Late comeback not enough to lift Sharks past Avalanche
by Matthew_Taylor on Dec 13, 2011 9:04 PM PST
in Sharks Game Recaps
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PrintLately, it doesn't matter who the Sharks are playing. Tough teams, weak teams... they've all looked like world beaters against San Jose over the last eight games. It was hard not to assume that the Sharks would make the Avalanche appear like the class of the conference.
The game started out in a fashion that wouldn't make anyone in San Jose happy, as the Sharks played a lethargic twenty minutes highlighted by two moments that have happened too often in the recent streak of poor play. First, the Sharks wouldn't be able to capitalize on their first power play of the game. One for twenty-eight is bad enough, but what makes it even worse is that the team was held without a shot during the two minutes of man advantage time. More bad news? That's the fourth time in the last four games that's happened. "Unacceptable" is a word that comes to mind.
Second, the Sharks lost intensity in the end of the first frame, and that led to a goal against yet again. Stefan Elliott took the puck end to end and wristed one past Antti Niemi who was out of position on the play. Headed into the first intermission, it looked like San Jose was having the same problems they've suffered for the last few weeks; they were losing 1-0 as a result.
Despite the recent struggles, there have been some positives for San Jose lately. Jamie McGinn's long-awaited emergence as a goal scorer has finally happened, and it continued tonight. In the waining seconds of the Sharks' second power play, Dan Boyle pushed a shot towards the net which McGinn deflected past Semyon Varlomov for his seventh goal of the year and his fifth goal in seven games. One of the lone bright spots for San Jose this season, McGinn is three off his career high of 10 goals in a season just 28 games into the year; he's now on pace for 20 this season.
Dan Boyle would get another point, this time his first goal in fourteen games, as he jumped into the slot and pounded home a rebound that Joe Pavelski generated. It put the Sharks up 2-1 at the time, but I don't think anyone would argue that San Jose was playing in a fashion that was deserving of the lead.
In the third, the Avalanche would prove that thought to be true; Daniel Winnik tied the game on a four on four on a nice wraparound goal. Just a few minutes later, with Colin White in the box, Matt Duchene received a cross ice pass that beat everyone on the Sharks PK. Duchene loaded up, and sniped Niemi with a brutal wrist shot.
The Sharks would apply pressure in the third, dominating zone time in the waining minutes of the game and then even more with Niemi pulled for the extra attacker. With under a minute left, and puck bouncing around on everyone, Logan Couture made some beautiful moves to control the puck and found Patrick Marleau in front of the net. Marleau slid the puck past the sprawling Varlamov, who just didn't have enough to scoot over to the far post.
That goal would have likely proved much more important if the Sharks went on to win the game, but after an overtime that saw even action, Colorado would finally twist the dagger in the shootout.
Who knows how San Jose would respond to this loss, as recent losses have seemed to matter little in the amount of effort displayed by the team on the ice. Other top teams saddled with high expectations like Washington and Los Angeles have already made drastic changes... it remains to be seen how long Doug Wilson will sit on his hands faced with an underperforming squad.
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it remains to be seen how long Doug Wilson will sit on his hands faced with an underperforming squad.
I wonder who on the squad could consider themselves safe. Vlasic, Niemi, McGinn, Winchester, Desjardins, Braun.
Outside of that, I honestly don’t know.
Also, for once, I say McLellan’s job is safe. I think he’s done his part this season. But his assistants… not so much.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Burns, who has been good. Boyle and Thornton have NMC’s.
Fear the Fin: "I've always said that if you don't have the motivation within you... It's not Doug Wilson's job to motivate me. I've got motivation within myself, especially going through some of the experiences that I had last year." - Nick Petrecki
by Matthew_Taylor on Dec 13, 2011 9:10 PM PST up reply actions
MCGINN
Leslie Knope: "...but it has a lot of heart."
April Ludgate: "That's what people always say when something sucks."
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!
I was implying he needed to be mentioned twice.
I mean, obviously…
Leslie Knope: "...but it has a lot of heart."
April Ludgate: "That's what people always say when something sucks."
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!
McGinn causing confusion
What a dick.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Welcome to the NHL, Atlanta Thrashers of Winnipeg.
What do you think they should go out and get
I know it’s been discussed a lot, but “3rd line forward” doesn’t cut it.
Should DW go after speed (which the team clearly lacks). Or a PK specialist? Or some guy who stays awake during games?
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Welcome to the NHL, Atlanta Thrashers of Winnipeg.
Maybe the answer isn't who we should get...
but rather who we should get rid of. Long story short, the Sharks should be winning. You can complain about a lack of speed or the lack of a “true” penalty killer, but maybe the problem goes further. Maybe the problem is the system, or rather the lack of a system…..
I agree, our system leave a lot to be desired
This coaching staff has no answers and the players have lost their confidence. By now, a lot of teams would have fired their coach!!
Detroit went through a six game losing streak and didn't fire their coach.
Pretty sure they are happy with that decision.
Which leads to high expectations, yes?
And when they were losing their GM knew that they would eventually right the ship. As I’m sure Wilson knows that now.
by Briceratops on Dec 13, 2011 10:26 PM PST up reply actions
Of course!
Let’s just wait this one out too..because our penalty kill, which has been a main concern for over a year now, just will find a way to be..mediocre, let alone solid.. Handzus, who has been a solid penalty killer his entire career – do you think he just suddenly lost his “touch” or maybe…the Sharks system has something wrong with it…
"We saw those trophies and we knew what we wanted to accomplish." - Joe Pavelski
I know this will make me sound like a Mcginn
But I think they need a top forward that will play like the give a @#&$.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
My Twitter
by Noctro on Dec 13, 2011 9:47 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I'm fine with his shot
But seeing a guy his size getting beat to the net in key situations is getting frustrating
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
His shot
He has a great shot…but he really needs to hit the net with it a whole lot more often.
Like I said, I really like him…expected more offense but he’s been mostly good.
I disagree. Burns has been exactly as advertised defensively (i.e., mediocre, needing to be paired with a stay-at-home partner who’ll bail his ass out fairly regularly) and significantly worse than advertised offensively. Frankly, he only looks good in comparison to Dan Boyle, whose play (excepting tonight) has been positively godawful.
But he hasn't been bad defensively.
He leads the team in on-ice +-/60. I think his defensive game has been stellar.
.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I have to disagree. We needed an offensive defenseman other than Boyle… we got it. Yes, he sometimes pinches in at the wrong times (we knew this about him in the first place) but I think he’s playing pretty darn good. I’ve never been like “Damn Burns just had a crappy game today”.
If Sharks fans should be upset at anyone, it should be Havlat. Sure he’s not scoring goals but all I heard on here (yet if you went to Hockey Wilderness, you got the real story on Havlat) was that he was an amazing two way player and had so much speed. Sorry but I’m not seeing any of that whatsoever. A lot of you wanted to crap on Heatley and maybe some of it was justified but so far, I can’t see much upside to this deal other than signing Teeth and Burns with the cap space.
Waiting for the Cup to come to SJ since 1991...
GO SHARKS!
Find me on Twitter @njahoda
Couture and Pavelski are safe, I’d think. Clowe?
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Welcome to the NHL, Atlanta Thrashers of Winnipeg.
Yeah, a few bad games and people are ready to not only ship out the core, but the young, cheap core too.
Fear the Fin: "I've always said that if you don't have the motivation within you... It's not Doug Wilson's job to motivate me. I've got motivation within myself, especially going through some of the experiences that I had last year." - Nick Petrecki
by Matthew_Taylor on Dec 13, 2011 9:16 PM PST up reply actions
As Plank so eloquently put it
ok, frankly i just wanted to use that awesome gif
Daniel Erlich for President
\/\/\/\/\/
/\/\/\/\/\
GO SHARKS!!!
by SharksFanTillDeath on Dec 14, 2011 2:23 PM PST up reply actions
Have to agree here.
It’s getting pretty desperate in the tank. This happens every year and all but… It’s not like we’re losing games honestly. There’s just no compete level out there from most of our players.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 13, 2011 9:20 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
which is why its time for a fresh voice behind the bench
by hit 'em on Dec 13, 2011 9:50 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Toddy Mac isn't the problem.
It’s more likely his support staff. Bring back iPad guy!
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 13, 2011 9:55 PM PST up reply actions
but
iPad guy is no longer a member of the Sharks Organization!
He worked for Ron Wilson. If they come as a package, I’ll let the Leafs keep Wilson.
What specifically do you see that makes you feel that there is no compete level?
I’m just curious, because I really don’t see it that way.
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Dec 13, 2011 9:51 PM PST up reply actions
Well...
When I see Sharks get beat to the puck every time, that’s discouraging.
When I see sloppy passing and turnovers galore, that’s discouraging.
When I see Sharks burst out of the zone just to put a lazy wrist shot on the goalie’s chest, that’s discouraging.
When special teams are completely ineffective, that’s discouraging.
Things like this are happening every night. Not cool.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 13, 2011 9:53 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
You left out
When I see the Sharks last in hitting in the NHL, that’s discouraging.
Or, its discouraging when I see the top 8 players score a total of 11 goals in ten games (many of them have not scored in over 15, and one who has one goal in the season scored 30 last year…)
Maybe the team has taken a vote and decided to do a little hitting as possible during the regular season to stay fresh for the playoffs. Sounds like a good strategy as long as they actually get there.
Yes the hitting!
That is what pisses me off the most. Leave the Rangers out of it, the SHARKS seem to be the softest team in the NHL.
Waiting for the Cup to come to SJ since 1991...
GO SHARKS!
Find me on Twitter @njahoda
I'd turn the question back around on you.
What do you see that makes you feel that the players actually ARE competing to the best of their ability? What do you see that makes you feel that the players are delivering an earnest effort, every game, and just coming up a bit short due to bad puck luck or a lack of talent?
Well, clearly it isn't a lack of talent in my view.
