Shootin' The Shit: Forward Lines
by FTF Staff on Nov 6, 2009 2:30 AM PST
in Fear The Fin News
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At some point in the year, players on the San Jose Sharks won't be dropping like villians in a Stallone movie. A sense of order will be achieved.
Until that day occurs, we can only wait around and hope.
Every non-gameday Friday, Plank and TCY will throw out a topic of interest to talk about. No in-depth analysis. No brash proclamations or predictions. Just a statement, a question, or proposition. Some will deal with the future, some will deal with the present, some will deal with the past. All will be a kickstart to conversation.
Today is forward line combinations when the team is completely healthy, no matter how far-fetched that seems right now. Here's what we came up with.
Heatley-Thornton-Setoguchi
Marleau-Pavelski-Clowe
McGinn-Malhotra-Mitchell
Shelley-Nichol-Ortmeyer
And yes, we know Ferriero isn't on here. We've been more impressed with McGinn the last four games. If Mitchell doesn't come back until the end of the century (current Vegas odds) then Ferriero slides into that spot.
Go Sharks.
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Diggin' It.
I like those lines a lot more than I did going into the season, and a helluva lot more than last year’s. But that’s just my opinion.
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Ortmeyer's
doing realy well on the 3rd line right now. Seems like a shame to move him down to the 4th. However, with all of these lines rolling, the 4th could get more ice time and give the top two some more down time.
I'm digging Ferreiro
but you’re right, McGinn has played better the last few games. Took him a while to get comfortable going up and down, then staying up, but he’s adjusted well.
I’m really happy that we didn’t give up Marleau, and also really happy that we were able to get Heatley. Worked out well so far, I’d say
Did anyone else notice
How well Couture played last night after his balls dropped? He scored that goal and started skating around like a madman fighting for pucks and evading people like a SUPERSTAR!
I was impressed. But he does not deserve to be on the team once these people come back. My biggest issue with Ferrerrerrerriroo is that he only skates in a single direction. He doesn’t seem to have any fancy moves yet. Mcginn is the man.
by SanJoseLandShark on Nov 6, 2009 7:47 AM PST reply actions
I have been impressed with him since the beginning of the preseason, but hell, you’re right.
After he scored that goal, he was a machine, and I think he’s only going to get better from here on out.
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Nov 6, 2009 8:00 AM PST up reply actions
I was pleasantly surprised
I still don’t know any of the rookies from a hole in the wall but they were all more of a presence than the first line last night. There is some real good energy from the youngins, and Couture looked like he was only getting more comfortable as the game progressed.
Anyone notice that the big guns faded a bit again against the Red? I don’t really hold it against Thornton and Heater too much though. Clowe is so out of sorts he could kill the chemistry of any line right now.
By the way, if the guy can barely take two strides without pooping himself, do you really try and help him bust out of a slump by putting him in the shootout again when you have the opportunity to take 2 points in Detroit?
Here's to the second round!
Well, without Pavelski, Clowe and Boyle are really the only go-to guys for the shootout right now, since they’ve traditionally had success in that area. Obviously, Clowe is sucking right now, but he did have that one SO goal this season.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
What are those guys talking about in that picture? I think it goes something like this:
Douche 1: “Yeah, so, you know that hot chick in accounts receivable?”
Douche 2: “Cathy, what about her?”
Douche 1: “Well, let’s just say she’ll be receiving MY account, tonight.”
Douche 2: “She’s finally going out with you?”
Douche 1: "No, no. But I heard her on the phone so I know where she’ll be tonight. Gonna slide on over and put the famous “Steveorino” moves on her."
Douche 2: “I wish I had your balls man, I wish I had your balls.”
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
Douche 1: “I’m gonna show her my O face”
Douche 2: “What’s an O face?”
Douche 1: “Oh……………………………………… Oh…………………………… Oh…………………… Oh………………… Oh”
by SanJoseLandShark on Nov 6, 2009 12:39 PM PST up reply actions
Those are my line combos on NHL 10
"Chocolate?! This is doo-doo baby!"
by c.perez on Nov 6, 2009 8:08 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Same with me
But in NHL 2K10.
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" club.
Fear the Fin: Where Sharks Fans Aren't Like Other Sharks Fans.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Nov 6, 2009 3:03 PM PST up reply actions
I'd like to make a prediction on the line combos
But it just seems like definitive line’s are a figment of our collective imagination! Just like Ron Wilson all over again.
