An Update for the Shark Tank

Last night versus the Canadiens, the Sharks were without veteran forward, Jeremy Roenick (non-pool), due to the flu bug. This was Roenick's eighth game on the shelf for the Sharks.

The Sharks, going into last night's game, had 178 man games lost due to injury or the flu, which isn't too terrible when you compare to other teams, but it is an awfully high number. Sharks forward, Ryan Clowe (non-pool) leads the team in man games lost with 55 games (after last night), as he's out indefinitely with a knee injury. He is supposed to be skating on his own now, with a possible return time in March.

Milan Michalek	Joe Thornton	Jonathan Cheechoo
Joe Pavelski	Patrick Marleau	Mike Grier
Patrick Rissmiller	Jeremy Roenick	Devin Setoguchi
Jody Shelley	Torrey Mitchell	Marcel Goc
Ryan Clowe

Brian Campbell	Craig Rivet
Christian Ehrhoff	Matt Carle
Marc-Eduoard Vlasic	Kyle McLaren
Sandis Ozolinsh	Doug Murray

Evgeni Nabokov

Brian Boucher

The team looks exceptionally solid in the back end, without question. Evgeni Nabokov (Wes) has been giving the team great minutes this season, while the inclusion of Brian Campbell (Dale C.) to the blueline has been a great addition, both offensively and defensively.

Unfortunately, with all the big signings over the last couple seasons, it does seem unlikely that they'll have room for Campbell this summer. It will take some serious tinkering or a move of Patrick Marleau (Box 2) and his $6.3 million next season to make room. The team has 13 players from their active roster signed on for next season at an approximate cost of $41 million. The team will also need to make room for youngster, Logan Couture (non-pool), who will likely get a good shot at the team with his $1.1 million entry level deal.

In the "win now" mentality, they will need their scorers to do just that or else that re-tooling will come sooner, rather than later. They have the rest of the pieces in place.