No hope for the San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks have just fallen behind to the Calgary Flames 1-0 in the first period of their game tonight (March 19th). Familiar script, power-play goal in the first period by the other team. As I write this the Sharks have lost four in a row, including getting butt-stomped by the Dallas Stars 8-2 (Stars are not even in the playoff hunt).
I think this is going to be it for the Sharks as we know them. They are headed for another first round exit. This year it's going to be the Detroit Red Wings who will take them out. The Wings had a horrible start to the year. They have gotten over their injuries, turned their ship around and seem headed to a a lower-half seed, somewhere from 8 to maybe as high a six.
The Sharks are gong to finish in the top three in the conference. Meaning that there is a more than average chance that they will draw the Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs. The Sharks have lost three out of four to the Wings this season including both of the games they played in San Jose, with both games being notable for the Sharks taking a lead and giving it up. The Sharks were out-scored by the Red Wings 8-3 in those two home games.
So, looking forward what do you do. There seems to be some sort of character issue with the team. They seem unable to rise to the occasion and while they obviously have a load of talent, they don't have a team capable of playing an entire 60 minutes.
And, now it's 2-0 Flames, and you can just feel the Sharks playoff chances just oozing away. It's almost like I wish they wouldn't make the playoffs at all. Better to miss them altogether than get in their heads handed to them by teams who know how to put it on the line to win in those situations. Maybe if they lose every game between now and the end of the season we will be spared another of season of excuse-making and boastful posturing about how this was unacceptable.
Where to start.
Doug Wilson maybe? I think he's a smart guy and has an interesting philosophy. He picked Boston's pocket and waited until Ottawa got panicky to make a trade for Dany Heatly. I think Wilson gets a stay of execution, but he needs some help somewhere.
McLellan. He has to go, not that he is what's wrong with the Sharks, but he was apparently not the solution either. Given that last year's playoff exit against the Ducks was quicker than any of the previous Ron Wilson coached teams you might even say McLellan has actually done worse President's Trophy or no.
Goalie. Nabokov is a free agent. He can be an outstanding goalie, but he plays average in pressure situations and does his best work in the first half of the season. Sorry Nabby, you have to go.
Patrick Marleau - Patty M had a break-out year, the same year he had his Captain's C ripped off his chest. He's going to ask for huge money, and might be worth it. But, I think you have to let him go with the only regret being that the Sharks did not make a bold move and trade him this year at the trade deadline. I love you Patty, I saw many of your "21st" birthdays at the Flying Pig in downtown San Jose, but time to go.
Between periods Marleau said that the Olympics taught him not to get down or get overly worried when things are tough. Sure, you can stay calm when your teammates are Sidney Crosby and Rick Nash. I have news for you Pat, this situation calls for a little worry.
I took a dinner break while watching the game. The score is now 4-1 Flames. Ryan Clowe has just fought Flames superstar Jerome Inginla. Fight ends in a draw, in my opinion, both guys get five minutes.
Clowe gets to stay, so does Joe Pavelski, they both at least look like they care. Same with Manny Maholtra, Scott Nichols and Torrey Mitchell. Brad Staubitz has to start using his head even if his role is more of an enforcer. Staubitz needs to show
Rob Blake, probably time to retire. Dan Boyle, he stays and he gets the C pinned to his chest. Doug Murray is a huge man-mountain who seems to have come into his own, but how many times have you heard this during a Sharks broadcast "Murray over-skates the puck". I think Doug stays because he is still young and will improve. Marc Vlasic has been injured and might be one of those guys who is headed towards an injury-prone career.
Score is now 4-2 Flames. Maholtra just showed why he gts to stay by being Johnny-on-the-spot and putting in a loose puck in the back of the Calgary net. Then, a few seconds later Ryan Clowe demonstrates the big problem by taking a stupid penalty and killing any momentum they might have.
Two minutes left, Sharks pull the goalie out and score to make it 4-3. Logan Couture demonstrates hustle and smarts getting the puck towards the net to Dan Boyle for the goal and then after the face-off he hustles back to prevent an empty net goal. The fact that Couture is in the game now shows that the coaching staff thinks enough of him to have him there at an important part of the game.
Game ends, 4-3 loss, five in a row now for the Sharks.
So, who to bring in?
I would start with Niklas Lidstrom, who is a free agent at the end of the season. Here is a guy who has won multiple Stanley Cups and would be a player who not only beings a lot of skill to the blue line, but would also be an example for Murray to follow. Letting Nabby and Marleau go buys you Lidstrom with some money left over.
Next guy would be Ray Whitney. Another cup winner, a guy who should never have left San Jose. Whitney is Captain material and he would bring some real leadership onto the team. He has no trouble going to the net, lots of grit with some skill. Sure, he's older, but that makes him cheaper.
Another way to go would be to just hand the whole thing off to a younger group and invest in keeping Joe Thornton around for another few years. Thornton is maybe the best player in the league and I think you do what you can to keep him and maybe let the Logan Coutures and Jamie McGinns grow up around him. The Sharks could do worse.
Dany Heatley is signed for a few years so keep him since you won't be able to get much more for him. Heatley is more of a gamer than I gave him credit for being. Before he got here I figured Heatley as a perimeter player, pure shooter who doesn't play any defense. Much to my surprise Heatley is always hanging around the front of the crease, takes the abuse and scores goals with quick hands on rebounds and one of his most exciting and clutch goals of the season came on a penalty kill.