I think we have a few really weak links on the teams currently. Clowe, Vlassic, and Malhotra.
Clowe and Vlassic’s problems are already well documented. Whilst Manny has improved since the season opened, his execution isnt always there. I have lost count the number of times he has needlessly turned the puck over. Not that anyone else has clean hands in regards to turnovers, I just expected better execution of the simpler aspects of the game. I suppose you get what you pay for!
So far I think we have seen Manny Lite. The trial software version. I think he has struggled a little to adapt to San Jose’s play, but I think he’s still a major upgrade over Goc.
I LOVE SCOTT NICHOL! It’s like having a fast Grier, and gritty Goc in one lilliputian package.
"iaT"S FUCKINGE LIEK CONICO DO MAYO!!!!!111"
Mr. K. 5/5/2009
With a little bit of Theo Fleury thrown in for good measure
Fear the Fin....where being an old guy isn't all bad, and the 2nd round can be bad on the heart
by Dave Valentine on Nov 6, 2009 1:08 PM PST up reply actions
Reading this lines just ruins my day
because I know we’ll likely never see these lines together until Game 1 of playoffs.
The injury parade that started last January is getting really old.
At least this year total health lasted longer than one day of training camp. It was at least a week or two before Mitchell got injured again.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Sadly, I’ve now written him off entirely as a Sharks player. I’ve given up hope. To me name Mitchell means nothing.
On the other hand, I truly hope Pavs is back soon. We sure could have used him in shootout yesterday.
Don’t you dare say that about my favorite player. I’m still holding out hope that he’ll be healthy in time for the November 25 game against Chicago (which I have tickets to, and whose tickets feature Torrey on them, to my delight).
And seriously. Apparently, he was almost going to come back against the Wings, but still had a lingering ache. Word is he’s coming back within the next few games. Yay!
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
However, it’s easier to live like this mentally, as we already have lived without Mitchell for almost 100 games.
Even if he comes back soon, I don’t expect him to get into his old shape until Olympics or so.
You can’t just take 100 games off and come back strong.
He did play those 4 games in the playoffs (during which he was one of the best players on the ice for the Sharks, hands down), and he stayed in San Jose this summer to get some extra training with the training staff. So it wasn’t like he’s been continually injured since the second day of training camp in 2008.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Huskins got a contract of $1.7M per year without stepping on the ice once in a Sharks sweater. That probably had a little bit to do with our expectations.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Actually, it was $1.37M, which does make a bit of a difference. And we’ve seen him play for our team, including that four game stint in the playoffs. While I agree he was overpaid, he at least has a body of work with the Sharks that we can point back to as something good. Like, the shorty against the Ducks. That was pretty sick.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
You can look back at Huskins Cup run as a time when he played well.
Free agents get signed all the time without playing for our own team. That’s a poor indicator.
Mitchell should get the same scrutiny that he gets, he got a fat new contract without playing all of last year (except for 4 games where he didn’t register a point). He’s coming off an injury and should be playing top notch or he’s a terrible signing that will sink the Sharks.
Or at least thats what people said of Huskins for the most part… I read too much WTC.
Personally, I was hoping they’ll just sign him for one year, the same deal we gave Clowe when he came off his injury, in other words, give me a year to prove that you still belong.
Instead, we’re stuck with him for three years.
What if Mitchell never comes back?
I see that contract as one of many questionable contracts Dougie gave up while here. That’s certainly not one of his strengths.
I don’t get the “without stepping on the ice once in a Sharks sweater” part. If he was never traded and signed as a FA would this be okay?
If there was a prior indication that he’d be worth $1.7M, maybe, but he was largely considered as a throw-in with Moen in the trade, and since Moen kind of sucked, that naturally led to people thinking Huskins wasn’t very good (that, and all the reports from Rudy and Sleek).
That, plus we had to give up two prospects and draft picks to get him, along with the large salary. So, he didn’t exactly come to the Sharks in the most favorable of circumstances.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Since we're talking about forwards
I wonder why Marleau is no longer one of the SO shooters? He seemed to be in the SO lineup a lot under RW and even last season.
Right now, I’d drop Boyle who’s thinking too much, and add Patty back in next time we’re going into OT, until Boyle (or Heater) can be replaced by Pavs.
