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Around SBN: Africa Cup Of Nations Semifinal: Black Stars Ripe For Upset?

The San Jose Sharks Hit The Ice For Practice

David Pollak of Working The Corners attended the first Sharks practice since a 3-0 loss to Buffalo on February 13th, reporting on the non-Olympians as they gear up for the stretch run. Our coverage on Fear The Fin has centered almost exclusively around the Vancouver Games, and this article is a good catalyst for us to transition into what should be a compelling push towards yet another playoff run.

For starters, 38 year old Steve Shields was in net at practice. As Pollak mentions, Shields manned the pipes during San Jose's upset of the St. Louis Blues during the 2000 playoffs. That series was a perfect example of the volatility of playoff hockey-- it seemed as if every break went San Jose's way, from goals scored at off angles to St. Louis shots that rang off the pipes. And, of course, Owen Nolan's infamous goal from center ice in the waning seconds of the seventh game's first period, which stunned the crowd and put the Sharks up 2-0; they would go on to win that game by a score of 3-1, and cement the organization as a giant killer following equally surprising defeats of the Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames in the mid-90's.

Pollak also goes on to explain that Niclas Wallin is finally getting an opportunity to grasp the system, and that McLellan is using these practices as a mini-camp in order to emphasize the basics. All Sharks Olympians who have concluded their stay in Vancouver (Nabokov, Greiss, Murray) will be given some time off to rest.

The most interesting piece of information comes in the middle of the article. Manny Malhotra will be returning to the ice after the break, but defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic was not at Sharks Ice and his return to the team is still unknown.

We broke down his injury against the Chicago Blackhawks in late January this year. It is my belief that he suffered a knee injury, and at this point, you have to start to wonder just how serious things are. To my knowledge he has yet to skate with the team since leaving that game, and with San Jose's defense already a concern for the organization, losing your best shutdown defenseman will have some serious ramifications.

The trade freeze is lifted on Monday morning. With the deadline less than a week away, Vlasic's health will probably play the largest role in how Doug Wilson handles negotiations.

Keep your eye on this one.

 

Go Sharks.

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On a side note, I miss Gary Thorne like hell. What a voice.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 12:56 PM PST reply actions  

What’s this “Sharks Hockey” you speak of? Do you mean Team USA had a practice and are preparing for their Semifinal clash with Team Finland? :-P

Man, I’ve gotten so wrapped up in my nationalistic fervor that I haven’t thought about Sharks hockey once since the Olympics started. Very weird.

I’m a little worried about Vlasic. But if he cannot play, and goes on LTIR, does that free up some cap space to go trade for another D-man to take his place? They’d have to make a decision like that pretty quickly now…

"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott

by ZeroIndulgence on Feb 25, 2010 1:39 PM PST reply actions  

Yeah i’m worried. What’s Vlasics cap hit again, 3-3.5 mill? Maybe make the next Trade Target article with the consideration that we will not have Vlasic back before the playoffs and that we now have an extra 3+ mill cap space.

by Khaaz on Feb 25, 2010 2:22 PM PST up reply actions  

I’m a little worried about Vlasic. But if he cannot play, and goes on LTIR, does that free up some cap space to go trade for another D-man to take his place? They’d have to make a decision like that pretty quickly now…

If that happens, the Sharks get $3.1 M in extra base salary space to acquire another player. Unfortunately, since they are so tight against the cap, reactivating Vlasic would be tricky during the regular season if they use that LTIR exception to temporarily exceed the limit. He would, on an accounting level, essentially be done for the regular season if that is the case.

There is no cap during the playoffs, and would be able to play in game one if healthy.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 2:26 PM PST up reply actions  

Maybe Vlasic could be the new Torrey Mitchell

That could be the best possible outcome. Get another top pairing Dman with his LTIR exception, rest him up for the last 20 games, then ease him back in during the playoffs.

by ruben398 on Feb 25, 2010 3:40 PM PST up reply actions  

Well, yeah, that was what I was getting at. If he cannot play again this season, we’ll need a replacement for him. That’s the decision that will need to be made.

"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott

by ZeroIndulgence on Feb 25, 2010 5:02 PM PST up reply actions  

My bad, I thought you were asking a question.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 8:34 PM PST up reply actions  

I was, in asking about the cap space. I just didn’t frame my conditions correctly. I made the assumption in my question that if he’s out for the year. I didn’t state that clearly. Thanks for the info, though. Your answer on them getting 3.1M in extra base salary space was pretty much what I was wondering about.

"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott

by ZeroIndulgence on Feb 26, 2010 10:09 AM PST up reply actions  

What’s this "Sharks Hockey" you speak of?

First thing I thought of too

"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen

by idunno723 on Feb 25, 2010 3:29 PM PST up reply actions  

A Sharks fan crossed paths with Vlasic and his girlfriend over the weekend, up in Tahoe. He said Vlasic had an obvious limp. Not good.

"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.

by SwisherThresher on Feb 25, 2010 2:19 PM PST reply actions  

Not good at all. Without Vlasic, the Sharks have a ton of holes. He is almost as important as Boyle on the backend.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 2:28 PM PST up reply actions  

I wonder what was he doing in Tahoe with a limp?

by Ivano M on Feb 25, 2010 2:33 PM PST up reply actions  

Hanging with the snow bunnies?

