The San Jose Sharks closed out the NHL Trade Deadline with one final depth trade that sort of solves the problem of having too many goaltenders. Alexei Melnichuk, the 23-year-old netminder who debuted for the Sharks last season, was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for center Antoine Morand. Both players have spent this season with their respective AHL clubs.
Melnichuk has had his fair share of struggles this season, but when put in the context of being a younger player who is still relatively new to North America, playing behind an at-times abysmal San Jose Barracuda roster, well .