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San Jose Sharks Blogger •
There’s no doubt about it, tonight’s game against the New York Rangers is going to be the San Jose Sharks’ most difficult test of the early season. The Rangers have won seven straight, while the Sharks haven’t beaten a decent team since their 6-3 win over Columbus on October 8, going 4-3-1 through their first eight games. You can find my preview of tonight’s game on Versus.
While tonight’s game will garner the attention of the entire league, and should help us determine whether the Sharks belong among the league's best, I was also interested in Doug Wilson’s appearance on NHL Live this morning. Wilson appeared in the Manhattan studio with the ebullient Deb Placey and the reticent E.J. Hradek, and I thought he provided much more thoughtful answers than we heard over the summer.
Maybe Wilson’s approach was different because he was speaking to a knowledgeable NHL audience rather than the ignoramuses on KNBR, but I thought he represented himself and the team pretty well. Of course, he didn’t say anything revealing, and we’ve heard most of it before, but you have to enjoy the confident, regular season Wilson much more than the vague, offseason Wilson. Here's a sampling from the interview.
On the season thus far:
“It’s kinda where we thought we would be, spending 9 of the first 12 games on the road.”
I’m not sure it’s even close to where the Sharks thought they would be, heading into tonight’s game as massive underdogs (currently, ESPN’s SFTC shows 94.8 percent of people betting on a Ranger victory). Playing their first eight games against five teams that didn’t make the playoffs, one that got swept in the first round, and two that didn’t make it out of the second round, I’m sure many were expecting much better than a 4-3-1 start.
On last year’s disappointment:
“We’ll never apologize for having high standards, high expectations. Last year was a little bit of a kick in the butt. Todd McLellan went through it in Detroit also.”
This is my one major complaint: Wilson has to stop bringing up Detroit’s first-round loss to Edmonton in 2006. Yes, they were Presidents’ Trophy winners who were upset in the first round, but that’s where the similarities begin and end. The Red Wings had won the Stanley Cup in three of the previous eight seasons, while the Sharks have never come close to a Cup victory. Any comparison between the two franchises and their playoff struggles is ridiculous.
On Marleau and the captaincy:
“I’m a huge fan of Patrick Marleau, and it was a reflection on the rest of the group. Patty had a great season and he injured late in the year, so he played the first round of the playoffs with a knee brace for the first time in his career. I don’t think it’s as much a reflection on Patrick as it is on the team, and we’ll always put the team first.”
Wilson puts accountability aside a little bit, making some excuses for Marleau while sidestepping the captaincy issue, but there’s no need to turn over that hornet’s nest – not with the former captain playing so well and suiting up as the team’s only legitimate second-line player. As for the move being a reflection on the rest of the team, I fail to see how that really applies. Did they tune out Marleau? Did they not trust him? Was Blake just a better option?
On flipping the switch, like the team did Saturday night against the Islanders:
“The parity in this league is probably the highest level it’s ever been. Part of the learning curve is to be ready every night. Our guys have been here long enough; they know they can’t flip it on and off.”
The Sharks flipped it on pretty well Saturday night against the worst team in the league, which would seem to reinforce the belief that they can flip it on and off. Also, the Sharks have now allowed the first goal in six of their eight games, and those sluggish starts haven’t really caught up to them they way they should have, thanks to Evgeni Nabokov’s strong play. We’ll see if things change tonight against the Rangers, because this feels like lip service.
On the last five seasons:
“I’m very proud of what this group’s accomplished. Over the last five seasons, the only team that’s played more playoff rounds is the Detroit Red Wings. You have to climb that mountain.”
Once again, this is a far cry from Wilson’s offseason statement, “winning is the only thing that matters.” Obviously he’s trying to pump his own tires and beef up his own resume a little bit, but it’s hard to believe he actually takes any solace from that statement. Nobody with Cup aspirations cares how many playoff rounds a team has won over the last five seasons.
On the San Jose hockey market:
“I don’t think our fans would tolerate not making the playoffs for a year or two. So you do what you can to ice a competitive team for the fans, and for the players.”
