ADDITIONS AND SUBTRACTIONS

Well!

That was quite a vivid illustration of how far in different directions the Stars and Sharks have gone since Game 6 in the spring now wasn’t it. A good old-fashioned 6-2 spanking.

So let’s examine the respective paths since that series clinching goal was scored in dramatic quadruple overtime fashion.

The Sharks only major subtractions were their coaching staff, all of whom were released and quickly resurfaced as the bench crew in Toronto, and an overhaul of their defense corp. Matt Carle and Craig Rivet were moved along while Brian Campbell went to Chicago as a free agent.

The Tiburons additions have been impactful to say the least. They hired coach Todd McLellan from the Stanley Cup champ Red Wings and then added Todd Richards and Trent Yawney, both of whom have impressive minor league coaching resumes, to fill out the staff. On the player side, defensemen Dan Boyle and Rob Blake are both in the top three of NHL defensemen scoring and they’ve been terrific mentors for the other impressionable San Jose d-men. Former Stars blueliner Brad Lukowich was also brought into the fold.

As for our Stars…

Gone from the team that bowed out valiantly to the Red Wings are: Stu Barnes, Nik Hagman, Matty Norstrom, Antti Miettinen, Brad Winchester and Johan Holmqvist along with assistant coach Ulf Dahlen and video coach Derek MacKinnon. Add to that list the currently infirmed: Brenden Morrow, Jere Lehtinen, Steve Ott and Joel Lundqvist. (No Bigee, just seven NHL caliber forwards, an 18 minute defending defenseman and a world class backup goalie.)

Additions?

Sean Avery, Fabian Brunnstrom, James Neal, Landon Wilson, Mark Parrish and backup Tobias Stephane. (Also, that swap of veteran defensemen – Phillippe Boucher for Darryl Sydor and the addition of Barnes to the coaching staff). The rookies have been providing some offense - especially Neal, Sydor was a nice add, and Parrish enjoyed a fabulous debut – but overall the jury is still out.

I agree, when I put it that way a 6-2 final seems like it would be about right.