Sharks — Midseason Report Part 2

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Everyone's eyes are still on Ottawa, but we have part 2 of our Sharks midseason recap here for you. We shift our attention to the attacking side with contributions made in the first half of the season and what can be expected moving forward.
Ryane Clowe StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: Clowes 26 points are lower than he and the coaching staff would probably like, but the Sharks recent offensive woes can probably be traced somewhat to Clowes injury. In the last five games, the Sharks have just seven goals, and Logan Couture plays his best hockey when Clowe is on his wing. Even Marleau seemed to thrive with Clowe during a brief stretch in November when Marleau was centering the second line.
Second half outlook: The Sharks have to hope that Clowes injury wont keep him out much longer after the All Star break, or the team could continue to struggle on the scoreboard in the short-term.

Logan Couture StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: No sophomore slump here, as Couture is the Sharks most natural goal-scorer, and fits in with the teams other star players, according to Todd McLellan. Hes the clubs lone All-Star, plays in both ends of the ice, kills penalties, and continues to emerge as one of the leagues top young talents.
Second half outlook: Couture has an outside chance to crack the 40-goal mark this year if he gets hot, and the Sharks will continue to lean on him to put the puck at the net. Hes shown he can handle that extra pressure that wasnt necessarily on his shoulders last season when he took the league by storm.

RELATED: Sharks -- midseason statistical analysis
Andrew Desjardins StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: One of the bigger success stories this season. Desjardins has been steadily improving since scoring twice on opening night against Phoenix, and has seen his ice time increase because of it. His consistency and responsibility are also big reasons that San Joses fourth line has outplayed the opponents fourth line on most nights.
Second half outlook: Desjardins has been getting time on the penalty kill and filling in on the teams top line while it deals with injuries. Its good experience for the 25-year-old, who will go back to his regular place centering the fourth line when the team gets healthy.

Benn Ferriero StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: Ferriero hasnt been lighting up the scoreboard while skating on the second line, but you have to give him credithes scored some big goals, including the game-winner in Boston in October and the only marker against Calgary on Tuesday. Still, hes not noticeable enough on a game-in game-out basis to say hes going to be a regular in the lineup when Ryane Clowe and Marty Havlat return.
Second half outlook: Ferriero isnt exempt from waivers anymore, so when the Sharks get healthy up front it will be interesting to see what happens with him. He doesnt fit on the third or fourth lines.

Michal Handzus StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: Off of the ice, players like Jamie McGinn and coach Todd McLellan have spoken of Handzus professionalism and work-ethic. Still, Handzus has just three goals and was brought in specifically to help the penalty kill, which despite recent improvement, is just 27th in the NHL at the All-Star break.
Second half outlook: Handzus five-on-five ice time has been dwindling, another reason the Sharks may need to upgrade at forward. In fact, in Calgary on Tuesday, Handzus was taking shifts on the fourth linea strong sign that the coaching staff wants more from the former Los Angeles King.

Martin Havlat StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: Havlats injury only exacerbated his poor start in a Sharks uniform. He missed training camp and the first four games of the season and had five assists in his first four games, but from there, was unnoticeable on the ice too often. He has shown flashes of the speed and skill that everyone knows he has, and has even been the best player on the ice for a couple games, but its been a disappointing season for Havlat.
Second half outlook: The Sharks are planning on getting Havlat back in plenty of time for the stretch run, which probably means early March. For a team that already lacks depth up front, hes going to have to produce more than he did before he got hurt.

Patrick Marleau StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: Streaky. Marleau was among the Sharks best forwards during its 10-1-2 run in December and January. Now, he takes a six-game scoreless streak into the All-Star break. Still, hes the Sharks second leading scorer, and its easy to overlook the fact he has as many points (36) as Logan Couture.
Second half outlook: Although he had some productive games centering the second line in November, including a hat trick in Colorado on Nov. 20, Marleau will still see most of his time on the wing with either Thornton or Couture in the middle. Hell have his share of dominant games and his share of unproductive ones, too.

Jamie McGinn StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: McGinn has shown a marked improvement from last season, and is one of the few forwards on the team with the ability to deliver a big-time hit. His best hockey is when hes on the third line, usually with Torrey Mitchell and Michal Handzus, and has struggled when Todd McLellan tries putting him anywhere else.
Second half outlook: Even with the Sharks down two of their top six forwards, McGinn is locked in on that third line. Expecting him to put another nine goals in the net in the second half of the season may be a little optimistic.

Torrey Mitchell StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: Its a big year for Mitchell as he prepares to under unrestricted free agency at the end of the year. You would think that would have given him a greater sense of urgency, but it appears it took him getting scratched on Jan. 5 to light a fire underneath him. Since then, hes been playing his best hockey of the year and has been much more consistent.
Second half outlook: Expect Mitchells name to come up around the trade deadline, if not sooner, if the Sharks are serious about upgrading at the wing. If not, Mitchell needs to display the same energy he did in the two and a half weeks leading up to the All-Star break in order to be effective.

Andrew Murray StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: The fourth line journeyman has shown good speed at times, and brings good energy to the fourth line when hes skating. Hes probably just what the Sharks expected when he joined the team in the offseasonnothing more, nothing less.
Second half outlook: Murray was in and out of the lineup in the weeks leading up the break, as players like Andrew Desjardins and Brad Winchester are more effective on a nightly basis than is Murray.

Joe Pavelski StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: Pavelski got off to a flying start and found himself among the league leaders in goals through October. He has just five markers in the last 23 games, though, and has probably not been as consistent over the last two months as the coaching staff would like since he was promoted to the Joe Thornton line this offseason.
Second half outlook: Pavelski has a knack for creating scoring chances when hes on his game, and is small and spunky enough that he can find some goals in front of the net when he has the desire to get there. He just has to do it on a nightly basis.

Joe Thornton StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: When questioned recently about his lack of production on the power play this season, a place hes thrived in his career, Thornton pointed out that 5-on-5 the Sharks have been outstanding. Thats trueand Thorntons 13 is a reflection that hes been pretty good when it comes to defense. Still, the captain has been invisible more often than in recent years, has struggled with giveaways, and if the power play is going to improve its going to have to be Thornton leading the way.
Second half outlook: Thornton assisted on a pair of Sharks power play goals in Vancouver and Edmonton just before the break, which is a good sign that unit will improve in the second half. It has to, if the Sharks are going to be serious contenders.
Brad Winchester StatsSplitsGame Logs
Season so far: Winchester made a few new fans in the stands and with his teammates, as well, when he fought Dane Byers after Byers illegally hit Andrew Desjardins in Columbus. Hes got a wicked shot when he gets open, will drop the gloves, and has been a key component on the fourth line.
Second half outlook: Winchester is nothing more than a fourth line player, but that line has been effective most of the year. Dont be surprised to see Winchester sign an extension with the team at some point before the regular season ends (hes set to be an unrestricted free agent).

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