I’m curious to see what would happen in San Jose if the Sharks did miss the playoffs, because I think we’ve already seen interest wane a little after last year’s collapse. I think a lot of fans are getting tired of the rhetoric and you can’t really blame them, not when the results remain the same. The Sharks might be treading into this territory already, but at what point does the goal become making the playoffs, rather than winning the Stanley Cup?
On Thomas Greiss:
“Thomas Greiss is an interesting guy. He led our team down in Worcester last year down the stretch and into the playoffs. He’ll by playing in the Olympics again this year, people forget he played against Canada in the Olympics, so he’s experienced beyond his years.”
Hradek: You’ve had a number of good goalies come through the system that you’ve had to move out because you can only play one.
“We think he’ll be one of those as well.”
Do Sharks fans care that Greiss is going to be one of the participants on an also-ran German Olympic team? Nope. They’d rather see him start for San Jose. Greiss has only made two career starts, and we’re still waiting for his first start of the season. Ultimately, his NHL performance holds a lot more significance than a 5-1 drubbing in 2006 at the hands of the Canadian Olympic team.
Overall, it was a good interview and touched on a lot of the issues that interest Shark fans. I’m not sure if the answers were all that compelling, but things could get a lot more interesting after tonight’s game against the Rangers.
***
During the SharksBuzz Postgame Show, I got the sense that the first period was bad enough to overshadow most of the good things the Sharks did during their 4-1 victory on Saturday night. It was the worst period we’ve seen from the Sharks this season, and it’s an encouraging sign that most people aren’t simply happy with the two points. It was a tale of two games, and I think the studs/duds reflect that.
Three Studs
3. Rob Blake - Blake did an outstanding job in the second and third periods, angling off the Islanders forwards along the wall and using his body to gain possession and make quick plays out of his own zone. He also led the team in blocked shots, which can’t be easy when you’re the oldest player on the team. Blake has really turned things around after a rough start.
2. Evgeni Nabokov - Once again, Nabokov held the Sharks in the game with his performance in the first period. The Islanders were buzzing, moving the puck with speed and driving to the net, but Nabokov displayed why he’s paid the big bucks. The Kings started backup goaltender Erik Ersberg against the Rangers during a 4-2 loss last week. Could Greiss get the nod tonight? I suppose he could. And monkeys could fly out of my butt.
1. Joe Thornton - Thornton simply took over the game with a couple of hustle plays and a booming shot. He made a nifty pass to Marleau for San Jose’s first goal, his forechecking freed up the puck for Ryan Vesce on the second goal, and he pounded the twine for the Sharks’ third goal. Where does the frustration come from? The fact he could do that every night if he wanted to.
Three Duds
3. Dan Boyle - He’s been a little loose with the puck this season, but Boyle looked sloppy during the first period and never really seemed to get his legs under him. There isn’t cause for concern, although you have to wonder when Boyle is going to develop some consistency and begin pouncing on the puck in the offensive zone. We haven’t seen it, or a strong defensive effort, yet.
2. Jed Ortmeyer - Shark fans seem to be split into two camps. There are those who occasionally see Ortmeyer forechecking and believe he’s a productive member of the team. Then there are those who have the good sense to realize he’s offensively inept and a defensive liability. He was slow collapsing on the Islanders’ power play goal, just as he was slow boxing out Ovechkin on his first goal Thursday night. It seems most nights you can pin a goal on Ortmeyer.
1. Ryane Clowe - Clowe has struggled so much this season, it’s impossible not to track him when he’s on the ice. I wouldn’t recommend it, because you won’t like what you see. Clowe has to battling injury, because he’s far too slow and hesitant to be playing at 100 percent health. At least I hope that’s the case, because the Mark Bell impersonation isn’t going to fly with Shark fans when he returns to HP Pavilion next week.