Marleau traditionally isn’t very good at shootouts, although I would like to see him back in the shootout lineup. He’s hasn’t scored 11 goals because he got lucky. And Boyle is actually one of our better players at shootouts, so I don’t really see a reason to drop him, unless another guy is ridiculously hot at the time (like, just scored a hat trick, or has 7 goals in the past 3 or 4 games or something like that). Heatley should be in the lineup as well, and pending on his success should be replaced by Pavs.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
I don’t know about Boyle. He’s now 4 out of the 12 – that’s not a very good percentage. Yesterday his attempt was pretty weak – straight into goalie’s chest.
I guess Marleau is 5 out of 17, which is not that much better. Heatley is 4 out of 21 – why do we keep putting him up there?
Why don’t they try new guys? How would we ever find out that we have another Pavelski in our midst without trying new guys?
I'd love to see the rookies
It’s not like the other goalies will know what’s coming and it’ll be interesting to see what they can do.
Technically, Boyle has a better percentage than Marleau, but that’s just semantics when you consider that neither of them are very good. And then Heatley already admitted that he sucks at the shootout – it’s just that he scored on the penalty shot and his first shootout attempt, so McLellan was probably trying to ride the hot hands.
And I have no idea. I would think it’s because none of them are very good at scoring goals normally, so it would follow that they’re not very good in the shootout.
Oh, and remember, Setoguchi is also out, who’d likely have a regular appearance in the shootout lineup.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Seto is 1 out of 6. Nothing to brag about. Cheech was respectable 6 out of 18, but well, that no longer matters.
Edmonton is one of the best SO teams and that’s because they have young guys who try new things. That’s what we need too. I think we’ve tried Ferrari once. I’d try McGinn, Demers and Couture next.
Bottom line, the sooner Pavs is back, the better.
Another solution
would be to sign more Russians or Fins, who have the highest SO percentages statistically.
I know why. SOs is something we practiced since very early age. Every workout always had a section of 1-on-1 SO, as long as I remember.
Maybe
TM was thinking that Nabby looked pretty good last night, and won a SO the night before, and was thinking this one could go extra shoots..in which case he wanted Patty…just a thought.
Fear the Fin....where being an old guy isn't all bad, and the 2nd round can be bad on the heart
by Dave Valentine on Nov 6, 2009 1:11 PM PST up reply actions
I HATE THIS POST
LOGAN COUTURE FOR PRESIDENT OF EARTH!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111111111
*jizzums
I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.
by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Nov 6, 2009 10:25 AM PST reply actions
As crazy as it sounds
I would love to see Jody Shelley in the SO lineup.
During the novelty shootout after teal and white, he had the best move by far. He sniped the oversize goalie cup off of Greiss.
I shouldn't have said anything.
It’s only kind of crazy…the Sharks aren’t particularly good at the shootout anyways. Putting in Shelley probably won’t affect much.
Sometimes the impossible can become possible if you're AWESOME!
by ZeroIndulgence on Nov 6, 2009 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
You just know both of them practiced those just to show off.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
I think the coaches like Ferriero to much to drop him
Especially in the playoffs, I think Shelly will have a tough time cracking the lineup.
This is also not including Vesce, who almost assuredly will get a chance to earn a spot when he comes back, maybe even on the top line. Also, Ryane Clowe has become my new Ehrhoff. He has been pretty awful all season with mishandling passes and overstickhandling, and should be demoted to the 3rd line.
Heatley – Thornton – Vesce
Marleau – Pavelski – Setoguchi
Clowe – Malhotra – Mitchell
Ferriero – Nichol – Ortemeyer
I think McGinn should be in there, probably for Ferriero or Vesce, but he has such a short leash its ridiculous.
I also think that Ferrari is here to stay. The scruffy kid haven’t even been to Worcester yet, right?
I think you’re now stereotyping Clowe. He’s actually been pretty good in the last few games. Still not scoring a lot, but getting an assist here and there and battling hard in the corners and backchecking. He’s the reason why first line is now actually pretty good defensively, so I won’t be surprised to see Seto start his comeback on the 2nd line when he’s ready.
/obligatory Shelley defending post.
First off. Why does everyone forget the E! It bugs me, pet peeve…
I think Shelly will have a tough time cracking the lineup.
Shelley’s there to fill the enforcer role… you know score goals, the usual.
