San Jose Sharks boast a solid lineup after addition of Kane

The San Jose Sharks, with one month left in the regular season, are in good position to make the playoffs with the immediate impact Evander Kane has made in the lineup.

The arrival of Evander Kane to the San Jose Sharks is turning out to be one of Doug Wilson’s more fruitful acquisitions from recent NHL trade deadlines.

Perhaps negotiating an extension for the 26-year-old sooner, rather than later, would not be a bad idea.

Not only is Kane a goal scorer, but he also brings physicality to his game and is not afraid to throw his weight around in front of the net. In his debut for the Sharks against Edmonton, the newcomer found instant chemistry with Joe Pavelski.

The two were teammates together overseas during the most recent NHL lockout. Kane registered two assists in a 5-2 Sharks win over the Oilers.

Kane got a few golden opportunities to score his first goal in teal but could not find the finish. He did manage to get a roughing penalty though, after battling to find a loose puck near the net.

The former first-rounder is providing a ton of grit on the ice as opponents try to stop him from putting pucks in the back of the net.

Wilson has done a decent job in transitioning the Sharks, allowing them to stay competitive but giving younger players a chance to earn roster spots.

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There was a hole in the form of Patrick Marleau’s goal production after his departure A hole that grew more concerning after Joe Thornton went down earlier this year.

Many thought Thorton’s absence would trigger a Sharks freefall without the leadership and production he brought to the rink every day.

For the most part, the Sharks have done well enough to remain in the Pacific Division hunt for the playoffs.

Timo Meier is one example of players stepping up, as his play has evolved since the turn of the calendar year, making his arrival to the NHL after skating in his 100th game recently.

Like Kane, Meier is playing a physical style of hockey and generating scoring chances for the Sharks.

Marleau’s goal scoring was the big concern heading into the season as a committee seemed to be the only solution to fill the gap when training camp opened. As a result, production did not frequently come, causing Peter DeBoer to shuffle the lines or bench players in the third period.

In the trade for Kane, his immediate impact not only filled a glaring need but provided DeBoer with stability in all four lines. DeBoer’s system works best when all four lines are rolling and is not concerned if he has the fourth line going up against an opponent’s top line just to clear the puck out of the defensive zone.

But Kane’s arrival has not solved one recent issue as the Sharks’ power play is lacking the bit it had in past games. San Jose remained in the top-10 of power play units but went on a franchise-record 12-game drought on special teams.

An 0-for-29 streak came to an end against the St. Louis Blues as Mikkel Boedker broke a scoreless game in the third period at SAP Center. Boedker corralled a pass from Joonas Donskoi and fired a quick shot past the Blues netminder halfway through the third period.

On a positive, San Jose managed to improve even-strength scoring with 39-straight before Boedker’s 13th goal of the season snapped the streak. The Sharks sit in the middle of the goals per game category with 2.9.

San Jose earned a critical two points to jump past Anaheim for second place in the Pacific. Los Angeles and Calgary are all also jockeying for playoff positions. Seeds in the division are close along with the two wild-card spots with the Central Division appearing to be the strongest amongst the teams.

For the Sharks, the focus should be on the opponent and not scoreboard watching. A win takes care of business with the standings. A loss will only bring pressure to win the next game and put them behind teams fighting for playoff spots.

If Thornton makes a return to the lineup, the Sharks are Stanley Cup contenders. The missing piece though, was found in Kane trade. Martin Jones must continue playing at a high level and not allow weak goals like he did against Columbus, before he was pulled.

Next: San Jose Sharks Acquire Evander Kane

One month remains in the regular season, and the Sharks have no excuses for not making the playoffs. With a solid lineup in place, the Sharks should earn at least, a point in all remaining games.

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