I dunno, just when I watch I don’t get the sense that they aren’t trying. I’m a believer that there are ebbs and flows to hockey, within games and within seasons. I think they do need to play simpler hockey and get back to fundamentals, and to an extent that is on the coaches. No doubt it is on the players as well, but I don’t see it as a lack of effort.
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Dec 13, 2011 10:03 PM PST up reply actions
I’m certainly not excusing the coaching, here. That the special teams have been so dismal is, IMO, pretty much entirely a reflection of the coaching. Unlike some, I also think McLellan’s personnel management decisions have frequently been brain-dead. How in God’s name do you have Brad Freaking WInchester out there in the shootout with the game on the line? How do you not have Couture or Boyle, or maybe McGinn, take that shot? Just incomprehensible.
That all said, though, what makes me believe the Sharks’ woes stem from a lack of effort is the difference between the last five minutes of the game and the twenty-five minutes preceding it. In the last five minutes of the game the Sharks were poised, moving the puck with a purpose, crisp with their passing, determined along the boards, and otherwise dictating play. Before that, from about the midway point of the second period? They did none of those things.
I agree that there are ebbs and flows to hockey games. But that can’t be an excuse for lollygagging for twenty-five minutes only to play the last five like your hair’s on fire.
How in God’s name do you have Brad Freaking WInchester out there in the shootout with the game on the line?
Mystery House did hit the post. He’s got a great shot. Why NOT put him out there. I actually liked the decision. Winchester’s been playing really well lately. Why not reward him with a shootout opportunity? It’s not like he completely shat the bed.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Enh.
Winchester does have a good shot. However:
(1) If you’re trying to win the game, there are guys with better shots (Couture).
(2) If you’re using the shootout as a reward for effort, there were guys more deserving (McGinn, arguably Braun).
Gotta agree with center fire
As horrible as he’s been lately Boyle was hot tonight and has a good s/o record
Shootout
It isn’t about shots…some of the best players in the game suck in the shootout! If you take the time to look at the shootout stats, you’ll see the Boyle, Couture, Marleau, Thornton…not great.
I’m fine with them putting Winchester in there, he earned it! If i’m going to complaing about the shootout choices I’d go with Havlat. Hasn’t done anything to earn a ‘reward’ and the guys confindence is at an all time low!
I think the decision to go with Havlat
has to do with a bit of a mental booster. In basketball, a couple of years ago there was a player on my favorite team that was struggling with free throws and had low confidence. Before he lined up for the free throws he would stand under the rim and put the ball through the net. The announcers said it was to see that ball go through the hoop and net that would get them visualizing their goal. Maybe that’s what Havlat’s shootout opportunity was about. If he scored, it could’ve given him that little bit of confidence and maybe gotten him going.
But as far as deserving the opportunity? No. I would have gone Clowe, Couture, Handzus/Pavelski
Thanks for the response.
The Winchester decision either would look like great or horrendous, depending on if he made it or not. He happened to miss be a couple inches. Regardless, I could care less about shootouts besides the fact that points are on the line. They are not a part of hockey that will be relevent when it matters most.
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Dec 13, 2011 10:22 PM PST up reply actions
Look at the last 5 minutes of any game were losing and its a different team. The PP cant get a shot but the 6 on 5 is tenacious. Its the simple things the sharks cant do well this season
by Walshimania on Dec 13, 2011 10:23 PM PST up reply actions
I wouldn't consider Braun safe
"Everybody had a part in this. As you can see, our fans love this. And we love them. And bring on the next team." -Joe Thornton
"I'm not saying I invented the turtleneck. But I was the first person to realize its potential as a tactical garment. The tactical turtleneck! The... tactleneck!"-Sterling Archer
by waive kent huskins on Dec 13, 2011 9:30 PM PST up reply actions
Considering his salary he's been fantastic
You could argue that he has been our third best defenseman.
Braun’s been really, really good period! They need to find a way to keep him in the line up when everyone is healthy.
A future pairing of Demers and Braun
Both playing at potential, excites me greatly.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Agreed on Braun...
He’s been pretty good. More than I can say for others… *cough*DouglasMurraypreinjury*cough*
Waiting for the Cup to come to SJ since 1991...
GO SHARKS!
Find me on Twitter @njahoda
I expected more points for sure
But if you look at some of the advanced statistics you will see that he has been one of the best players on the ice. I’m not worried about Burns at all.
He's doing exactly what the coach has told him to do
Focus on defense.
Really? He's been pretty solid.
If we’re looking to trade someone, I don’t think it should be our currently 3rd best D-man.
"I vish there was a vord to describe the pleasure I feel when viewing misfortune" - Deutschbag #1 from Community
Free Demers!
Did you not watch the game tonight?
Braun is playing well beyond his years. You forget he’s a damned rookie!
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 13, 2011 9:44 PM PST up reply actions
I haven't forgotten anything
But of course he is good, that’s why we would be able to get something for him. To get something good, you have to be willing to give something good. I think Braun might be a piece that needs to be packaged into a deal if need be. I’m not saying I would endorse it, I’m just saying he is by no means “safe”
"Everybody had a part in this. As you can see, our fans love this. And we love them. And bring on the next team." -Joe Thornton
"I'm not saying I invented the turtleneck. But I was the first person to realize its potential as a tactical garment. The tactical turtleneck! The... tactleneck!"-Sterling Archer
by waive kent huskins on Dec 13, 2011 11:39 PM PST up reply actions
A. Murray, Handzus, Pavelski, Couture, Vandermeer, and Thornton
have all been decent as well…Marleau, Havlat, Mtchell, and Demers have been marginally ok
D. Murray, Clowe, and White have been shit.
Go Sharks!
I'd hold my opinion on D. Murray
Until he comes back and plays alongside Boyle the way Boyle played tonight. Before Boyler’s game took a nosedive for awhile, Murray was doing very well in +/-, hits and blocking shots. Cranky isn’t good enough to compensate for Boyle, like Vlasic is, but who is? It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re trying to do too much, and if you’re having to compensate for your partner, it may be too much.
Also, I’d hold my opinion on D. Murray in case he reads this and breaks you. Or, makes fun of you for wearing a princess dress and playing with dolls.
They looked old and slow
In the new NHL speed and youth matters. I’m starting to wonder if two deep runs into the playoffs in a row have taken their toll on them. They havent been the faster or more physical team in a few weeks now. Maybe the answer now is to bring up some AHL talent and sit some of the vets.
"I was right and you were wrong." - Ray Fosse
Old, slow and tired, and McLellan on thin ice
Why McLellan ‘safe’?
The team is playing the system he has coached them to play, and with every passing game opponents know how to shut them down. He seems completely out of fresh ideas and the Sharks look completely disinterested.
by hit 'em on Dec 13, 2011 9:17 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
You can blame McLellan for the Sunday practice after FLA backfiring
but its not his fault if traditionally fast players aren’t there anymore. He isn’t constructing the lineup DW is. Hence, DW should bring in some speed. I just think maybe we can get it from Woscester rather than blowing up the current squad
"I was right and you were wrong." - Ray Fosse
He's also shown a willingness to shuffle the deck in the RIGHT situations
And I like seeing him reward his lower line players with ice time when they’ve been contributing (and these have been some of my main complaints about him during his tenure).
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
by ElvisVF101 on Dec 13, 2011 9:22 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
That was pretty awesome to see Ginner get a PP goal.
Leslie Knope: "...but it has a lot of heart."
April Ludgate: "That's what people always say when something sucks."
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!
He’s also shown a willingness to shuffle the deck in the RIGHT situations
And I like seeing him reward his lower line players with ice time when they’ve been contributing (and these have been some of my main complaints about him during his tenure).
Like putting out Brad Winchester out there on the shootout, which seemed like a dumbass move, but hey, he beat Varlamov, just not the post.
Rated M for McGinn.
Like I said
Guy has shown he has a good shot. Why not?
And seriously, WTF is this team doing going to a shootout against the Avalanche?
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
He was 1-for-1 on the shootout at the point.
And he’d been scoring goals. Mystery House had Varlamov beat on that shot, and dinged ’er right off the post. It happens. If you ask me, he should keep doing shootouts for us. :D
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 12:59 PM PST up reply actions
I blame coaching...
when your professional athletes struggle to complete a pass, when your team is last in the league in hitting, close to last on the penalty kill, when they are consistently beaten on the back check by other teams, when they go 0-20 on the power play on the road, and when the top 8 players on the roster have in aggregate 11 goals in the last ten games (4 of them from Couture, meaning the other 7 have 1 each over the last ten or more games).
professional athletes struggle to complete a pass
There’s absolutely nothing TMac or any of the coaches can do about this. I mean, they can work the team hard in practices, and get them passing the puck really well before the game. But if the team gets to the game and doesn’t pass well? That’s all on the players. Same with the hitting. And the back checking. And the execution of the PP and PK.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Welcome to the NHL, Atlanta Thrashers of Winnipeg.
Seriously!
I’ll just point out one thing on the Avs PP goal tonight…take a look at where Couture is. Does anyone really think that’s where the coaching staff tells him to go?
The problems on this team lie entirely with the players. Firing a coach isn’t going to much…though it very well may come to that.
On the plus side, I thought that was Boyle’s best game of the season, hopefully it’s the beginning of a turnaround for him. I think it’s a strong possibility the coaching staff changes, if TMC stays I don’t know but something has to change.
I’m thinking the coaching staff changes before any players are moved. I can’t see moving the core players anywhere and the bottom lines have been perpetual revolving doors of players so I can’t imagine any trades happening to shake things up with those lines.
"I vish there was a vord to describe the pleasure I feel when viewing misfortune" - Deutschbag #1 from Community
Free Demers!
Best news in a long time
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Scary thought
Considering he still had some bad turnovers in his own zone and crumbles under forecheck pressure. Spacek got traded to Carolina and would make an awesome pickup at the deadline, there is not a lot of rental players with an impending UFA out there. Since the division is still close i dont think there will be a midseason coaching change
by Walshimania on Dec 13, 2011 10:56 PM PST up reply actions
Good, despite the contrary you’re going to get in a second.
