How to get more out of Mike Hoffman and increase his value for the Trade Deadline

The San Jose Sharks have a difficult task on their hands. They are bracing for a rebuild while trying to increase the players' trade value they would like to move on from at the trade deadline. We know that Mike Grier is open to offers on almost the entire roster so there's expected to be a mass exodus as players leave to find places that will take them to competitiveness in the playoffs. One of those who may move is Mike Hoffman.

Hoffman is goalless in his last 24 games. A man known for his ability to put the puck in the net is enduring quite the dry spell. If the Sharks find a new home for him at the deadline, they will need this player to prove he's worth having. He can do that by starting to put the puck into the net. He's not been doing that enough recently, which is not a good sign.

He's not exactly known for his stout defensive play, as he tends to turn off in his zone, but that shot of his can beat any goalie. He's got eight goals and ten assists this year for 18 points, which isn't bad, but a lot more was expected of the Kitchener, Ontario native. He's gone completely cold. What teams evaluating him as a trade fit have to do is now judge whether it's because of his age and declining play or the struggles the Sharks have had offensively as a unit.

Hoffman played with Nico Sturm and the red-hot Filip Zadina against the Columbus Blue Jackets in an attempt to get the forward scoring again. Still, there's no denying that it has been quite a difficult season for the former Montreal Canadien. He must find a way to return to putting the puck away again, and Quinn is trying to get that to be the case. It's why he's being put in more potent positions to try and get him going.

When the goals are flowing through Hoffman, he's going to win games on his own and it's been a struggle for him. Perhaps, Zadina's recent hot streak will inspire Hoffman, or perhaps Hoffman will just get a bounce with someone who possesses more of an abliity to se him up. Either way, the guys in teal need more from him. Not just for the deadline, but to improve the goal scoring if he can get it going again.