***
It’s going to be a good one tonight at Madison Square Garden, and we’ll break down all the action on the SharksBuzz Postgame Show after the final buzzer sounds. We’ll be broadcasting live at approximately 6:30 p.m., analyzing the plays, pops and pokes from the night’s marquee matchup and taking your calls at (724) 444-7444, talkcast ID# 74909.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
While tonight’s game will garner the attention of the entire league, and should help us determine whether the Sharks belong among the league's best, I was also interested in Doug Wilson’s appearance on NHL Live this morning. Wilson appeared in the Manhattan studio with the ebullient Deb Placey and the reticent E.J. Hradek, and I thought he provided much more thoughtful answers than we heard over the summer.
Maybe Wilson’s approach was different because he was speaking to a knowledgeable NHL audience rather than the ignoramuses on KNBR, but I thought he represented himself and the team pretty well. Of course, he didn’t say anything revealing, and we’ve heard most of it before, but you have to enjoy the confident, regular season Wilson much more than the vague, offseason Wilson. Here's a sampling from the interview.
On the season thus far:
“It’s kinda where we thought we would be, spending 9 of the first 12 games on the road.”
I’m not sure it’s even close to where the Sharks thought they would be, heading into tonight’s game as massive underdogs (currently, ESPN’s SFTC shows 94.8 percent of people betting on a Ranger victory). Playing their first eight games against five teams that didn’t make the playoffs, one that got swept in the first round, and two that didn’t make it out of the second round, I’m sure many were expecting much better than a 4-3-1 start.
On last year’s disappointment:
“We’ll never apologize for having high standards, high expectations. Last year was a little bit of a kick in the butt. Todd McLellan went through it in Detroit also.”
This is my one major complaint: Wilson has to stop bringing up Detroit’s first-round loss to Edmonton in 2006. Yes, they were Presidents’ Trophy winners who were upset in the first round, but that’s where the similarities begin and end. The Red Wings had won the Stanley Cup in three of the previous eight seasons, while the Sharks have never come close to a Cup victory. Any comparison between the two franchises and their playoff struggles is ridiculous.
On Marleau and the captaincy:
“I’m a huge fan of Patrick Marleau, and it was a reflection on the rest of the group. Patty had a great season and he injured late in the year, so he played the first round of the playoffs with a knee brace for the first time in his career. I don’t think it’s as much a reflection on Patrick as it is on the team, and we’ll always put the team first.”
Wilson puts accountability aside a little bit, making some excuses for Marleau while sidestepping the captaincy issue, but there’s no need to turn over that hornet’s nest – not with the former captain playing so well and suiting up as the team’s only legitimate second-line player. As for the move being a reflection on the rest of the team, I fail to see how that really applies. Did they tune out Marleau? Did they not trust him? Was Blake just a better option?
On flipping the switch, like the team did Saturday night against the Islanders:
“The parity in this league is probably the highest level it’s ever been. Part of the learning curve is to be ready every night. Our guys have been here long enough; they know they can’t flip it on and off.”
The Sharks flipped it on pretty well Saturday night against the worst team in the league, which would seem to reinforce the belief that they can flip it on and off. Also, the Sharks have now allowed the first goal in six of their eight games, and those sluggish starts haven’t really caught up to them they way they should have, thanks to Evgeni Nabokov’s strong play. We’ll see if things change tonight against the Rangers, because this feels like lip service.
On the last five seasons:
“I’m very proud of what this group’s accomplished. Over the last five seasons, the only team that’s played more playoff rounds is the Detroit Red Wings. You have to climb that mountain.”
Once again, this is a far cry from Wilson’s offseason statement, “winning is the only thing that matters.” Obviously he’s trying to pump his own tires and beef up his own resume a little bit, but it’s hard to believe he actually takes any solace from that statement. Nobody with Cup aspirations cares how many playoff rounds a team has won over the last five seasons.
On the San Jose hockey market:
“I don’t think our fans would tolerate not making the playoffs for a year or two. So you do what you can to ice a competitive team for the fans, and for the players.”
