Sharks Make Splash, Trade for Heatley

The San Jose Sharks pulled the trigger on the deal everyone has been speculating would take place for some time. Dany Heatley is on his way to the Pacific Coast to be the scoring option Joe Thornton needs, and the Sharks are shipping two younger players to Ottawa in return, Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo. San Jose also yields a second-round pick and gets a fifth-rounder in return. Thus the Sharks lines project as follows: Heatley-Thornton-Devin Setoguchi, with Boyle and Huskins as the first pair on defence. Heatley and Huskins are both upgrades from Marleau and Lukowich, respectively. This gives the Sharks the deadly combination of a sniper, playmaker, and skater on the forward line, and Huskins' solid defence will compliment Boyle's skating and offensive skill.Marleau-Pavelski-Clowe, with Blake and Vlasic as the second line of defence. Marleau is the only change in this line, and he is a modest upgrade over Michalek. Moreover, the second line maintains a wing combinat...