Dang, it’s been ages since I wrote a blog but someone got me thinking about signing Brian Campbell. I know a lot of Sharks faithful won’t agree with me, but what the hell – I like Campbell. Yeah, I admit I’m a Sabres fan and loved watching him play for them. Yeah, I was … annoyed … when Lindy traded him but, I thought, “At least he’s coming to San Jose.”

Brian is an outstanding defenseman. He has great puck control, can shoot, can pass, is super speedy and gets very few penalties. I realize that Sharks fans who aren’t used to seeing him play may not believe the no penalty thing – on account of that last game against Dallas – but check out his stats for last season.

He has a reputation for being a good guy in the locker room and he’s young and healthy. I’ll be the first to admit he was less than fabulous in the playoffs, but he did pretty darned well for us up until then. And while I’m not excusing his lack of performance post-season, he wasn’t the only under-performer by a long shot. The whole team didn’t play well, which is why we have a new coach.

So, here’s the real question … is Brian Campbell the six million dollar man? IMHO, not for San Jose. That’s just too much money to tie up in one player. My choice would be less money in exchange for a longer contract. Ultimately, it’ll depend on who else offers what and what Campbell is looking for – money, a cup or a home. If he wants a home and a good shot at a cup, he can’t do better than the Sharks. If he wants someone to show him the money, he’d best pack up and head for Chicago.