HE WILL BE ON THE TEAM

I have decreed it.

I am in favor of this graphic. I see that somewhere almost every single day.

Again, no one is gonna question that Marleau is a fine player with a good skill set. But he’s relied on as one of our top snipers and his goal-scoring record just isn’t that impressive when it matters most and for a guy with his abilities to still never have a 40 goal season is concerning. I’m glad he shows up in some games during the playoffs, but he doesn’t show up in just as many games , if not more (see every playoff series we’ve lost in the past 5 years). Yes, he does have some important goals, but when he isn’t scoring a game-winner, he isn’t scoring much at all, which just can’t happen when you’re the captain and a focal point of the offense. He’s a nice part of the team, but he’s not a dynamic player and to think he’ll suddenly become one is a bit naive.

This talk about him entering his prime now also seems rather foolish to me. He’s been in the league for 11 seasons (12 years), and will be 30 by the beginning of next year and only now he’s entering his prime? If he was a defenseman I could buy that, but he’s had a very long time to develop and frankly, he just has never developed into a gamebreaker that you’d expect from a guy with his speed and size. Furthermore, his playoffs numbers have actually seem to decline over his career and particularly since being the captain. Maybe it was a mistake to name him captain, but the franchise made that decision and we must now deal with the repercussions.

Again, I’m not trying to say he’s not a good player or even a very good player, but I think it’s an absolute mistake for him to continue to be counted one as someone who gets it done in the playoffs cause he doesn’t. I’m not impressed with ‘heart’ or GWGs in a 1st or 2nd round, I wanna see it when we’re down to the last 4 or the final 2. It’d be unfair to blame him entirely for not getting us there, but his numbers and his position as franchise-cornerstone and captain demand extra attention and he continues to wilt. I know how gruely the playoffs can be, but not only do his numbers drop eventually, they nearly disappear. Look at the last 5 playoff years (his Captain years) in the rounds the Sharks were eliminated: 08-09: 2 goals in 6 games (1st round), 07-08: 2 goals in 6 games (2nd round), 06-07: 0 goals in 6 games (2nd round), 05-06: 2 goals in 6 games (2nd round), 03-04: 1 goal in 6 games (3rd round). While I hesitate to use the word ‘choke’, those numbers lean toward ineffective rather then effective, especially when this player is your leader, top scorer and important pivot. He’s not the only player on the team, but if any player has to be able to step up, alone, and get it done, it has to be the player-role designated on the Sharks for Patrick Marleau and he just hasn’t fulfilled that role.

If this was a a year or two trend, I’d be willing to let it go and expect more, but come on guys, this happens every season. If the Sharks lost a round, but Patty was scoring and doing his part, I’d let it go, but every round we crash out, Marleau is almost non-existent. This is especially troubling cause he’s even competing against the other team’s top d-pairing (who are usually assigned to shut down Thornton). We’re not just losing these series, either, we’re getting dumped unceremoniously with our most basic level of competitiveness constantly being questioned. This has not and does not be owed solely to Patrick Marleau, but as I’ve said multiple times, this is THE guy we’re suppose to be counting on to get it done we need him him most and time and time again he hasn’t.

If you guys wanna enter yet another season with the hope that this is the year Marleau figures out how to lead the team to the promise land, fine. But I’m sick and tired of year after year of getting my hopes up only for them to be wiped out and the Sharks dumped (not just eliminated) but dumped out of the playoffs way pre-maturely. Marleau has not even had one playoff year where you can say ‘hopefully he’ll have that playoff year’s form.’ Try comparing things outside the San Jose Sharks bubble and you’ll see he’s mediocre at best and that his playoff stats are waaaaaaay deceiving.

This ‘smart-money managing’ has led to 0 Stanley Cups and 0 Stanley Cup final appearances. You may like the Sharks’ status quo, but I’m tired of it.

but I don’t necessarily put that much stock in +/- as the defining statistic in this case. This year pretty much the whole team was on the minus end. I’d have to look at some stats I guess but in my mind he was beneficial in that he led all forwards in SH TOI all season and playoffs, as well as holding Getzlaf in check the games when he was assigned to, and also I guess just my opinion from observing the play throughout the season. Who did you think was the best player on the team last year?

Haha, I know there’s an Ottawa 67s goalie available, and a German goalie available, but not all three.

I appreciate all of the different opinions around here. It gives different perspective.

Oh and I ♥ you all too…

(Wow look at all these cool symbols: ♠, ♣,♦, ♬!)

Haha, I less than three you too ;)

And really, those graphics were just in response to those who keep insisting that Marleau never shows up for the playoffs at all, and that he’s worse than useless. And because I haven’t used photoshop in a while.

“Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth.”

Learned a lot from your comments and definitely see where you’re coming from- no need to apologize for eloquently laying out exactly what you feel should be done this offseason.

I would say FTF was founded on such debate, but we probably stem from dick jokes more than anything else. Continue to “Teas bag” Marleau if you are so inclined*.

*Ah yes, there’s the dick joke- told you it was just around the corner.