Fear the Fin: "I've always said that if you don't have the motivation within you... It's not Doug Wilson's job to motivate me. I've got motivation within myself, especially going through some of the experiences that I had last year." - Nick Petrecki
by Matthew_Taylor on Dec 13, 2011 9:17 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Hard to fault him
Maybe one’s a softy, but he’s generally been good
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Yeah Niemi wasn't bad
Although I feel the first goal let in was kind of weak. But also weak of the defense to let that guy just zoom in through the neutral zone.
The wraparound was the one that irked me
Looked like the old slow Niemi on that one. Otherwise, I think the D bears more responsibility for backing off of the offensive juggernaut that is the Colorado Avalanche.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
As long as the D keeps battling they’ll be fine. It’s still early.
by Brownie's Year on Dec 13, 2011 9:25 PM PST up reply actions
7 out of the last 10 games have been 1 goal games
And of those 7 the Sharks have won…2 of those, 1 of which was Montreal where they need a last second tying goal and a SO win
"I was right and you were wrong." - Ray Fosse
Of course this will be taken to be negative, but I actually mean it as a positive
They aren’t that far off
"I was right and you were wrong." - Ray Fosse
reminiscent of the drought last January. They were always within striking distance, but couldn’t cash in. They’ll find the scoring touch and get back into a solid rhythm.
Hockey is like a box of choclates. But not really, hockey is way better.
"Who throws an umbrella!?" - Randy Hahn.
by Pavsisaninja on Dec 13, 2011 9:20 PM PST up reply actions
This mean its high time Dallas fell apart and the Sharks went back up to the top then right?
"Thank you very much fans and let’s go for the next game together!"
— Lubomir Visnovsky
I rec’d that shit.
Ducks fan trying to cheer up Sharks fans.
Dark times indeed.
Leslie Knope: "...but it has a lot of heart."
April Ludgate: "That's what people always say when something sucks."
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!
by idunno723 on Dec 13, 2011 9:23 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Well it really is nice of the Ducks and Kings to be so shitty
Gives the Sharks more time to pull it together
"I was right and you were wrong." - Ray Fosse
I feel like I walked into the twilight zone
by TheSoundOfHockey on Dec 13, 2011 9:24 PM PST up reply actions
I think this happened last year too….
"Thank you very much fans and let’s go for the next game together!"
— Lubomir Visnovsky
I rec’d that shit.
Yeah, pretty sure you just want to be a Sharks fan or something.
Leslie Knope: "...but it has a lot of heart."
April Ludgate: "That's what people always say when something sucks."
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!
by idunno723 on Dec 13, 2011 9:24 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Anaheim fan card
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Just kidding Steve, you’re cool.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
by ElvisVF101 on Dec 13, 2011 9:24 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
After all this, they're still only 2 points from first
Thank you SoCal…a whole region of suck…
"I was right and you were wrong." - Ray Fosse
I'm seeing signs of life from some of the bigger players tonight.
Marleau scored a nice goal on great Couture effort. Boyle assisted on McGinn’s and scored one of his own. I really do hope they’re coming around. As Elvis said though, no one’s sacred like they used to be. Enough’s enough in San Jose.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
I expect DW to make a move soon
At the beginning of the season, he said that he would be less apprehensive to make trades like last year. On top of that, you have the situation with Greiss and Nittymaki. I think something will happen in the next two weeks, especially if this ship isn’t righted
by logancouturesteeth on Dec 13, 2011 9:30 PM PST reply actions
If we won the shootout would you still be calling for a trade?
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Dec 13, 2011 9:38 PM PST up reply actions
I would
If your special teams are 0-the night, with only one PK opportunity, against this team, on the heels of the current stretch of games, going to a shootout in itself is a small modicum of failure.
Not the end of the world, but something that makes your head and say “really?”
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Sorry, forgot to count McGnyan's goal
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I could be wrong, but doesn't PK seem to be more on coaching?
Looking at the roster, I think that there are a lot of players that should be good PKers, but it is still crap. What gives?
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Dec 13, 2011 9:42 PM PST up reply actions
Which is why I'm all for firing Jay Woodcroft
He makes me long for the days of Trent YAWNey
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
How about one of the recently-fired guys for assisstant coaches?
Paul Maurice, anyone?
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 13, 2011 9:57 PM PST up reply actions
I'm not really sure what the impact of firing an assistant coach is
but I do find it a little amusing that it’s being called for because it used to be my “go to” for making chicken little comments.
Leslie Knope: "...but it has a lot of heart."
April Ludgate: "That's what people always say when something sucks."
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!
Probably nothing
But what do you have to lose at this point?
There’s literally nothing in the team all season that would point to any improvement in the PK. They can’t do basic things right.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Nonononono. The PK can be good, just look at the Chicago game. It’s just that the players themselves are cheating too much, and thus letting the cross-ice pass in, and thus making Niemi have to make an awesome save, though he almost never does. Almost. But there’s always just that ONE little spot that it gets through.
by JBarrow on Dec 13, 2011 10:00 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
If your players are cheating
You should, you know, show them VIDEO and PRACTICE the thing.
Remember the first playoff game against Nashville? Our PK was getting smoked.
Next game, immediate adjustment, 4 game winning streak to end the series. Coincidence? I think not.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
But that’s the point. Our coaching staff probably DOES go over this stuff, but our penalty killers are just too damn impatient. I doubt the way the PK was working this game is how Tmac teaches them how to do it.
by JBarrow on Dec 13, 2011 10:18 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Doubt he does either
But the PK is Woodcroft’s responsibility.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I'm not calling for a trade
I’m saying what I believe DW will do, regardless of how I personally feel. But more to the point, yes I think DW will make a move regardless of tonight’s outcome because of the trend as of late. The PK has not gotten any better since last season, and now the PP is looking lackluster (which most likely has a lot to do with the top two lines not contributing 5v5). And you still have the goaltending situation. If you’re going to send Niitty down to worcester and risk him getting claimed on waivers (which is likely), then you might as well trade him or Greiss and get some return.
by logancouturesteeth on Dec 13, 2011 10:07 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, no doubt trade a goalie, hopefully Nitty.
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Dec 13, 2011 10:12 PM PST up reply actions
Didn't like how the team fell asleep from the end of the 2nd to the midway point of the third.
I do, however, like how they responded at the end of the third and thought they looked particularly strong in overtime. There were some individual performances of note, as McGinn was awesome once again, and although his offensive game hasn’t been there, Brent Burns is really impressing me defensively. I’m most likely too optimistic, but I think the Sharks will be able to get off the schneid Thursday against this same Colorado and that they’re on the verge of breaking this funk.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"-Wayne Gretzky"-Michael Scott.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Dec 13, 2011 9:37 PM PST reply actions
The late goal is the silver lining
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I don't know why, but I'm not really concerned. Sounds crazy, but I'm just not.
I am very much against a trade, besides one of the goalies of course—assuming we do, I hope we trade for draft picks, not someone to insert directly into the lineup. I love how the bottom six are playing and I have all the confidence in the world that the top six will come back as strong as ever. I don’t see Havlat just never producing. He is getting opportunities and they just haven’t gone his way, but they will. That is the nature of the game, and there is still a long way to go.
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Dec 13, 2011 9:49 PM PST reply actions
Ah yes the need for speed...
Smack dab in the first third of the season, I had to return just to post this comment. Almost five months ago, I warned that this team as configured was just too slow, especially for this conference, and the acquisition of a certain player would not help the situation. I was laughed at. And based on technicalities chased away from this blog. And now I see the many comments about the lack of speed of this team as an achilles’ heel and no one scoffs at those. Interesting.
It’s also interesting to note that when Matt Duchene was interviewed at the conclusion of the game, he said that to counter San Jose’s big, skilled team was to use the Avs speed, especially in the third. And this game isn’t the only time where our opponents have used their speed to press the pace in the third, especially if tied or down by a goal. I think the word out on the street is “if you can keep the game within one goal going into the third, use your speed, press the pace, get the tired, slow Sharks chasing, and you got ’em where you want ’em…losing the game.”
If the ship is not righted by All Star time, there are going to be some tough decisions made. McGinn, Niemi, the Avenue (Winchester), A. Murray, Braun, Couture, and Desjardins have been pulling their weight. Those that haven’t that do not have NMC (and those that are willing to waive them) in their contracts probably need to be forewarned.
That’s all. Bye bye.
by sharksfanwithajd on Dec 13, 2011 9:54 PM PST reply actions
McLellan has lost controll of this team
He can’t fix the PP, PK or our 4 on 4 play. We always get out hit and out-husselled, and our passing has been awful.
by Tiberon07 on Dec 13, 2011 10:04 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
That's what I'm thinking, too
He’s been riding the talent, rather than leading and motivating the talent.
If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
"He doesn't miss many of those!" --Randy Hahn
Shameless plug for my music.
I've long thought that
But Thornton’s emergence as a two-way player, McGinn’s emergence this season, and Vlasic’s transformation might say otherwise.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Heck, don't forget Heatley
TMac prepped Heatley enough to be helpful on a defense-first team. His defensive game grew while he was on the Sharks, and the Wild are benefiting from it. Granted, he’s not their best defensive player, indeed, he’s only seeing about 25 seconds of PK time a night, but he’s delivering more hits, blocking more shots, but that aspect of his game grew while he was in teal.
Who’s a better coach who can take over this team? I don’t see a lot of gems out there waiting to be dusted off.
Any good NHL assistant coach isn’t going to leave mid-season. So, you’re left with retreads. I mean, LA is considering Darryl Sutter for crying out loud. Yeah, Darryl is going to fix the Kings offense. Fit it good.
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
At Game 28
Well then, the loser point the Sharks got tonight puts them 1 point ahead of last season’s pace.