"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda

by Evilducks on Feb 25, 2010 3:22 PM PST up reply actions  

getting a lot of free drinks?

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

by CTGray on Feb 25, 2010 3:38 PM PST up reply actions  

Come on guys, it’s Vlasic. He was probably skiiing on the green squares and getting bodied off the rope tow by twelve year olds.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 8:39 PM PST up reply actions  

Green circles, blue squares, black diamonds.

Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.

by Matthew_Taylor on Feb 25, 2010 11:13 PM PST up reply actions  

Dammit.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 11:30 PM PST up reply actions  

I admit, it took me until black diamonds to realize what the hell you guys were talking about. I’m not exactly all that familiar with the whole skiing thing, haha.

"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages

by mymclife on Feb 25, 2010 11:46 PM PST up reply actions  

NOTHING WRONG WITH SKIING ON GREEN CIRCLES!!!

"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott

by ZeroIndulgence on Feb 26, 2010 10:10 AM PST up reply actions  

Only ever been on the bunny slopes. I’m not too into it since you’re basically paying a lot of money to roll the dice in the injury department. I did have fun the one time I went boarding. I was also amazingly sore for a week.

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

by CTGray on Feb 26, 2010 5:27 PM PST up reply actions  

Same. Though one time, when I went snowboarding...

A more skilled friend insisted I go with her on the lift to the top of a Black Diamond slope. I thought, sure, it can’t be all that difficult.

Once at the top, it honestly looked like skiers and boarders were hopping off the edge of a cliff. I slowly made my way toward the starting point and peeked over. It was steep as hell and people were flying down, top speed.

It took me nearly two hours to navigate my way down the slope. 99% of the time on my butt or face and scooting across the snow. I had plenty of people shouting at me as they passed – and let’s say they weren’t offering words of encouragement.

I’m also deathly afraid of heights, so it’ll probably be a long time (if ever!) that I venture to the top of a Diamond again. Aaah

"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.

by SwisherThresher on Feb 26, 2010 6:26 PM PST up reply actions  

First time I went skiing, my brother and cousins left to me the green circles so I took myself to the top of another lift and saw the same thing. Except I tried to do it. I ended up tearing my ACL and getting yelled at because no one could find me in the infirmary for the next three hours.

Jon Casey fan since '84

by stufflife on Feb 27, 2010 8:54 PM PST up reply actions  

Yeah, I saw him when I was out to dinner a few weeks ago. He was a few tables away. But I didn’t see him walk in, so I didn’t notice a limp. If he’s still sporting a limp, he’s probably not close to coming back.

"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott

by ZeroIndulgence on Feb 25, 2010 5:03 PM PST up reply actions  

I saw Vlasic about to weeks ago dropping off some mail by my house off of hicks ave. He parked in the middle of the street and got out to walk to the mailbox and as I was approaching I’m thinking WTF is this guy doing? must think he owns San Jose…Very noticeable limp in his step almost of a pimp descent but then I soon realized SHIT! that’s no pimp that’s Pickles, It took a little effort for him to get in his car but yeah that knee didn’t look to hot.

by Born&RaisedInSJ on Feb 25, 2010 3:55 PM PST reply actions   1 recs

SHIT! that’s no pimp that’s Pickles

I wonder if Vlasic has ever gotten confused for a pimp before. I can only hope it has happened, with hilarious results.

Please tell me we have moved past the dark ages of post hoc ergo propter hoc.

by Yeti Monster on Feb 25, 2010 3:59 PM PST up reply actions  

He parked in the middle of the street and got out to walk to the mailbox and as I was approaching I’m thinking WTF is this guy doing? must think he owns San Jose…Very noticeable limp in his step almost of a pimp descent but then I soon realized SHIT! that’s no pimp that’s Pickles

I laughed really hard at this hahaha.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 8:40 PM PST up reply actions  

TRADE FOR EPIC BEARD MAN

I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.

by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Feb 25, 2010 5:25 PM PST reply actions  

!!!

"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen

by idunno723 on Feb 25, 2010 8:40 PM PST up reply actions  

The Mortal Kombat version is my favorite.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 8:42 PM PST up reply actions  

Wow,

that’s awesome haha.

"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen

by idunno723 on Feb 25, 2010 8:47 PM PST up reply actions  

Do you think he’d take a hometown discount?

Jon Casey fan since '84

by stufflife on Feb 25, 2010 10:50 PM PST up reply actions  

He lives in Oakland, and we could use an enforcer after Shelley left…

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 11:03 PM PST up reply actions  

Wasn’t he the guy that was tased at that A’s game a while ago?

"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages

by mymclife on Feb 25, 2010 11:46 PM PST up reply actions  

Yes ma’am. That was what gave him the superpowers you saw in the video.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Feb 25, 2010 11:48 PM PST up reply actions  

Well, that's interesting

I figured the trade of Jody Shelley meant that Vlasic might not be that badly injured, and the shedding of Shelley’s $725K put us back under the cap.

If Vlasic goes on LTIR retroactively, we get that much more room. We could afford to have a few Worcester call ups. Might put some added pressure on our guys to perform, as now we can afford to sit folks and bring up the kids in their place?

They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn

by ElvisVF101 on Feb 25, 2010 9:20 PM PST reply actions  

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