Sharks deal for Guerin on day of trading deadline

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks acquired forward Bill Guerin from the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, adding another veteran to their young club hours before the NHL trading deadline.\nThe Sharks, who entered the day tied for fifth place in the Western Conference after a recent slump, gave up left wing Ville Nieminen, college forward Jay Barriball and New Jersey’s first-round pick, which they acquired last year.\nGuerin, a four-time All-Star and one of the NHL’s top American-born players, revitalized his career in his first season with St. Louis, scoring 28 goals and 47 points in his 14th pro campaign.\nThe bruising power forward waived his no-trade clause to leave the rebuilding Blues for the Sharks, who plan to contend for a Stanley Cup championship after two big moves in three days by general manager Doug Wilson.\n“I’m very excited about the trade, and I just have to come in and play my game, play the way that they expect me to,” Guerin said in a phone interview from the St. Louis airport, where he was waiting for a flight to Chicago and on to San Francisco.\n“(I’ll) just be a good addition to the locker room and help this team make some strides. I know Doug had mentioned (getting) an experienced player, and I’m going to have to bring some experience. I’ve been around a long time.”\nExperience is exactly what San Jose needs. Two days earlier, the Sharks acquired veteran defenseman Craig Rivet from the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Josh Gorges and their own first-round pick.\nThe moves are an aggressive new tactic by the Sharks, who gave every opportunity to their stable of young talent to grow into everyday roles. But San Jose’s youth has been evident in an inconsistent season despite the club’s impressive overall record.\n“Competition is really important to us, but it’s also about the depth,” Wilson said. “Our goal is to compete for a Stanley Cup, and I think we have as much depth as anybody in this league. We’re trying to put everything in place that allows us to go on the long run that’s needed.”\nThe Sharks, who lost 3-2 to Anaheim on Monday night, have dropped four of six to slip into a second-place tie with Dallas in the Pacific Division. Guerin got an up-close look at the Sharks’ strengths and weaknesses last month when he had a hat trick in San Jose’s 6-5 win at St. Louis.