensive duties on the shoulders of veterancenters Patrick Marleau and Vincent Damphouse.
Marleau currently has two points (one goal, one assist) whileDamphouse only provided three assists. Alyn McCauley is theSharks’ leading scorer with two goals.
The Sharks’ offense does show potential with the newadditions made during the off-season.
Scott Parker, right winger currently picked up from the ColoradoAvalanche, is quickly becoming the Sharks’ muscle, logging atotal of 18 penalty minutes.
The Sharks defense is solid when compared to the other NHLteams.
The Sharks 16 goals against is about average compared to teams suchas the second-placed Vancouver Canucks, who have only allowed 12and the top-ranked Boston Bruins who have given up 16 goals.
With the return of defenseman Brad Stuart, the Sharks gained one oftheir key blueline players. Stuart returned last Tuesday aftermissing the entire preseason with a shoulder injury.
The Sharks’ primary goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is solid.
Nabokov, has played five of the games, has a .887 save percentageand a 2.78 GAA this season.
Sharks backup netminder Vesa Toskala is also solid allowing onlytwo goals and a save percentage of .920.
Toskala was called up last season from the Cleveland Barons, SanJose’s top development team in the American Hockeyleague.
Last Season’s backup goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff has notparticipated in regular season action.
Defenseman Jim Fahey returned to the Sharks lineup after ChristianEhrhoff was sent to Cleveland last Wednesday. Fahey was sent downto the Barons prior to the Oct. 21st game against the Mighty Ducksof Anaheim.
Though things look bleak in the early season, the Sharks have thecombination of young talent and seasoned veterans to start breakingout. With more contributions from the offense, the Sharks have thepotential to be in contention for making the playoffs in March.
The Sharks will begin the longest road trip of the season Tuesdayagainst the Carolina Hurricanes.
The game will be shown at 4 p.m. on Fox Sports Net and can be heardon 98.5 KFOX.