Staubitz To Worcester

by Mr. Plank on Nov 19, 2008 4:21 PM PST in Sharks News Comment 8 comments

San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has reassigned forward Brad Staubitz to the Worcester Sharks, the team’s top development affiliate in the American Hockey League.

Staubitz has played in nine games with San Jose during two stints, posting one assist and 25 penalty minutes.

- sjsharks.com

Doug Wilson hasn't been one to shy away from taking advantage of two-way contracts this season, and his latest move is no exception. I'm a little surprised with the transaction- Staubitz's line (with Shelley & Roenick) did an excellent job of injecting life into the team, as well as providing the physicality that would be necessary against Calgary and Nashville*. San Jose hasn't had a true "grind line" for as long as I can remember- I'd wager this isn't the last time we see Staubitz at The Tank.

* This could have a lot to do with why he was sent down- upcoming matchups with Chicago and Washington will be more finesse based affairs. Dallas on the 28th, not so much. But we'll tackle that when it comes time.

So what can we garner from this move? A couple of things:

1) Mike Grier is playing Saturday night. Good news for the penalty kill.

2) Evgeni Nabokov might not be coming along as quickly as we were led to believe. The jury is still out on this one, but it seems slightly odd Griess wouldn't have been sent to Worcester with Staubitz if McLellan was planning starting Nabokov on Saturday. With nearly this whole week off, I assumed Nabby would be rehabilitated. Thirteen days out and counting.....

That being said, it's not a problem- at least not yet. There's no need to rush him back when Boucher has been picking up wins, and doing a relatively good job between the pipes (besides the hiccups in Chicago).

It's also possible that we will be seeing Griess sent down later this week, or that management will carry three healthy goaltenders for the time being. Pretty unlikely considering Worcester has a game on Saturday, and Griess could use the game time. All he's doing in San Jose is filling a roster space.

Go Sharks.

[Update 4:48 PM]: PJ Swenson composed a Sharks highlight reel you absolutely have to see.

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They must have seen

Staubitz’s SER #. Ouch.

Just kidding. Staubitz was a nice addition to the team while he was here, but how many Shelley type players do you need? This might be a cooincidence, but shots on goal were down while Staubitz was on the team (we were even outshot a few times in his tenure).

Here’s hoping we get another glimpse of McGinn… I think he’s the quasi real deal. Grier can move down onto the Shelley/Roenick line if need be.

On to Nabby… I’m starting to get worried. A knee injury for a goalie is a big deal, but I’m hoping he’s actually ok and they’re trying not to rush him with Boucher playing so well (Chicago-gate excluded). Sad though, I’m still hoping this is going to be Nabby’s Vezina year…

by That'll Cheech You on Nov 19, 2008 4:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Staubitz was a nice addition to the team while he was here, but how many Shelley type players do you need? This might be a coincidence, but shots on goal were down while Staubitz was on the team (we were even outshot a few times in his tenure).

I respectfully disagree- our fourth line gets limited ice time as is, so the correlation with shots on net is probably just a coincidence. And in my opinion, we already have plenty of players who can put the puck in the net (Marleau, Michalek, Gooch, Pavelski, Cheech etc.).

The Sharks showed these last two games that they aren’t going to allow themselves to get pushed around as in year’s past. While I don’t think the lack of Staubitz will cause other teams to take liberties, you can make a case that it sure isn’t going to help.

That’s what worries me too- it could be a knee, could be a groin. Either way, he’s not going to have the post to post explosiveness he’s showed in the past (at least right when he gets back).

I doubt D Dubs and Sweeney Todd are rushing him back- if anything, they seem to be taking the conservative approach. Fine by me.

Fear The Fin: Where the second round is overrated.

by Mr. Plank on Nov 19, 2008 4:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that was a very thin line of reasoning...

However, we saw the Nashville game get out of hand towards the end. I think our current roster (with or without Staubitz) has learned the worth of being physical, and will continue to stand up for themselves no matter how the roster shifts.

by That'll Cheech You on Nov 20, 2008 7:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And That Mike Grier

sure hustles out on the ice- theme song anyone?

Fear The Fin: Where the second round is overrated.

by Mr. Plank on Nov 19, 2008 4:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

dude..

Grier can’t have that, it’s already my theme song. Sorry Mike.

by sharks on Nov 19, 2008 5:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

knee injuries

always seem minor, but since you use your knees to…well, get around…you use them a lot. it’s a complex joint and I for one am not surprised to see nabby shelved this long, even if it is minor.

that said, I would expect the sharks med staff to know if it were something serious by now, so him not seeing IR is a little positive in my mind. plus why would we rush him back onto the ice with the waterboy giving us wins, I mean were a frickin good team no matter whos gaurding the net. we could put shelly in goalie pads and probably win.

by sharks on Nov 19, 2008 4:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

take it from an ex goalie

with a complete left knee ACL reconstruction, I’m thinking groin. You don’t just come back and say “oh, it’s not too bad” then go down for a few days and say it again if it’s a knee. And if it’s a groin, it’s a mild strain. It’ll take some time…but like everyone has already opined….Bouch is doing okay and Nabby should just get the groin healthy before trying to come back. Knees are pretty much cut and dried. You don’t feel better one day and then bad the next. It hurts like hell and you just get progressively better. Groins….sounds like what’s happening here. My thoughts are that the worse thing he can do is come back too soon and the minor strain becomes a major strain…out 3 months, or so.

by Dave Valentine on Nov 19, 2008 6:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

and on a selfish note

I need Nabby back since he’s on my fantasy hockey team. Yes, I’m worried about him. I want the Sharks to do great. Also don’t want to lose what little standing I have so far the first time I’m playing fantasy hockey. GO NABBY! GO SHARKS!!

by ang6666 on Nov 19, 2008 8:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs