NHL Trade Rumors: San Jose Sharks Need Evgeni Nabokov, Not Rick Nash

Forget Rick Nash.

He may be the biggest fish on the market in this year's trade deadline, but he's going to come at an unbelievably hefty price.

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson will logically not accept any deal for Nash unless he's getting an offer he can't refuse.  This is because Nash isn't a rental player. He's still under contract until the 2018 season. This means the Jackets can trade Nash in the summer and get valuable pieces back in return.

While the Sharks have shown interest in the goal-scoring forward and the prospects of seeing him play with Joe Thornton are enticing, the team needs to address other issues. 

Its goaltending right now is not even close in being a team strength. He may have a ring, but it's difficult to consider Antti Niemi as an elite goaltender. He's definitely a good one, but there is no doubt he was carried by a superstar team in Chicago with guys like Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien and Patrick Kane. 

In the last nine games, Niemi has been absolutely atrocious. He's allowed 29 goals and he's been pulled twice in the first period.

The Sharks are 2-6-1 in those nine games. Thus, there is a direct correlation between bad goaltending and losses.

This only exemplifies Niemi's inconsistency and the Sharks can't afford to have something like this happen to them in the playoffs. They've came close to the Finals way too many times and they absolutely need to get there this year or else the season will be another epic failure.

This is why the Sharks need to bring back a familiar face from Long Island in Evgeni Nabokov.

This isn't to say that Nabokov should be the starting goalie in San Jose—he'll have to earn it. 

Acquiring Nabokov may motivate Niemi just enough to play at the Stanley Cup level he was at a few years ago. There is nothing wrong with having a little goalie competition in the last few months of the season. Both goaltenders will be playing harder in order to win the starting job and this will only benefit the Sharks.

Finally, there is no doubt that Nabokov would welcome a return to San Jose. He never seemed happy with the Islanders anyway.

So stay away from Nash, at least until the summer. 

Acquiring Nabokov will be a solid attention that will motivate Niemi. If Niemi continues to struggle, then having Nabokov in net is not a bad option at all. Nabokov is 15-14-0 this year with the Islanders with a .925 save percentage and 2.26 GAA.

And this is with an absolutely atrocious team that has no defense. 

Just imagine how much better he could do on the Sharks.

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