You could play this game forever, insert your own favorites here. But the fact is there will be no Stanley Cup in San Jose this season and probably not for a long time.
I think this is going to be it for the Sharks as we know them. They are headed for another first round exit. This year it's going to be the Detroit Red Wings who will take them out. The Wings had a horrible start to the year. They have gotten over their injuries, turned their ship around and seem headed to a a lower-half seed, somewhere from 8 to maybe as high a six.
The Sharks are gong to finish in the top three in the conference. Meaning that there is a more than average chance that they will draw the Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs. The Sharks have lost three out of four to the Wings this season including both of the games they played in San Jose, with both games being notable for the Sharks taking a lead and giving it up. The Sharks were out-scored by the Red Wings 8-3 in those two home games.
So, looking forward what do you do. There seems to be some sort of character issue with the team. They seem unable to rise to the occasion and while they obviously have a load of talent, they don't have a team capable of playing an entire 60 minutes.
And, now it's 2-0 Flames, and you can just feel the Sharks playoff chances just oozing away. It's almost like I wish they wouldn't make the playoffs at all. Better to miss them altogether than get in their heads handed to them by teams who know how to put it on the line to win in those situations. Maybe if they lose every game between now and the end of the season we will be spared another of season of excuse-making and boastful posturing about how this was unacceptable.
Where to start.
Doug Wilson maybe? I think he's a smart guy and has an interesting philosophy. He picked Boston's pocket and waited until Ottawa got panicky to make a trade for Dany Heatly. I think Wilson gets a stay of execution, but he needs some help somewhere.
McLellan. He has to go, not that he is what's wrong with the Sharks, but he was apparently not the solution either. Given that last year's playoff exit against the Ducks was quicker than any of the previous Ron Wilson coached teams you might even say McLellan has actually done worse President's Trophy or no.
Goalie. Nabokov is a free agent. He can be an outstanding goalie, but he plays average in pressure situations and does his best work in the first half of the season. Sorry Nabby, you have to go.
Patrick Marleau - Patty M had a break-out year, the same year he had his Captain's C ripped off his chest. He's going to ask for huge money, and might be worth it. But, I think you have to let him go with the only regret being that the Sharks did not make a bold move and trade him this year at the trade deadline. I love you Patty, I saw many of your "21st" birthdays at the Flying Pig in downtown San Jose, but time to go.
Between periods Marleau said that the Olympics taught him not to get down or get overly worried when things are tough. Sure, you can stay calm when your teammates are Sidney Crosby and Rick Nash. I have news for you Pat, this situation calls for a little worry.
I took a dinner break while watching the game. The score is now 4-1 Flames. Ryan Clowe has just fought Flames superstar Jerome Inginla. Fight ends in a draw, in my opinion, both guys get five minutes.
Clowe gets to stay, so does Joe Pavelski, they both at least look like they care. Same with Manny Maholtra, Scott Nichols and Torrey Mitchell. Brad Staubitz has to start using his head even if his role is more of an enforcer. Staubitz needs to show
Rob Blake, probably time to retire. Dan Boyle, he stays and he gets the C pinned to his chest. Doug Murray is a huge man-mountain who seems to have come into his own, but how many times have you heard this during a Sharks broadcast "Murray over-skates the puck". I think Doug stays because he is still young and will improve. Marc Vlasic has been injured and might be one of those guys who is headed towards an injury-prone career.
Score is now 4-2 Flames. Maholtra just showed why he gts to stay by being Johnny-on-the-spot and putting in a loose puck in the back of the Calgary net. Then, a few seconds later Ryan Clowe demonstrates the big problem by taking a stupid penalty and killing any momentum they might have.
Two minutes left, Sharks pull the goalie out and score to make it 4-3. Logan Couture demonstrates hustle and smarts getting the puck towards the net to Dan Boyle for the goal and then after the face-off he hustles back to prevent an empty net goal. The fact that Couture is in the game now shows that the coaching staff thinks enough of him to have him there at an important part of the game.
Game ends, 4-3 loss, five in a row now for the Sharks.
So, who to bring in?
I would start with Niklas Lidstrom, who is a free agent at the end of the season. Here is a guy who has won multiple Stanley Cups and would be a player who not only beings a lot of skill to the blue line, but would also be an example for Murray to follow. Letting Nabby and Marleau go buys you Lidstrom with some money left over.
Next guy would be Ray Whitney. Another cup winner, a guy who should never have left San Jose. Whitney is Captain material and he would bring some real leadership onto the team. He has no trouble going to the net, lots of grit with some skill. Sure, he's older, but that makes him cheaper.
Another way to go would be to just hand the whole thing off to a younger group and invest in keeping Joe Thornton around for another few years. Thornton is maybe the best player in the league and I think you do what you can to keep him and maybe let the Logan Coutures and Jamie McGinns grow up around him. The Sharks could do worse.
Dany Heatley is signed for a few years so keep him since you won't be able to get much more for him. Heatley is more of a gamer than I gave him credit for being. Before he got here I figured Heatley as a perimeter player, pure shooter who doesn't play any defense. Much to my surprise Heatley is always hanging around the front of the crease, takes the abuse and scores goals with quick hands on rebounds and one of his most exciting and clutch goals of the season came on a penalty kill.
You could play this game forever, insert your own favorites here. But the fact is there will be no Stanley Cup in San Jose this season and probably not for a long time.
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