Your theory of the Sharks slow downturn

[Sleepy]

The slow downfall is a result of the overall Sharks strategy:

1. Take below-average player, and put said player on a line with Thornton/Vlasic/Boyle and/or powerplay time.
2. Watch player's production improve.
3. Trade below-average player with inflated stats for 2nd rounders and/or overpriced snipers, and congratulate yourself as the internet says "OMG DW is genius! Look Cheechoo/Heatley/Havlat/Setoguchi just tanked elsewhere!"
4. Waste all acquired draft picks acquiring talentless hacks who technically suited up for a Stanley cup team.
5. Pass over studs in the first round because they're from the wrong country.
6. Waste remaining picks on draft busts that, if lucky, turn into 4th liners.
7. Blame leadership for playoff failures.
8. Raise ticket prices.
9. Go to Step 1.

 

[Beaviz81]

The slow downfall is a result of the overall Sharks strategy:

1. Take below-average player, and put said player on a line with Thornton/Vlasic/Boyle and/or powerplay time.
2. Watch player's production improve.
3. Trade below-average player with inflated stats for 2nd rounders and/or overpriced snipers, and congratulate yourself as the internet says "OMG DW is genius! Look Cheechoo/Heatley/Havlat/Setoguchi just tanked elsewhere!"
4. Waste all acquired draft picks acquiring talentless hacks who technically suited up for a Stanley cup team.
5. Pass over studs in the first round because they're from the wrong country.
6. Waste remaining picks on draft busts that, if lucky, turn into 4th liners.
7. Blame leadership for playoff failures.
8. Raise ticket prices.
9. Go to Step 1.

You forgot: Force named picks to take on roles which they cannot realistically be expected to play and blow up the bottom six forwards when you seem to be on the right track. But other than that the listing you provided is very precise as you seem to have in all but the wording: "Mortgage the future for yet another playoff-berth."