Game 28 this season: Shootout loss 3-4 at CO (1-day-off-game)
Game 28 last season: loss 3-6 at Buf
at 28 games this season: 15-10-3 / 33 pts, 78 GF – 68 GA
at 28 games last season: 14-10-4 / 32 pts, 86 GF – 83 GA
Next 10 games, games 29-38 last season: 6-3-1
Going: OTW, SOL, L, OTW, W, W, W, L, L, W
Sharks now 3-6-2 in 1-day-off-games this season, with 26 GF – 30 GA
Believe it or not, Sharks still lead the Pacific in the Potential Points Standings – - barely.
These and the rest of the December Sharkstistics have been updated.
Sharks, well, it’s all about goals-for > goals-against in each game, and Wins! Start Winning!
If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
"He doesn't miss many of those!" --Randy Hahn
Shameless plug for my music.
You're welcome!
and Thanks for the feedback!
If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
"He doesn't miss many of those!" --Randy Hahn
Shameless plug for my music.
I was curious so I made a (very rough) excel graph to compare last season to this season:
Leslie Knope: "...but it has a lot of heart."
April Ludgate: "That's what people always say when something sucks."
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!
So essentially..
we’ll lose in the playoffs again?!
"We saw those trophies and we knew what we wanted to accomplish." - Joe Pavelski
It’s an uncomfortably familiar feeling, that’s for sure.
Just like the roster reading the Churchill quote, and going out and sucking, this season’s theme of “develop consistent winning habits throughout the season, and don’t just exhaust yourself at the end” has gone in one ear and out the other.
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
by ievans on Dec 13, 2011 10:41 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Good chart.
The major thing I take away? They were far worse at times last year. And they made the western conference finals. EVERY team goes through these slumps. TMac will not be fired any time soon, neither will there be a trade. The next step is Wilson will come down to the locker room and peel some paint off the walls. I can’t see any trades until the team is closer to the deadline, when more talent is on the market..
DW made a ton of moves to improve the team
So that we could go further in the playoffs, if not all the way.
Not to discount what you're saying...
…but the real issue here is comparison to other teams in the division/WC. Right now our head is below water, and other teams that made major moves offseason are performing spectacularly (Wild, Panthers).
On paper our team is awesome. We all know (and believe) this.
The real problem here isn’t coaching, or skill, or PP/PK strategies.
The real problem is drive, and right now NONE of the top line players are leading by example, and they really don’t seem to be caring that the kids are showing them up.
I honestly don’t get it. JT should be killing. Clowe, Patty, and Havelat should be out there with foot on the pedal.
Instead it’s all on Ginner, Mitchell, Pavs, and the 2nd / 3rd / 4th line D to score.
And the urgency I see on special teams in practice is definitely not making it to the games on the big pond.
I have no idea what it will take to kick start the team. Maybe another DW pistol whipping. I just don’t know.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
My Twitter
by Noctro on Dec 14, 2011 11:22 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Embarassing Effort
On a national broadcast no less. The west is way too tight to keep slipping, even if the division is looking weak. If we take this attitude on the long road trip some players wont come back. And it wont be the likeable kind, its gonna be Pavs, Mitchell, or Clowe being sacrificed to hold players accountable.
We're this year's last year's 49ers?
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I actually see this year’s team as having all the problems of last year, but with crappier results.
With our roster, we should be a great team, and be able to dictate the game for long stretches. We have not done that, even when we won 5 in a row. The Canucks and Bruins and Red Wings have, and all three of those teams have spent time on losing streaks.
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
Alssooo
No matter how much I hate this loss, it’s important to note that Boyle, Marleau, and Pavs got points in this game. That’s three guys who haven’t gotten a point in a WHILE. Just thought I’d put it out there.
by JBarrow on Dec 13, 2011 10:22 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Not encouraged.
I fear that this team has about exhausted my optimism and patience. That ostensibly-talented players are finally earning their paychecks doesn’t exactly have me breaking out the Veuve Clicquot.
I see what you're saying
And am hoping they’re trending up too. Great chance to see exactly what’s going on with this team Thursday. Either way I expect to see one less goalie and one less havlet come deadline. Pray it isn’t clowe or crankie.
I dont get the whining
Its hockey people. There is a ton of luck from game to game. Playing in Denver after tough back to back games was never going to be easy. Add in an Avs team that was getting the riot act read to them by the staff for 3 days after a horrendous road trip it was inevitable they were going to get a top effort. Yeah the Sharks are a more talented team but losing in the skills competition isnt the end of the world. Lets get over ourselves here, move onto Thursday.
by Fakers Stink on Dec 13, 2011 10:39 PM PST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Losers make excuses.
Winners find a way to win.
Time we start finding a way.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
My Twitter
by Noctro on Dec 14, 2011 11:28 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
System or Players
.Don’t know what the problem is, but somebody on the Sharks need to figure it out. The sharks are missing out on points and its adding up. If the players don’t trust the system then make examples of the players that don’t believe in the coaching staff. What I feel is a minor problem that is causing a large issue is the players Doug brought in for Todd. I don’t think the players are able to play Todd’s style of play. He needs mobile players with great hands, stick handling, and speed.
Go Big or Go Home
Thornton, Havlat, Boyle, Burns, Clowe, etc. all well below their career Shooting % averages. Unless something horrible has happened, you would think they HAVE to start scoring here pretty soon
by a10dency2ask on Dec 13, 2011 11:25 PM PST up reply actions
classic shark game
Anybody watching csnca showing a Sharks classic game? The old 94 team Chi v.s SJ Randy & Stemmer calling the game. I forgot how empty the tank looked before they added more seats on the corners. Awh memories of Irbe “like wall”
Go Big or Go Home
Fun Fact
AS promised, I have taken up drinking heavily. Its going well so far. We will see how tomorrow goes; but first, MORE BEER!
Keep it real... Keep it fresh... Keep it real fresh ~SLNC
Picklesnake 2011-2012
Pairs
You guys see the box scores this year? Been seeing a lot of:
Marleau, Thornton
Coutoue, Clowe
Ginner, Zeus
And the 4th isn’t broken so let’s stick with these.
All 7 of McGinn's goals have a Handzus assist
As much as people want to reward him with a place on one of the top 2 lines, putting him with Zeus is producing and should not be tinkered with. Giving these two more ice time, effectively making them more than a 3rd line might be in order, though.
I saw Mitchell and Winchester out there with Thornton at one point in the 2nd and about spit my beer out.
If all sports fandom is a form of emotional gambling, football is poker and hockey is Russian roulette.
Winchester and Mitchel have both been difference makers at key moments...
…this was TMac’s attempt at sending a message. I approve. Just like I liked seeing Winchester on special teams.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
My Twitter
by Noctro on Dec 14, 2011 11:33 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
haha, maybe Burns was keeping Minny down the whole time he was there
I kid, I don’t know what the problem is, maybe TMac does need to be more experimental with the lines (I kinda’ liked the former Czechoslavakia thing going with Zeus and Havlat), I don’t know why but our guys just aren’t clicking. No being able to make a pass and last in the league in hits, those aren’t coaching, that’s just our players not playing… We’re not clicking. But our shitty, loser-PK… TMac needs to do something about that. We can’t go on with this season playing special teams like shit, …and well, 5 on 5 like shit, too…
by JenLovesHockey on Dec 14, 2011 4:01 AM PST via mobile reply actions
I don't ever recall hearing this much about firing the coach before
My thought is that since the other two BoC teams have dropped their bench bosses, people here think it’s a good idea. Well, Anaheim still sucks, the Caps are still awful, and I’m betting whoever the Kings bring in won’t change much either.
Firing the coach isn’t the answer when the players are the problem. They seem to be the ones not executing, making mental mistakes and being out of position. If we fire TMac because the players are sucking, we have the same issue as Washington. Bringing in a new coach hasn’t done jack there, since the players still don’t feel like showing up.
When the team’s best players are all shooting at unsustainably low percentages, and when they seem impatient on the PP and PK and let the system break down, I see a lack of confidence as the culprit.
Once they start scoring, the confidence comes back and they start looking like a normal team again. And please don’t forget that at this point we’re still 2 points out of the division lead, and a point better than last season. It’s the middle of December; if we haven’t won a game by the New Year, then it’s panic time. But blowing shit up just because will never work.
by Chicago Shark on Dec 14, 2011 6:29 AM PST via mobile reply actions 2 recs
Great post...
You went over the coaching – I’ll go over the screams for a trade!
Who do you move? Thornton, Marleau, Boyle, Handzus, Havlat, White all have NTC’s.
Pavelski and Couture are going nowhere.
That leaves you with Clowe, the other bottom 5 forwards, Burns, Demers, Braun, Vandy and 3 goalies.
If you look at the problems on this team, Clowe is definitely one of them but moving him would be a huge mistake as he is one of the few physical forward. The defense as a whole has been OK and I’m personally not interested in trading any of the young, upcoming PMD.
Niitty will likely be moved at some point, but all he’ll get back is a late draft pick or he could be packaged with a pick and/or prospect and get a bottom 6 forward in return.
So, who do you trade and what exactly to you expect to get back?
So, who do you trade and what exactly to you expect to get back?
I am rapidly reaching the point of saying, “I don’t care.”
Trade anyone. Trade everyone (i.e., be willing to scratch the guys with NMCs and play scrubs from Worcester until/unless they accept a move). Blow it up and start rebuilding, because this team as presently constructed is not going to seriously contend for a Stanley Cup.
A little excessive don’t you think? We still technically are in the playoff race at 8th… last season we were 12th at the end of the year and we went to the West Conf Finals, which I would consider seriously contending but maybe I’m alone on this thought.
Waiting for the Cup to come to SJ since 1991...
GO SHARKS!
Find me on Twitter @njahoda
by winthecupsj on Dec 14, 2011 10:41 AM PST up reply actions
Exactly, great points.
