San Jose Sharks: 6 Forwards Sharks Should Target

The San Jose Sharks are off to a fairly strong start this season, with a record of 14-8-1 through 23 games. They trail the Dallas Stars for the Pacific Division lead by just two points. 

The Sharks have one of the best goal differentials in the Western Conference at plus-11 and have an impressive away record of 7-3-0. They are also undefeated in the shootout.

Despite these positives, San Jose has not been immune to error. Two of its most pressing issues are lack of scoring in the bottom six and an atrocious penalty kill.

Here are six forwards who could help strengthen these areas.  

Kyle Okposo

Kyle Okposo has struggled to produce offense early this season, but he has the ability to be a high-end scorer and a solid physical presence. The 23-year-old winger put up 52 points in 2009-10, including 19 goals, on a lackluster New York Islanders squad.

With the Sharks, Okposo would likely be used in a third-line role. His speed and physicality would allow him to excel as a two-way forward who can wear down the opposition and contribute on the scoresheet.

He would also provide versatility, as he has the skill set required of a top-six forward and would fit in on virtually any line.

Andrei Kostitsyn

After a 53-point campaign in 2007-08, Andrei Kostitsyn was expected to emerge as a top-flight forward for the Montreal Canadiens. Instead, his production dropped each of the following two seasons before rising slightly last year to 45 points. 

Needless to say, Kostitsyn has struggled with consistency throughout his NHL career and may never become the first-line scorer Montreal Canadiens fans hoped for when he was drafted 10th overall in 2003.

Still, he has enough size and skill to contribute to his team and, with 12 points in 17 games so far this season, he's beginning to find his scoring touch again. He would look great on the third line for the San Jose Sharks, where he would provide depth and secondary scoring.

He could fill in a top-six role adequately in the event of an injury, too.  

Tuomo Ruutu

Among the NHL's most underrated players, Tuomo Ruutu is a terrific two-way forward who can score, kill penalties, skate well and provide grit. He registered a career-high 57 points last season and has seven goals and six assists in 28 games this year.

Ruutu is an established 20-goal scorer and a tenacious penalty-killer. His broad skill set makes him a highly dynamic and versatile forward who, similar to Kyle Okposo, could perform well on any line. 

With the San Jose Sharks, that would likely be the third line. He's essentially an upgraded version of Jamie McGinn and he would be a very nice complement to the slow-footed Michal Handzus and the offensively-challenged Torrey Mitchell. 

Lauri Korpikoski

Lauri Korpikoski didn't become an NHL regular until 2008 and struggled to contribute in the offensive zone during his first two years in the league. That changed last season, however, when he tallied 40 points for the Phoenix Coyotes. 

The Finland native plays a defensively responsible game and possesses tremendous skating ability. His 19 goals last year show that he can put the puck in the net, too. 

Korpikoski is another winger who would fit in beautifully on San Jose's third line. He would also provide a huge boost for the Sharks' appalling penalty kill. 

Samuel Pahlsson

Samuel Pahlsson would be another solid addition, albeit in a very different role than the names previously listed. At 33 years old, he lacks foot speed and is much better suited for a fourth-line gig.

Pahlsson is among the best shutdown centers in the game and is terrific in the faceoff circle. He is also known for his penalty-killing prowess. 

He would be an upgrade over current fourth-line pivot Andrew Desjardins, whose inexperience and one-dimensional style of play could cost the Sharks come playoff time. 

Rene Bourque

Arguably the best player on this list but likely the most expensive to acquire, Rene Bourque is coming off back-to-back 27-goal campaigns and hasn't notched less than 20 goals in a season since 2007-08. 

The 29-year-old winger has just 11 points through 26 games this year, so he has trailed off a bit, but the entire Calgary Flames squad is struggling to score right now. 

If San Jose traded for Bourque, there would be less pressure on him to score and he could focus on skating hard and playing physical on the third line. If he regained his scoring touch, he could probably make a serious push for a spot in the top-six. 

Bourque has all of the tools and is a talented scorer on most nights. He would be the perfect seventh top-six forward for the Sharks, similar to how Joe Pavelski was utilized at the end of last season. An ideal third-line forward who can just as easily play in a scoring role on the first or second line. 

Sam Kelly is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @samkelly10.