Here are the lines from the first game when everyone was healthy excluding Mitchell:
Heatley-Thornton-Setoguchi
Marleau-Pavelski-Clowe
McGinn-Malhotra-Ferriero
Shelley-Nichol-Ortmeyer
Since Shelley was in that line up, I’m going to make a crazy assumption that he has some sort of value to the Sharks.
I agree, Shelley makes the lineup when we need an enforcer. But against teams like Pitt or the Caps, or in the playoffs (unless we’re playing Philly or Anaheim or something), he probably gets scratched. That’s just his role. I’m still a huge Shelley fan. I love what he does, and he happens to be an awesome person to boot!
Sometimes the impossible can become possible if you're AWESOME!
by ZeroIndulgence on Nov 6, 2009 1:45 PM PST up reply actions
Agreed. I also like Shelley a whole lot. I would probably get a jersey if we didn’t have Staubitz just waiting to take his spot. I don’t really want to drop two bills on a jersey for a guy who might not even be around come March.
Jon Casey fan since '84
McLaren
Will take Shelley’s spot, not Staubitz. Staubitz isn’t big enough and doesn’t play smart enough to get that spot.
Agree with you there.
It seems like Staubitz is a little bit “unprepared” enforcer wise. Like when to stir up shit, and when not to. Sometimes his penalties are total momentum killers. But mayyyybe he could learn?
I like McLaren. He’s the “new” enforcer 2.0. Meaning he somewhat has skill!
Oooo, I wanna play!
In the perfect world, everyone will be healthy and happy! When that happens, I’ll get back from my hunting expedition shooting flying pigs, and hope to see lines constructed as such…
Heatley-Thornton-Setoguchi
Marleau-Pavelski-Clowe
Vesce-Malhotra-Mitchell
McGinn-Nichol-Ortmeyer
The 3rd and 4th lines in this scenario would be pretty much interchangable. I really like what I’ve seen from the McGinn-Nichol-Orts line, and would hate to break them up. Vesce deserves a spot on the team. Shelley would be the healthy scratch, and would fill in for McGinn or Vesce against teams that we need our bruiser for (the Philly, Anaheims, etc.), and then we could roll this lineup out against the teams like Detroit and Washington and Pittsburgh. I guess this would be more of a playoff lineup.
However, when Mitchell has a “set back” because he looked at a game and decided he was too close to coming back, then my lines would shift just a little to…
Heatley-Thornton-Setoguchi
Marleau-Pavelski-Clowe
McGinn-Malhotra-Vesce
Shelley-Nichol-Ortmeyer
In any case, we have some pretty awesome forward depth to work with, and could finally have a third and fourth line in the playoffs that can score some goals and make life miserable for the other team. Which is decidedly a good thing.
Sometimes the impossible can become possible if you're AWESOME!
Worcester Sharks game
is scheduled to be streaming on ATDHE.net
Oh, so that's where you edit your signature
Line 2
Will be the best 2nd line in the NHL once Pavs returns.
Pavelski closing in, Pavelski fires, HE SCOOORES!! 5 games not enough! The Sharks have another date in the Lone Star State!
CapGeek said the team just sent down Callahan
I wonder who got healthy? Or Staubby is getting another chance? (I hope the former)
There’s also a chance it could just be a cap-saving measure.
But I would be insanely happy if it meant that Pavelski is ready to play.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
trade Clowe
honestly his contract is huge. we could get a mid first. we have players who are as good as him and we would have the cash to resign marleau. wats not to like
lines
Heat-Thron-Seto
Marl-Pavs-Mitch
Ferr-Manny-Ginn
Shel-Nicol-Orto
We don’t have any other power forwards really.
People need to calm down about Clowe. We’re only a month in here.
I agree. Has he been as stellar as we’d like? No, but his play is steadily improving, he has scored, and dude is a beast.
resident cartoonist @CouchTarts Lightning is seven times as hot as the surface of the sun.
That’s still not as hot as Douglas Murray. -mymclife
Is there an echo in here?
I’m not sure why you would trade Clowe for a draft pick now, with all that’s riding on this season. If you’re moving him for prospects/picks, you do that in the offseason.
As for this season, you’re selling low at this moment and would have trouble receiving a noteworthy return in the form of an NHL player, especially considering the size and length of his contract. I’m not ruling a move out in the future, but at this juncture it doesn’t seem like a successful way to approach this. He’s been a disappointment thus far, but let’s not give up on him just yet.
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