We just passed the quarter pole for the season, the team is in the playoffs if they started today (2 points out of the #3 seed with games in hand), and regression to the mean (shooting %) should statistically happen. At this point, blowing up the team because we’re not in 1st place and haven’t won 30 games in a row doesn’t do any good.
Trying to scare the players into performing better? Does trading someone else make the players who stay better? Unless DW can get at least equal value, he’s not making any moves. If he doesn’t think he can improve the team by making a change, he won’t. He has also shown us that he won’t blow up the team just because the fans want him to.
We’ve seen this team have a bad night plenty of times before, and we’ve seen them have bad weeks (and months) too often for any of our liking. Hell, I’m usually one of the ones talking about how much we suck and how nothing has changed, blah blah blah. Bug get real, he’s not going to make any trades just because the players aren’t playing well. If anything he’ll sit down with them and ask what the hell is going on. DW is not reactionary like the fans, and I am very thankful for that. This team has gone to the WCF twice in a row precisely because the organization has resisted the urge to blow shit up.
by Chicago Shark on Dec 14, 2011 10:51 AM PST up reply actions
Sharks trade
Before I talk trade I think it’s worth mentioning that this team has scored zero goals but given up 5 goals in 4 on 4 situations this year. Not one goal scored during 4 on 4’s. Our overall team speed is awful, especially when Patrick Marleau is pulling up at the blue line instead of taking the puck deep or to the net.
Some have said this is the best offense the Sharks have ever essembled, yet we cannot seem to score more than 2 (occasionally 3) goals per game. This team is not in a slump, rather it’s broken. The national guys (Millbury and Jones) were shocked at how the Sharks lacked intensity and passion. Welcome to our world guys!
I don’t blame the coach or GM, but when Hitch took over in St. Louis he changed/simplified their system and look at the results. One of two things will happen: Either we switch out the coach and his system/philosopy or we move some of the underachievers on this team.
I propose trading Marleau and Nitty to Washington for Semin and Chimera. The salaries work and with Semin we get a younger guy, who in a contract year, has a lot to prove and needs a change of scenery. Chimera is cheap and offers grit and decent speed. He’s also having a great offensive year. Washington is desperate for goaltending (lost at home 1-5 last night) and currently they are out of the playoffs. Marleau is owed just under $14 million over two more years after this one. To me, it’s time to hold our top guys accountable and change the message on this team. Semin has a bigger up side at 27 and if it doesn’t work out then you’re free to let him go and you save $ to get another top guy next year. Nitty doesn’t figure to be in our future goaltending plans. Chimera is under contract for two more years after this one at about $1.9 per year.
The players need to be held accountable and so if Marleau says no to a trade, you bench him. The only other guy you could probably move is Clowe, but he’s got heart and stands up for his teamates. His scoring seems to have dried up and he looks really slow out there, but I think Marleau is the bigger liability.
Take your pick, either change out the coaches or make a big trade to shake things up. Or, do nothing and pretend that things will just get better because we want them to.
cuz semin is known for being a hard working over-achiever?
by a10dency2ask on Dec 14, 2011 8:18 AM PST up reply actions
Just slightly more
He’s also looking at this team on paper and wondering why they aren’t better on the ice? He knows that this team is not what was expected and sadly doesn’t have much chance this year.
He knows hockey like a kindergartner knows tax returns.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:04 PM PST up reply actions
Hoo boy.
You guys are really coming out of the woodwork, eh? If we’re still shit at the All-Star break, then it may be time for a rebuild. Till then, let this team find some chemistry.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
You basically contradict yourself
The Sharks have awful team speed and have guys playing “without heart”, so trade 3 years of Marleau for 1 year of Semin and cap space we can’t fill because no one signs free agent deals on the West Coast.
This accomplishes what?
If all sports fandom is a form of emotional gambling, football is poker and hockey is Russian roulette.
I'll spell it out for you
Time to rebuild. This team is going no where and we have too many over paid players who are not doing their job. If you don’t see it that way that’s fine. But I see an old team that lacks speed and desire. Not a good combo.
If it's time to rebuild, why not get Colorado's unprotected 1st rounder from the Caps then?
Either go all in or don’t. Semin is worthless.
If all sports fandom is a form of emotional gambling, football is poker and hockey is Russian roulette.
I just hope DW doesn't make a move just to make a move.
He has done that way too many times, and more often that not it hasn’t worked.
I agree
Perhaps he’s starting to realize that it’s time to build around Pavs and Cooch. I like Braun and Burns and Demers on D. I think this team can get younger, faster and more hungry and still be competitive. All I know for sure is that what we have now isn’t working and that is distressing.
Rebuild?
No way. First, the rebuild process would be brutal at this point. We built a team that has a legitimate shot to win with the talent on the roster until 2014. So, you take that shot! If you want to trade for a superstar (highly unlikely we do), why Semin? That’s another “pure goal scorer” like Heatley who people here wanted to ship out half way through season two, even though he was a 40 goal scorer the year before when he wasn’t hurt. If anything, our pipe dream trade would be someone like Iginla. He’s played with Boyle, Joe and Patty in the Olympics, and no one questions his desire to win or work ethic. We won’t get him, but if anything that is the player we should dream of.
Trade Marleau.... For Semin?
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA. You guys kill me. Semin is a joke this year.
I’d take one of Chimera or Semin for Nitty though. I think that’d be a good trade for us.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:03 PM PST up reply actions
Why would Washington give up a roster player for a goaltender?
I know they need new netminding, but I doubt they’d want to give up someone like Chimera for Nitty.
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Like I said, it'd be a good trade for US. :P
Washington, not so much. But still. Nitty IS one of those “borderline” goalies in my mind, that can play as a backup, in tandem, or as a starter with a reduced load. He has some value for a team like Washington.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:07 PM PST up reply actions
Glad to be of service
I’ve got a few more if you need another laugh. Just watch some highlights of our PP or PK or 4 on 4. Semin is just to make the salaries work. After that you go and get a FA next year who will play with some fire in his belly. Or are you content to watch this product each night?
We don't have a great track record landing free agents
San Jose is, for travel reasons, not a preferred destination. And because we are prudent when it comes to big contracts, Wilson almost never offers a 5+ year contract.
So, if you want to give away players for cap space, bear that in mind.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
What about players for picks?
If you could flip Havlat for a first and a prospect, would you?
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:21 PM PST up reply actions
I wanna say up front I am not interested in moving Havlat…with that said, that’s a deal that could make sense in the off-season.
Right now, there is absolutely no one to take his place in the top 9.
This
Unless Benn Ferriero suddenly enters beast mode.
I’m honestly curious to see if he might land on the roster in the next few weeks.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Ferreiro shows streaks of greatness, followed by huge lulls.
I want to see him develop, but we have too many players of that ilk on the team right now. XD Does Clowe usually have slumps like the one he’s been having?
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:39 PM PST up reply actions
I watched last night's game.
We didn’t win, but I finally saw some production from some of the star players. Even if we DID trade Marleau, a self-entitled slacker like Semin is, under no circumstances, the answer to our problems. It’d be like melting ice by turning the AC on!
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:08 PM PST up reply actions
Well then...
I guess we just cross our legs and pray like a vestal virgin that this team somehow improves enough to compete in the playoffs this year.
Or
You trade for Semin, watch that be a giant steaming pile of failure, and ASSURE yourself you don’t improve.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I've analyzed this post with a team of scientists and determined that...
You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:20 PM PST up reply actions
Guy in the back: "No, we trade Nitty's, Sheppard's and McGinn's voodoo dolls. We've been over this, Mike."
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:37 PM PST up reply actions
"I has a sad. >:"
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 2:22 PM PST up reply actions
I think I know what I’m talking about when I say you’re a douchebag. And I mean that with all due respect Evil.
You don't want to make me angry.
You won’t like how I derail topics when I’m angry.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:36 PM PST up reply actions
A warning has been issue for this comment
Let’s move on folks
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Sharks are gon' win tomorrow, FYI.
ROUND 2.
{Ding ding}
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:55 PM PST up reply actions
preferably, righ handed
Top 6 forwards:
Left-handed shots: Thornton, Marleau, Clowe, Couture and Havlat
Right handed: Pavelski
EVERYONE!!!!
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
It's getting depressing around these parts
Yes, we looked pretty bad tonight. Especially when you consider we’ve played at least 4 teams in the last 8 games that we obviously should have beat. With that said, we’ll get out of this funk and start winning again. It’s just frustrating to watch, when you know we can be so much better. Keep the faith… the guys on the ice want to win 100x more than we do- don’t forget that.
As far as that Havlat for Heatley trade, we better turn that trade around real quick and use that 2.5 million dollars on something worth it. Because right now, Heatley or Michalek are two players I would love to have on the team. I notice Mitchell more than Havlat on the ice every game, and that’s not a good thing.
Havlat
Just hasn’t found a way to fit in. It’s not for lack of trying, but as Drew Remenda has said, he needs to work harder to fight for the ice that will lead to goals and not just settle for the easy ice. I cannot believe how well Minny is doing, but I don’t think it’s mainly due to Heater or Seto (IR).
Sharks are 2-7 in the last nine games. 1 goal on the PP in the last 9 or 10 games. Ouch!
While Heatley got a lot of flack around here last year, he was one of the best passers on the team. Havlat was supposed to bring the speed and skills to create his own shot, and right now that is not happening. I rather have Heatley on the ice, who at least on the power play would crash the net and get in front of the goalie (I still think we used him wrong considering his skill set, but that’s what we wanted from him), than Havlat right now who is not able to use that speed for anything more than a shot on goal here and there. A lot of people here wanted Heatley out last year, but right now, as a straight up trade, we are not getting a good return.
True
However, Havlat was about $2 million cheaper per year (even though he has an extra year on his deal) and so that may have prompted the trade. Plus Heatley didn’t perform in the playoffs. Injured or not, DW grew tired and lost confidence in him (imo).