I’m curious to see what would happen in San Jose if the Sharks did miss the playoffs, because I think we’ve already seen interest wane a little after last year’s collapse. I think a lot of fans are getting tired of the rhetoric and you can’t really blame them, not when the results remain the same. The Sharks might be treading into this territory already, but at what point does the goal become making the playoffs, rather than winning the Stanley Cup?
On Thomas Greiss:
“Thomas Greiss is an interesting guy. He led our team down in Worcester last year down the stretch and into the playoffs. He’ll by playing in the Olympics again this year, people forget he played against Canada in the Olympics, so he’s experienced beyond his years.”
Hradek: You’ve had a number of good goalies come through the system that you’ve had to move out because you can only play one.
“We think he’ll be one of those as well.”
Do Sharks fans care that Greiss is going to be one of the participants on an also-ran German Olympic team? Nope. They’d rather see him start for San Jose. Greiss has only made two career starts, and we’re still waiting for his first start of the season. Ultimately, his NHL performance holds a lot more significance than a 5-1 drubbing in 2006 at the hands of the Canadian Olympic team.
Overall, it was a good interview and touched on a lot of the issues that interest Shark fans. I’m not sure if the answers were all that compelling, but things could get a lot more interesting after tonight’s game against the Rangers.
***
During the SharksBuzz Postgame Show, I got the sense that the first period was bad enough to overshadow most of the good things the Sharks did during their 4-1 victory on Saturday night. It was the worst period we’ve seen from the Sharks this season, and it’s an encouraging sign that most people aren’t simply happy with the two points. It was a tale of two games, and I think the studs/duds reflect that.
Three Studs
3. Rob Blake - Blake did an outstanding job in the second and third periods, angling off the Islanders forwards along the wall and using his body to gain possession and make quick plays out of his own zone. He also led the team in blocked shots, which can’t be easy when you’re the oldest player on the team. Blake has really turned things around after a rough start.
2. Evgeni Nabokov - Once again, Nabokov held the Sharks in the game with his performance in the first period. The Islanders were buzzing, moving the puck with speed and driving to the net, but Nabokov displayed why he’s paid the big bucks. The Kings started backup goaltender Erik Ersberg against the Rangers during a 4-2 loss last week. Could Greiss get the nod tonight? I suppose he could. And monkeys could fly out of my butt.
1. Joe Thornton - Thornton simply took over the game with a couple of hustle plays and a booming shot. He made a nifty pass to Marleau for San Jose’s first goal, his forechecking freed up the puck for Ryan Vesce on the second goal, and he pounded the twine for the Sharks’ third goal. Where does the frustration come from? The fact he could do that every night if he wanted to.
Three Duds
3. Dan Boyle - He’s been a little loose with the puck this season, but Boyle looked sloppy during the first period and never really seemed to get his legs under him. There isn’t cause for concern, although you have to wonder when Boyle is going to develop some consistency and begin pouncing on the puck in the offensive zone. We haven’t seen it, or a strong defensive effort, yet.
2. Jed Ortmeyer - Shark fans seem to be split into two camps. There are those who occasionally see Ortmeyer forechecking and believe he’s a productive member of the team. Then there are those who have the good sense to realize he’s offensively inept and a defensive liability. He was slow collapsing on the Islanders’ power play goal, just as he was slow boxing out Ovechkin on his first goal Thursday night. It seems most nights you can pin a goal on Ortmeyer.
1. Ryane Clowe - Clowe has struggled so much this season, it’s impossible not to track him when he’s on the ice. I wouldn’t recommend it, because you won’t like what you see. Clowe has to battling injury, because he’s far too slow and hesitant to be playing at 100 percent health. At least I hope that’s the case, because the Mark Bell impersonation isn’t going to fly with Shark fans when he returns to HP Pavilion next week.
***
It’s going to be a good one tonight at Madison Square Garden, and we’ll break down all the action on the SharksBuzz Postgame Show after the final buzzer sounds. We’ll be broadcasting live at approximately 6:30 p.m., analyzing the plays, pops and pokes from the night’s marquee matchup and taking your calls at (724) 444-7444, talkcast ID# 74909.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
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