Nov. 28 , 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Andrew Murray (28) Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Ah the slow fade, a system used by men (and women) alike to ease out of a relationship with as little drama as possible. We’re all familiar with it I’m sure. Girl gets bored with boy, he’s ok but not really what she’s looking for, girl starts canceling dates here and there, first one, then a few in a row, and then boom, its over and in a gray area and boy wonders if she’ll take him back or send him away. Such is the slow fade process of the San Jose Sharks.

Obviously I mention it today due to the confirmation this morning that Andrew Murray was in fact placed on waivers, but certainly not the first player to see himself staring at going back into the AHL this season. In a brief article this morning Sharks Insider Kevin Kurz relates the information that Murray will likely clear waivers tomorrow and be sent to the Sharks AHL affiliate in Worcester. Since signing with the Sharks in July, Murray has put up a lackluster 4 pts total (1G 3A) and has been scratched from the past 4 games. Better to have him on the ice building up his skill and staying fresh, but all signs point to that ice being out East.

Last season playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets Murray played in 29 regular season games, putting up a total of 8 points (4G 4A), double his current number in ten less games. His performance has continually declined over the past 4 seasons with his best season being in 2007-2008 while playing in the AHL for the Syracuse Crunch, posting 15 pts (13G 2A) in 34 games. Perhaps a trip back to the A will do him some good but given the current climate in the Hockey world it will be predictably tough for him to come back to any major success.

Another Shark who fell victim to the Slow Fade this season (a couple of times) is Frazer McLaren. McLaren, currently with the Worcester Sharks as well, faced multiple scratched games before being sent back to Worcester. While McLaren was sent back for a variety of reasons one can speculate on, he too faced that weird limbo of a dying relationship. Watching a player be faded to the background is never fun, but completely necessary if they aren’t contributing to the team. Would we like to see them back? Sure! Who doesn’t want success for these guys? But if it means they are filling a spot someone better and faster could be filling (and putting up more points in of course) then I have no problem with them being waived or sent down and watching them be successful in the AHL as part of the organization there.

We at BoT wish the best of luck to Andrew Murray (and of course Frazer McLaren), and hope to see them both find great NHL success.

~ALH

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