I mentioned the 2.5 mil difference above, and that is a HUGE part of why DW made that trade. Still waiting to see what we do with it… that is going to be a big factor in this whole thing.
And
If we can move Nitty, it’s more like $3.8 million. As to your other point about Semin, he’s in a contract year, needs a new place to play and if he fails, then you let him walk and have an extra $7 million per year to fix some leaks. Rebuild on the fly, it doesn’t mean you still cannot win with Jumbo and company. I’m mainly trying to move Marleau’s contract which I was never in favor of. Nice guy though.
Why on EARTH do you want to move one of the top 5 scorers in the NHL?
Sending a message by screwing your team is not the answer.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
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by Noctro on Dec 14, 2011 11:43 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
I have no problem shipping out a top scorer if it helps the team
But acquiring Semin for Marleau is just silly. All the issues those of us on the anti-Marleau bandwagon have are just worse with Semin.
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
True
But if it would clear cap space for down the road I would consider it. I don’t think Semin is much worse player than Marleau this season. He might score some goals, although his +/- is pathetic, but so are the Caps right now. Like you say, there is no magical trade bullet to help this team. DW might say the talent is right here, it’s up to them to figure out a way to get it done.
Cap space for the sake of cap space is not worth it
If you trade Marleau, and get Semin’s expiring contract, and then watch him walk, there is a giant hole in your roster with no obvious fix. I mean, if this was somehow a prelude to offering Sidney Crosby a contract, okay, but otherwise, I don’t think even the cap space is all that relevant. Everyone is off the books in 2014 anyway.
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I might consider it
No way Anaheim does though. Marleau is older and more expensive. Anaheim’s internal cap will not want Marleau’s contract, particularly as he makes more than Getzlaf.
And Ryan is no big improvement on Marleau defensively.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I'm not anti-Marleau...
I just get horribly frustrated with his streaky play. I think his issues are slightly different than those that the rest of the top line have, though. His issues are ones you have to take with the good, and, frankly, while his streakiness is frustrating, you cannot deny his skill.
I honestly believe that he needs a fast skater on his wing to excel, say, like Mitchell (yes, I know that 17 is a center, but they did it before with good results).
Maybe Mitchell-Marleau-Havlat would work to get all 3 working the bullet train.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
My Twitter
I have forgotten it.
“the guys on the ice want to win 100x more than we do- don’t forget that.”
Are you kidding!?!? Have you been watching these games??? The talent is there, we know this. It’s the passion and desire to win that are not. Every guy on the team (aside from Pickles and Ginner) skate around during games like it’s practice. There is not effort or drive whatsoever! When we want to play hard, we show that we can be unstoppable (I.e. the opening period against the wild, 1st 2 periods against the Hawks just to name a couple).
We’ve traded all the guys who got angry & got passionate when we needed it for guys who have a lackadaisical, lazy attitude toward their play. Now we don’t have anyone else to provide motivation. Thornton and Marleau’s personalities have always been one of our biggest problems. Every time we lose a terrible game and play like garbage, Thornton is always there (like last night) talking about how he thought they played well and how if they keep working and doing what their doing, that thew wins will simply come. I wanted to throw something at my TV. This attitude hasn’t worked for us in the past and it won’t work now. Yet we continue to bring on guys with the same mentality. Burns and Havlat are perfect examples. Burns might as well be stoned every game, that’s how he plays. We now have two men, Ryan Clowe and Jamie McGinn, with any guts. If our entire teams feels that if they just keep doing what they’re doing that things will change, then were screwed.
Why did Boston go all the way last year??? They all get angry when things aren’t going well. They didn’t take crap from anyone and they’re team members motivated each other to be the best. The result? VAN takes a crap on us, and then gets lit up by the Bruins. JR said it right last year (talking about just Marleau), this team is simply GUTLESS!
We’ve traded all the guys who got angry & got passionate
Yeah, you’re going to have to back this one up
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Did Heatley even have a beast mode?
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:10 PM PST up reply actions
Yes
Just not with us. Injuries.
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Sorry guys...
I got a little carried away in the post above, but I am so passionate about this team and watching them play has been killing me recently. I drive nearly 3 hours each way to at least 15-20 home games per season. It’s a lot of work to make that happen after I get off work sometimes. When I give up that much of my time and effort for the team I love, I just hope and expect to see the team put in a similar effort against whoever they’re playing that night. Recently, my drives home have not been very pleasant, to say the least.
My point about “trading away the guys who get passionate and angry” was more about who we’ve replaced them with. But, I think that Seto especially, but also Heater, Eager, Mayers, Malhotra, etc. were all players that provided both leadership and passion on the ice when we needed it most.
Now, the overall team attitude and mentality lacks so much of that determination which is vital to a Stanley Cup winning team. I feel like McLellan and his crew just let this team and it’s leadership do whatever they want. This tactic is not working. The same old “focus on the positive, keep doing what you’re doing, and the wins will come” thought process is why we’ve been so terrible and worse yet, why we’ve not shown much improvement. The tell tale sign is how often we try to rely on a one goal lead. I’ve said it before, but the Sharks of old were relentless… They would score and keep coming at you until they were up by 3 or 4 goals. When was the last time you saw that? I sure miss those games…
You from Sacramento?
It takes me about 2.5 hours to get to the games
by SharkKings49 on Dec 14, 2011 3:54 PM PST up reply actions
I recognize that you're upset
But in what world does Ben Eager provide leadership?
Chicago doesn’t miss him and we don’t either. His shoes have been more than adequately filled by Winchester and Vandermeer.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Eager.
It was a group statement, I did not mean to imply that Eager provided leadership. I guess I need to add footnotes to all of my posts :). You are just pickin’ me apart Elvis… Eager is not a player that I want back on our team. His actions in the playoffs last season were horribly selfish and frankly, ridiculous. I was glad to see him benched then. BUT, he did bring that spark to the team on a number of occasions. He didn’t take crap from anyone and the team often fed off of it. We are missing that spark now.
SharkKings, Yes, I am from the Sacramento area. I’ve made it in just over 2 hours before, but that’s my best time. Usually, with traffic, it takes at least an hour longer than that. Generally though, it’s worth it!
Wow!
And I thought I was mad…
Can’t put all the blame on the top guys, but I’ve always maintained that I wouldn’t mind seeing Jumbo or Patty be more aggresive at times or take some abuse in front of the net for an easy rebound goal.
Motivation is a funny thing when you have $50 million in the bank. Not everyone can sustain that drive and desire. It would be like if you were given your lifetime salary upfront and then told to go kick ass every day at work, when instead you just wanted to eat Ben & Jerry’s and play video games.
whenever someone brings up the Bruins of last year, I want us to all remember that just one year before, with virtually the same players, they earned the reputation of the “greatest chokers of all time” with their series loss to the Flyers. In other words, no matter how it looks, it can always turn around – and more importantly, our assumptions about the players’ intangibles are almost entirely meaningless.
by a10dency2ask on Dec 15, 2011 1:40 AM PST up reply actions
DW's offseason moves
Let’s face it people, many analysts wondered if DW had gone too far, by sacrificing too much offense in order to strengthen our D. Perhaps the answer is yes.
Correct me if I'm wrong...
But didn’t you say that this is the best offense the Sharks have ever had? If so, is it possible that this team just cannot find the necessary chemistry to succeed? Or, is it just a matter of time before they start playing together and scoring, especially on the PP or 4 on 4?
This is, on paper, one of the best offenses we’ve ever had, yes.
There is no obvious reason for them to struggle this way. We know exactly in which ways they suck, but they probably shouldn’t suck nearly to the degree that they have been.
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
How is that possible?
How can this be the best ever offense, on paper, when you remove two players responsible for 50+ goals a season!?
First “one of the best” != “the best.”
How can this be the best ever offense, on paper, when you remove two players responsible for 50+ goals a season!?
When you replace them with two players responsible for 40 goals a season, plus add some other players and give more responsibility to younger players?
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
The Sharks season thus far, in a picture
YoYo Ma on the ground in a bathroom with a wombat.
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
Is the wombat supposed to be a representation for the Sharks or is Yo Yo Ma??
"We saw those trophies and we knew what we wanted to accomplish." - Joe Pavelski
That’s a lot of talent lying on the floor of a bathroom, staring at a rodent.
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
I thought you were going for the toilet...
;-)
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
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by Noctro on Dec 14, 2011 11:44 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Trade talk...
I’m not sure I’m willing to go there yet. Especially the Marleau and our CORE guys talk. That screams panic and remember last season. We were 12th in the West at the beginning on 2011 right? We ended up #2 in the West when all was said and done. It’s a bad slump and yes, quite a few guys need to be accountable.
First of all, McLellan is fine in my opinion. Keep him. Woodcroft seems to be a minus considering the PK. But I wouldn’t recommend any huge changes in coaching.
Players… trading Thornton or Marleau isn’t going to happen and shouldn’t. I get frustrated with Patty’s streaky play but lately, I haven’t seen him really play all that poorly. Jumbo, I think anytime you throw his name in the trade talks it’s laughable. Giving up one of the best (if not the best) playmakers in the game is just ridiculous. Who would you get back that could give you the package Joe brings?
I’ll tell you who is on sh*t list right now. Martin Havlat and Ryane Clowe. Havlat… I’d say right now the Wild are winning that trade with Heatley. I have seen NOTHING from Havlat except when he first returned that was as advertised (and I said this pre-season, I think we all hyped him up as well as the media did… ask any Minnesota fan). No speed and I don’t see a great two way player. Yeah goals are a problem too but if you aren’t bringing ANY of the 3 things you were brought here to do, you’re failing in my opinion. Yes, he’s new and the season is still fairly young but Heatley seems to be adjusting to the new system in Minnesota just fine. 9 goals and 21 points (2nd on the team) with a 4 +/- aint bad on a team that is known for not scoring many goals and they have a ton of secondary scoring.
