DENVER — Sharks coach Pete DeBoer made clear Saturday night that his top need headed toward the NHL’s Feb. 26 trade deadline is acquiring a bonafide fourth line center. Apparently, he and general manager Doug Wilson are on the same page.
The Mercury News has learned from sources that the Sharks are actively shopping for a center to plug the glaring hole in the middle of their bottom line.
The Sharks fourth line center problem is a by product of Patrick Marleau’s departure to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason. DeBoer yanked Tomas Hertl out of the third line center position just three games into the season to help replace Marleau’s scoring punch on Logan Couture’s left wing.