I like the Sharks, but I think Ekman was more a product of his environment last season playing on a line with Big Joe and Cheechoo.
San Jose picked up Mark Bell to play the right side this season and I guess they needed to dump some salary.
I wouldn't say this trade was 100% necessary, but it might have been necessary in order to facilitate a bigger trade involving Nabokov/Toskala and receiving a bit more salary in return? Maybe San Jose's in the midst of bringing in a 2nd line winger to play with Marleau and Bernier or something. Just spitballin' here.