Ryane Clowe… I’m still pissed at his goonary during the Chicago game. But this guy just seems to be so off his game I’m curious if there is an underlying injury. His boards play is down from last year, he can’t hold onto a puck, and he seems to play like his head is just in a fog. So frustrating considering how much I started to like him in the last couple seasons.
All in all, I think Doug Wilson will hold off for a couple more games. We have a 6 game home stand coming up here. The first 3 games are against Colorado, Edmonton, and Tampa Bay. All 3 teams are “mediocre” or “struggling” so if we can’t buy a win here, it’s time to make a move. Doesn’t have to be big… last season it took just bringing in Wellwood for a little spark.
Waiting for the Cup to come to SJ since 1991...
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Wellwood and Eager, those two guys really did it last yet. You are right. No point in making a huge move unless it really improves the team in all aspects (Iginla- but not happening).
Wellwood and Eager
Are NOT top 6 forwards. The top 6 is where the issues are at the moment.
To start the season, the bottom six were struggling a bit, but the team was fine as the top 6, Pavelski in particular, were on fire.
The situation is now reversed, as are our fortunes.
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
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Wellwood is a top-6 forward on Winnipeg. :P
Does he still have the scoring lead out there?
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:11 PM PST up reply actions
on Winnipeg
The prosecution rests your honor.
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Changing signatures is for suckers.
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How dare you, sir!
Winnipeg is among the 7 best teams in their country.
If all sports fandom is a form of emotional gambling, football is poker and hockey is Russian roulette.
country
Are you sure you know what you’re talking about? :P
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Eh, they're better as of late. :P
Wouldn’t surprise me if they finish above Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa in the East… Some of Atlanta’s “promising” players are starting to come of age.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
This.
I’m still dumbfounded by not keeping Wellwood. A reliable, cheap hot hand we had plenty of cap space for.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
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by Noctro on Dec 14, 2011 11:46 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Are you displeased with any of our lower lines?
Having Handzus and Winchester has made us much bigger on the lower lines (that and playing McGinn on a regular basis).
And our cap space is better spend on Vlasic next season, and Burns and Couture this season.
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
WELL...
No, but having him would give us options to sit an underperformer, and move up one of the kids more deserving of top minutes.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
My Twitter
Sorry... fail
He didnt get a penalty and it was nice to see someone on the sharks play with a lil mean streak, kind of what some teams do to us… willing to take penalties cause they dont think our PP will get it done anyway so they just punk us
There's playing with a mean streak
And then there’s stupid. What Clowe did was stupid. He SHOULD have gotten a penalty. We’re lucky he didn’t, but it didn’t matter. He was clearly in no shape to be put on the ice for OT, and so we were without one of our best players at a key moment.
Look at McGinn’s game. He’s got plenty of snarl to his game, but he’s not being stupid about it. Reminds me a bit of what Clowe himself is capable of if he keeps his head, and why he emerged as a leader last year.
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
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Valid point I agree.
However even tho it was stupid, maybe i just took it as sending a message to chicago who pretty much seems to have the edge in team speed and skill. Kinda what boston seemed to do to vancouver last year, beat their ass and use their physicality to counter act the speed and skill, not saying boston doesnt have skill
What "message" did Clowe send?
Hossa called him out for being a coward and Clowe’s response was to sucker punch him. And then his team lost. Great job Clowe.
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They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
by ElvisVF101 on Dec 14, 2011 11:34 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I thought he punched keith?
gave him a bloody nose. I get your point, but did the play really lead to the loss? I don’t think so, it was standard sharks in the 3rd period.
He did bloody Duncan Keith
Who stepped in to defend Hossa.
And as to whether it led to the loss, did you see the jump the Hawks had in OT? Sucker punching a star only works against teams that won’t respond. It’s why people think the “Boston model” works. You pull that kind of shit against a team like the Hawks, and it will blow up in your face.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
A question for you...
On the goal that chicago scored to tie the game… How come other teams can fire shots through traffic and they have no problem finding their way through, but when we try that shit they just get blocked and gives up an odd man rush. why cant we play 5 goalies like teams seem to do to us?
Positioning
Player movement, and some luck.
The Sharks have scored their fair share of tip and screen goals. McGinn scored one against Colorado.
But you will get those goals when your team is moving it’s feet, because you’re going to the net, and you’re backing the other team in.
How often have you seen the Sharks do that this month?
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
•Crickets•
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
My Twitter
by Noctro on Dec 14, 2011 11:48 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Why?
Does it seem like other teams consistently play that type of defense against us and we don’t make any type of adjustments…
Is that up to the coaching or players?
I would like to assume when they watch the film of their failed PP’s or losses when we can’t score and be like: oh shit this is what everyone does to us, if we started doing this they couldnt play that collapsing style..
That is what is most frustrating to me teams play that style against us and we do not seem to adjust…
You can watch all the tape you want
The strategy only works when one team outskates the other.
If you don’t move your skates, the bounces go against you because the other team will be skating to prime scoring areas and getting the bounces.
The Sharks did a good job of this in November and got themselves a nice cushion. Why their skating has fallen off the map and can’t be sustained for 60 minutes a night, I don’t know. Part of that is coaching, but honestly, the players themselves need to figure out if what they are doing to physically prepare for games is enough.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
So
Are you suggesting that the sharks are stationary and not moving their feet because they are fatigued? Could it be that our offensive style of play is predictable and they are not trying anything creative? I want to believe it is the first so much more
Fatigue could be a factor
And on the third game in four nights on the road at altitude lends credence to that.
But, hey, a lot of us have played sports, recreationaly or perhaps competitively. Sometimes (assuming you’re healthy), you come out flat. And if you do, you can probably point to a lot of things: you didn’t sleep well the night before, your diet has been off, you didn’t quite take the drills and the sprints in practice seriously, you’re distracted, a lot of different things.
They were at home for much of late November/early December. There’s no reason travel fatigue should have been an issue. There was time off, some spacing between games, and every reason for there to be productive practices spent improving the penalty kill.
Instead, the PK is a hot mess, and games where the Sharks HAVE had success in terms of skating, they haven’t necessarily sustained it.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Sometimes
I feel its more of a scheme type of thing on top of not executing. The thing i hate reading about the most or hearing about is how teams “know” how to play against the sharks. Like we are just so easy to understand and stop, and the way we have been playing recently seems to back up those observations.
Also i kind of think that the whole “moving your feet” has little to do with skill and everything to do with work ethic. I do get that fatigue makes it harder to bring the work ethic. I know alot of others have commented on this but it seems like the sharks just wanna use their skill and not combine the two (work ethic and skill)
I propose fewer commercials, less of Momma Couture's fruit cake.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:14 PM PST up reply actions
Remember...
How crazy excited we were when Heatley was traded here!? I still remember those posts and the images that came with them. Remember how excited we were when Havlat was traded here… ya, not so much.
I don't see how anyone could want to fire TMAC
If there is one person that needs to be fired it’s Doug Wilson. What has he done to this team? Wilson traded Heatley for a black hole named Havlat that can only shuffle the puck left and right a few times before taking a bad shot or losing possesion all together. Havlat is a gapping wound in the line-up and we are stuck with him. It’s DW who makes the bad decisions and he should be held accountable. I don’t think this team can be fixed the way it was last year and wasn’t DW’s summer mantra getting off to a good start. Mission failed for DW, yet again. There is a lot of talk about what happened last year at this time but this looks much worse.
CH:So are you going to sleep with me or what?
Woman: No I am not going to sleep with you. I hadn't thought about sleeping with you actually.
CH: It's because I have a cabbage for a head, isn't it?
Woman: Um, no I don't judge people on their race, creed, or colour.
CH: Unless they have a cabbage for head, which I do.
by Montyburnz!...1 on Dec 14, 2011 9:41 AM PST reply actions
Eh, I wouldn’t even go as far as firing DW. The guy is pretty much a genius. I’m trying to think of real busts he has made and Havlat is the only one I can think of that it’s still early for that. Even getting Brian Campbell, it lead us to Dan Boyle so again, I can’t be too angry at any of his moves. The move for Burns was needed as much as we loved Seto. He is still a genius for pulling off the Thornton trade. He sent Cheechoo and Michalek for Heatley… Cheechoo is still not playing anywhere in the NHL and Michalek is just now scoring at a rapid pace for Ottawa.
I’d have to see more failures for DW to be on the chopping block in my head.
Waiting for the Cup to come to SJ since 1991...
GO SHARKS!
Find me on Twitter @njahoda
by winthecupsj on Dec 14, 2011 10:45 AM PST up reply actions
Todd McLellan is the man
How can you fire a guy with a poker face like that. I can’t tell when he’s happy or mad, it looks exactly the same.
by SharkKings49 on Dec 14, 2011 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
Having had a night to sleep on it
I don’t want a trade, because I don’t see who we could ship out to get anyone worth a damn to fix that which is messed up. There’s no reason for this team to have dropped so many points this month.
Instead, I want a few things:
1.) I’m not particularly partial as to whether this happens as a result of coaching staff changes, but I want a new emphasis on special teams. Whether that means rolling the third and fourth line out there with the man advantage, bag skates, sacrificing a goat or maybe just not allowing so many passes through the box, I don’t care. But seriously, enough with the dog poop product. The personnel on the ice have no reason NOT to be getting it done.
2.) I want Martin Havlat to stop losing board battles. Open ice, with the puck, he’s a real asset to the team. Great hands, good passer, fantastic cycler. But he’s getting murdered along the boards, and it’s murdering us.
3.) I’d like a 60 minute effort. I’d also like World Peace and a date with Alessandra Ambrosio, but of the impossible things I want, this seems like the most likely, but just barely…
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Here’s the reality. We have the worst PK% at home in the league, at 69.6%. The only team with a lower percentage is the Blue Jacket’s road PK% (68.2%).
We are 29th out of 30 teams in total PK%, at 74.4%.
We are 8th in the league in GAA, at 2.39. We are 13th in the league in GFA at 2.68. We are 4th in the league in 5-5 goal differential.
