Sharks in Desperate Need of Offense, Recall Gushchin

The San Jose Sharks are in desperate need of offense. They’ve scored 18 goals in 15 games, dead last in the NHL by a relative mile.

Case in point, the Washington Capitals, the second-worst offense in the league, have averaged 2.31 Goals Per Game. The Sharks are averaging 1.2 Goals Per Game.

So the second-worst offense in the NHL is still producing at almost double San Jose’s rate.

In response, the San Jose Sharks have recalled Danil Gushchin. In a corresponding move, they’ve also sent Oskar Lindblom back to the San Jose Barracuda.

The 2020 third-round pick leads the Barracuda with 13 points in 11 games. He’s got four goals and nine assists.

He’s an offensively-minded winger who showed some big-league promise last season, scoring both his first goal and assist in his two-game NHL debut.

Don’t expect Gushchin to solve all of the San Jose Sharks’ offensive woes: The 5-foot-8 winger has plenty to iron out in his own game.

But there’s no doubt that he’s skilled and creative, two particular areas of need for the 2-11-1 Sharks.

Gushchin could also fill the void of Anthony Duclair, who’s missed the last two games with illness. The San Jose Sharks take on the Florida Panthers at SAP Center tomorrow.