Before I get going in a fit of controlled rage - here's your required reading of the day.

For those of you that don't know who he is, here's a little bit about Ross McKeon, from his own Yahoo Sports profile:

Ross McKeon covered the San Jose Sharks and the National Hockey League for 17 years at the San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Examiner. A chapter chairman for the Pro Hockey Writers' Association, he also has experience covering Major League Baseball and pro tennis. Ross graduated from California State University Hayward with a degree in Mass Communications.

If you wondered why McKeon's weekly rankings this season (and last season, and...) seemed to put the Sharks on top more often that not (even when they arguably deserved a lower ranking), well my friends - we have homers in high places.

Though homers can certainly get frustrated at times:

ANAHEIM, Calif. – There’s going to be a new rule in San Jose starting immediately. The words "Stanley Cup" are hereby banned from being uttered by anyone connected to the Sharks’ organization until the team wins a Western Conference title.

That’s it. No more. The franchise is not worthy to talk about something that appears so elusive. The Sharks should feel too embarrassed over what happened the last 10 days to ever fall into the trap of talking about winning a championship again.

And don’t hold your breath for the "Stanley Cup" ban to end. That Western Conference title is not right around the corner like fans have been led to believe time and time again.

Reactionary?  Hell, I had this reaction after Game 4, so far be it from me to call the kettle black.

For the Sharks, it’s all California dreamin’. Empty words. All talk. Not enough action. The Sharks now know what the Ottawa Senators feel like.

One conclusion I derived from this paragraph is that the Mamas and the Papas' music should be banned from the HP Pavilion... especially given the eerie parallels between Mama Cass' demise and that of Team Teal this season (and last season, and...).

Another conclusion I derived is that I need to officially allow Pension Plan Puppets to say "I told you so."   If only they didn't have photographic evidence of the sign I made... I'll burn that sucker this afternoon.

The enthusiastic fan base, criticized in the past for not being the most hockey savvy group, has come a long way and supported this franchise year after year. They are savvy now. And they are mad, as they should be.

They are sick and tired of listening to all the chatter, all the predictions. And they are sick of getting their hopes up. They, too, will not fall into this trap again.

Damn straight.  Preach it, brother.  Except that "not being the most hockey savvy group" - even if there was a commercial asking Sharks fans - in vain - what icing was (groan).

If Wilson can maneuver his way around no-trade clauses, my guess is three depart – Marleau, Cheechoo and Nabokov.

NABOKOV?!?

Yes, the goalie, too.

Hmmm... Let's start with his criticism of Captain Patrick Marleau:

Marleau is the captain, and ultimately it will be decided that leadership didn’t lead when needed most. The GM tried to surround Marleau, Thornton and the team’s top players with veterans who were also leaders. Leadership by committee would rule the day.

Marleau will be 30 when the next season starts. Eleven years a member of the Sharks, he has one year left at $6.3 million. They’ll be be lining up for his services; teams that don’t have to put the leadership tag on him yet are drooling for top-six forward help.

Ross, er, Mr. McKeon, the solution is very simple - someone else needs to step up into the Captain role, and MARLEAU NEEDS TO STAY PUT.  He is the longest serving active Shark, as you hint at - but he need not bear the burden of the "C." 

I'm a Patrick Marleau-homer, admittedly, but you're psycho-crazy-reactionary-in-the-extreme if you think Marleau should be jettisoned.  Thirty-eight goals, 33 assists (71 points).  Versatile enough to play 98% of the season as a left wing, when his forte is as center.  Talking to coaches again.  The only Shark to have game-winning goals in this series (2)  - and you want to end that NOW.

Ahem.

However, we agree with you on Jonathan Cheechoo:

With two years at $3.5 million per season remaining on his contract, Cheechoo is too expensive of a third-line winger, and he can’t be productive there anyway. He’s not fast enough to play among San Jose’s top six, but he’d be attractive to another team with less depth.

 The FTF staff and members have talked about this before - we are resigned to it.  With the rising salaries of Douglas Murray and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and the RFA situation with Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe, Jonathan Cheechoo has seen his last game as a Shark.  If he IS around next year, then the "fire Doug Wilson" nonsense actually might sound halfway credible. 

And now for our beloved Evgeni Nabokov, the Vezina Finalist of yesteryear:

Nabokov is the tough one. He’ll be 34 this summer, and he’s moving past his prime. He has one year left at $6 million. San Jose’s goaltending prospects aren’t ready to assume Nabokov’s job yet, so the team would have to acquire a starter.

Tell Nikolai Khabibulin (two years older than Nabby) he's past his prime and not worth his $6+ million, when everyone wrote off the Chicago netminder and his salary before the season started. 

Simply put - it is INSANE to recommend ditching Nabokov... unless Steve Mason suddenly becomes available.  Ahem.

I say that with all due respect, Mr. McKeon.

Sincerely,

Mr. K.