With 22 PPGA and 28 games played, we give up 0.786 goals a game on the power play. It is absolutely destroying our ability to win games, as we have a decent defense and a middling offense (by the numbers).
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
God those numbers are depressing
But they’re also why I think I’m done at the moment talking trades.
In the middle of the season, there’s no magic bullets. And really, what do we do? Do you trade Pavelski? Clowe? Couture? Vlasic? And what do you get? Don’t think Kane, Toews, Hossa, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Crosby, Malkin, Chara, Lidstrom, Pronger, Stamkos or St. Louis are available. Neither are young studs like Hall, Eberle, Duchene, Skinner or the like.
There’s no reason for a top 6 of Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Clowe, Couture and Havlat to not be lighting it up. There’s no reason for a top 4 of Burns, Vlasic, Boyle and Murray to not be able to hold leads.
I guess you could flip Murray for new blood on D, but really, that’s just window dressing. We’re not going to get Marc Staal for Murray, so it’d just be a lateral move.
The team just needs to do as Dan Boyle says and throw their middle fingers up at the world and get it done.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
If the players are sitting around waiting for a trade to shake them out of their doldrums, we are going nowhere. If the coaches are waiting for the same thing, then they are incompetent and need to be immediately fired. I don’t think either one is the case.
Maybe there is too much confidence on this team among the players. I don’t know. Danny Boyle’s frustration at losing to the Canucks last year (“we’re better than them!”) rubbed me the wrong way, because it’s the kind of thing the spoiled, lazy, smart kids say when their grades are lower than the harder working kid that isn’t so convinced of his own genius. If you were actually the better team, why didn’t you SHOW it?
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
Exactly
Just like when Jumbo said that the Rangers were soft after getting their asses kicked! That’s the mentality that is pervasive on this team with the leadership group. A lot of talk, not as much action. Talent alone will not win you a Stanley Cup.
Dan Boyle said that?
Cool points +3.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:19 PM PST up reply actions
Swisher made a photoshop of it too
Sadly, Chicago still swept us.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Chicago is a jerk.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
bout freakin time he did something positive
I sure hope that this helps his confidence and that he starts playing like what he’s really cable of , on a regular basis!!
Here’s the other thing, do people really think the coaching staff don’t know all these numbers? That they and the players are not trying to fix whatever is wrong?
Again, I have NO idea what is actually wrong with the PK, be it coaching, personnel, execution (I’m thinking it’s a combo) – but everyone on the Sharks knows how bad it is. They do work on it at every opportunity.
As Elvis mentioned, there are not magic bullets…no single player coming (or going) are going to fix it. Fans just pretty much have to hope for it to eventually click.
by milanahalek on Dec 14, 2011 12:10 PM PST up reply actions
That's what I have been saying
The problem is special teams and that is it.
by Briceratops on Dec 14, 2011 12:28 PM PST up reply actions
I’m seriously confused about how bad our PK is, considering our GAA and 5-5 goal differential. How can you be a moderately decent defensive team with an atrocious PK?
Is our defense bad, but we haven’t seen the bottom drop out 5-5? Or is our terrible PK an aberration? Are we just a weird team?
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
Some of it might be who is in the box, at times. Some of our heavy PKers have been penalty prone (especially the defense in the form of White, Boyle, and Murray who are all toward the high end of both shorthanded TOI/G and PIMs; even Vandermeer could probably be lumped in there). That forces us to put the less experienced/effective guys out there and hope for the best, not to mention the extra shifts for whatever d-men are left.
I also think other teams having more ice to work with is killing us right now. Passes across the slot are being taken away 5-on-5 but slipping through on the PK, resulting in goals. Which is also a problem with our 4-on-4, as we’re getting beat up there too.
Believing in the Sharks, one photoshop at a time. GO SHARKS!
Our forwards don't know what the hell they're doing
Seriously, watch any given PK. The forwards are in no-man’s land. They’re not pressuring the point, and they don’t get back down low.
You can have a fairly middling group of PKers, but as long as they hold the box and DO NOT ALLOW A CROSS CREASE PASS, you can generally at least kill at an 80% clip.
But the forwards keep getting frozen, and they never have an active stick, and they’re always taking away perimeter passes as opposed to the dangerous ones that go quickly across the ice and shred the killers.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
by ElvisVF101 on Dec 14, 2011 12:52 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I’m with you on this Elvis.
The way I’m looking at it… The team has the parts to get it done. The team has the skill to get it done. But not the attitude right now. I think some of that might come from the “Our real goal is the post season” talk the team oftentimes gets into (which I think should change to “Our real goal is to dominate every night, period.”) But I think some of it is that players feel safe. No one gets challenged for their job right now. If McGinn is the hottest player on the team, he should be played like the hottest player on the team. And if that means Marleau loses his powerplay slot and his minutes? Well then Marleau better take ’em back by moving his ass.
If we’re losing games either way, I’d rather see McGinn make mistakes (with the theory that he’ll learn from them) than Marleau half-skate because “We’re really looking at the ultimate goal of the Cup” instead of paying attention to tonight’s two points. I’m not saying make a permanent decision now, but what have we got to lose by trying to get guys like McGinn experience in tougher minutes as a reward for being the guys carrying the play right now?
Believing in the Sharks, one photoshop at a time. GO SHARKS!
by Auth0r on Dec 14, 2011 12:13 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Chill out!
Damn, after reading what everyone has to say you’d think the Sharks have become the Columbus Blue Jackets. Easy people, come down off the window ledge, it’s not like our team is in last place FCS! Yes we could be playing a hell of a lot better, but we play the next 6 at home against some weak teams (Col, Edm, TB, LA, Ana, Van) and if this team performs better, we could easily be in third place in the WC and first in the Pacific by months end. Just double up on your Zoloft and call it a day. Holy crap!
Fun fact
We’ve been shut out by Anaheim and LA, and already lost to Vancouver.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Fun fact
Those teams can suck my balls.
by Briceratops on Dec 14, 2011 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
^ I recommend this post.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 1:54 PM PST up reply actions
For eulogies full of fart jokes and bad puns
I am always available
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
penalty kill problems
I’m wondering if someone can come up with some stats for me. I know there is no +/- on penalty kills, but if there was how would the minus stack up on the Sharks lack of penalty killing. It has seemed to me the other team is scoring in the last 20 seconds or less.
You can crunch the numbers pretty easily
Using SHGA and TOI SH.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
This thread
Leslie Knope: "...but it has a lot of heart."
April Ludgate: "That's what people always say when something sucks."
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!
Srs?
This is only acceptable if we get him for dirt cheap. I don’t want to see Pavelski or Clowe leaving for him. Maybe a 1st rounder and Nitty?
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 14, 2011 5:14 PM PST up reply actions
It's Eklund who reported this.
A.k.a. it’s not happening.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"-Wayne Gretzky"-Michael Scott.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Dec 14, 2011 6:41 PM PST up reply actions
Heatley
Hate to say this Sharks fans, but I’m watching the Wild-Hawks game right now, and Heatley looks awesome. Moving well, handling the puck with confidence, effective shooting and passing very well (I always thought his passing was underrated). And Havlat, well, sigh…
Havlat
Havlat plays like grandma (afraid of getting hurt). And yes, I just replied to my own comment :). Hope you’re reading this Marty and it in some way motivates you, but I know he won’t read this comment, and I seriously doubt he cares about my opinion anyways.
But he costs less!!!!
"Thank you very much fans and let’s go for the next game together!"
— Lubomir Visnovsky
I rec’d that shit.
Championship team/franchise?
And this may be the beer talking (plus the combination of really poor Sharks results lately) but I’m tiring of this organization. I know, I know, they’ve been to the playoffs for several years now, including two consecutive trips to the the WCF, but I’ve been watching this team/organization since 1994, and for some reason it feels to me like there’s something germane to this franchise that is soft. I have the hockey package and have religiously watched hockey for years now (b/c there’s nothing else on TV that interests me) and I’ve seen championship franchises/teams, and, gulp, I hate to say it, especially after having been a Sharks fan for sooooo long, but I’m leaning towards the conclusion that this is NOT such a franchise. I know they’ve had an ownership change (they used to be owned by the Gunds prior to the current ownership group) and in fact I dated girl for 4 years in college who’s father is part of the current ownership group, so I feel I have some foundation for my opinion, and I’ve got to tell you that I don’t think a championship is in this organization’s near future. Sorry for writing so much, but this is kind of a “come to Jesus” moment for me.
I agree...
I can’t help, but agree with most of what you’re saying. I would love to be wrong though. 10 games of bad play really isn’t enough to make a complete judgement yet. It will be very interesting to see how December and the beginning of 2012 plays out for this team.
To me, this current slump feels different than any other that this team has experienced before. It’s already been longer, and (apart from what many are saying) shows little signs of ending any time soon. Your statement about the franchise being soft rings true to me as well to an extent, but more because of the current roster and some of the coaching versus the ownership and DW.
All I want for Christmas is…
This isn’t a mystery to be solved. There isn’t some magical key that makes a team or franchise worthy of a Stanley Cup. The only relationship is the W-L column. That’s it. Teams that have winning records are a lot more likely to have what it takes to win 16 postseason games.
Or better, look at the organization’s that have won Cups recently. The Ducks are a shambles right now, with the same ownership, and much of the same management/staff until Carlyle was hired. The Lightning won the Cup, and then were terrible, leading to the coach and then GM being fired, and the ownership changed.
The best you can hope for as a fan is that everyone involved is competent and takes winning seriously above everything else, both long-term and short-term. Then you are more likely to have a team that is good enough to maybe catch some luck.
Picklesnakebit since 2011.
@shampeon
Heatley was on fire the first half of last season until he got hurt and promptly became a 7.5 million anchor
come April. Let’s see if he can go 30 games without a booboo this time.
If all sports fandom is a form of emotional gambling, football is poker and hockey is Russian roulette.
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