The San Jose Sharks are in desperate need of offense. They’ve scored 18 goals in 15 games, dead last in the NHL by a relative mile.
Case in point, the Washington Capitals, the second-worst offense in the league, have averaged 2.31 Goals Per Game. The Sharks are averaging 1.2 Goals Per Game.
So the second-worst offense in the NHL is still producing at almost double San Jose’s rate.
In response, the San Jose Sharks have recalled Danil Gushchin. In a corresponding move, they’ve also sent Oskar Lindblom back to the San Jose Barracuda.
The 2020 third-round pick leads the Barracuda with 13 points in 11 games. He’s got four goals and nine assists.
He’s an offensively-minded winger who showed some big-league promise last season, scoring both his first goal and assist in his two-game NHL debut.
Don’t expect Gushchin to solve all of the San Jose Sharks’ offensive woes: The 5-foot-8 winger has plenty to iron out in his own game.
But there’s no doubt that he’s skilled and creative, two particular areas of need for the 2-11-1 Sharks.
Gushchin could also fill the void of Anthony Duclair, who’s missed the last two games with illness. The San Jose Sharks take on the Florida Panthers at SAP Center tomorrow.
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