Sharks spotlight: TJ Galiardi

Editor's note: Over the next month, CSNCalifornia.com Sharks Insider Kevin Kurz and Postgame Live reporter Brodie Brazil will evaluate the 2011-12 performance of each player on the roster. One breakdown will occur every weekday in numerical order.

Shark spotlight -- the series
Sharks spotlight: TJ GaliardiAge: 24LWTJ Galiardi was acquired by the Sharks at the trade deadlinefrom the Colorado Avalanche, and had one goal in 14 games with six penaltyminutes. In 55 games with the Avalanche before the trade, he had eight goalsand six assists for 14 points and 47 penalty minutes. He was scoreless with sixpenalty minutes in three playoff games for the Sharks. He is a restricted freeagent.Kurz says: When the Sharks acquired Galiardi (along withDaniel Winnik in exchange for Jamie McGinn and a prospect), nearly everyone whowas on the Sharks roster in 2010 commented on how much of a rat Galiardicould be on the iceand they meant it as a compliment. Galiardi displayed hisup-tempo, pest-like game in flashes with the Sharks, but never locked down aregular spot in the lineup, as evidenced by his being a healthy scratch in twoof five playoff games. A six-game absence due to a back injury didnt helpGaliardis adjustment, either, as he was forced to sit from March 17-26 whilerecovering.Brodie says: It was pretty amazing that as Dan Winnik and TJ Galiardi were having lunch together, they found out, within minutes apart, that each was involved in a trade to San Jose. But in a sense, it was also symbolic of the friendship between the two... one which made joining a pressing Sharks team at the deadline a lot easier as a pair. With their outgoing and fun-loving personalities both were quickly accepted into the dressing room, in a time where the temperature was raising over playoff uncertainty. Tenured Shark players recalled Galiardi being a frustrating matchup back in the 2010 playoffs, when he helped the Avalanche take their first round effort to 6 games against San Jose. He was pesky in that series and made life difficult on all of the top players of his future team. Galiardi suffered from what could have been a pre-existing back injury as he came to the Sharks, which did not help him in the quest to make immediate contributions or find a rhythm with minimal time to spare. 2012-13 expectationsKurz says: Galiardi is still just 24 years old, and theSharks will almost certainly bring him back into the fold next season. Hellhave the benefit of a full training camp, and should be able to lock down aregular spot among the top 12 forwards. Galiardi has the potential to developinto a strong penalty killer, too, and if the Sharks play a more aggressivestyle on the PK next yearas is expectedGaliardi could be an effectivepart of that unit.Although things didnt work out for him in Colorado, thereis still plenty of time for Galiardi to continue to improve his game and, atthe very least, be an effective role player with the Sharks.Brodie says: As one of five restricted free agents this summer, the ball is really in the Sharks' court with Galiardi. One thing to note: he is an extremely motivated player, still with a chip on his shoulder about the way things ended in Colorado. He has a strong desire to make San Jose his proving ground, which in itself should be a good reason for the team to exercise its essential option. His age, his energy and his potential all fit. Galiardi can be the type of player you hate to go up against; so why not put him in teal for a full next season?
Up next: Logan Couture