|
|
Bloggers 
My HockeyBuzz
Cap Central
Fantasy
Rumor Chart
Forums
Store
Chat
RSS
|
Season Ticket Login Free Registration! |
Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 |
 |
|
San Jose Sharks Blogger •
The 23 game mark has never been as celebrated as it will be today. No teasing, no foreplay, no preamble about my high school English teacher with the big head and drinking problem, just 23 thoughts on the San Jose Sharks after 23 games.
1. Bummed about last night’s 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators? Blame it on the penalty kill, which allowed two goals on four opportunities. It was a rare off night for the ultra-aggressive San Jose PK, dropping to second overall in the league (86%).
2. The jury is still out on Thomas Greiss, who’s the best goaltender to come out of Germany now that Olaf Kolzig has retired. Of course, that’s a little like being the hottest woman at a leper convention. At least he’s seeing semi-regular playing time and avoiding blowout losses.
3. Here’s an interesting stat and a continuation of San Jose’s woes from last season. So far this season, as of today’s standings, the Sharks are 8-4-4 (.500) against playoff teams and 6-1 (.857) against non-playoff teams. Once again, only playoff teams will make the playoffs this season.
4. The second line has had some bizarre patterns this season. Patrick Marleau had 17 points in his first 13 games, while linemate Ryane Clowe had two points over the same stretch. Joe Pavelski has six points in six games since returning from injury, but Marleau has three points during that span.
5. Is anyone else concerned about recurring injuries in San Jose? We’re still waiting for Torrey Mitchell’s full-time return over 14 months after the initial injury, Devin Setoguchi is back on the shelf, and so many recovery deadlines have been missed that the team doesn’t even mention them any more.
6. Speaking of injuries, does anyone have an update on Rob Blake? His injury is the reason teams don’t offer big money contracts to players at the end of their careers. Blake is one of four NHL players older than 37 years old who have a cap hit over $3 million. The other three (Modano: $3.45, Brind’Amour: $3.6, Lidstrom: $7.45) are Hall of Famers who have each captained their current teams to Stanley Cups.
7. The Sharks are going to sink or swim depending on the performance of Evgeni Nabokov, who has been outstanding through the first 23 games. He’s helped cover up a lot of holes in the San Jose defense and you have to consider him the team MVP at this point, overshadowing the performances of Thornton, Marleau, Heatley and Boyle.
8. Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Joe Thornton and Ryane Clowe combined for 155 goals last season. Ryan Vesce has scored 154 goals (three NHL tallies) during the last 10 seasons, dating back to his freshman year at Cornell, yet he was chosen over each of them in the shootout against Dallas last week. Todd McLellan needs to give his head a shake.
9. TSN reports that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are working on five-year contract extensions that would pay them over $6 million per year. Kane had five more points (70) and six fewer goals (25) than Setoguchi last season. Toews had 10 more points (69) and 9 more goals (34) than Pavelski last season. The Sharks duo might not combine for $12 million, but don’t be surprised to see them top the $10 million mark.
10. How’s the Heatley trade working out for everybody? The San Jose sniper has 14 goals and 23 points in 23 games, and he’s on pace for exactly 50 goals. The Ottawa duo doesn’t have as many goals or points combined in fewer games. Milan Michalek has eight goals and 11 points through 18 games, while Jonathan Cheechoo has one goal and two assists.
11. It was a familiar sight last week, watching Jonathan Cheechoo notch his first goal of the season to snap a 14-game drought. Of course, the former Richard Trophy winner claimed after he got his first one things would start rolling, but how has he performed in the three games since then? Zero goals, zero assists, zero points and a -5 plus-minus.
12. There’s been some debate whether this year’s Sharks team is better than last year’s, and my immediate answer is no way, are you painting-with-feces crazy? The biggest reason is depth, especially on defense. The Sharks are one more blueliner away from starting Joe Callahan, who doesn’t belong in the NHL on any team, much less a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
13. To go one step further, this year’s team isn’t any better than the 2007-08 version, which might go down in the history books as the Sharks team that had the best shot at a Stanley Cup. There’s a full screed on this coming down the road, but imagine if the Sharks still had Bernier, Michalek, Rivet, Carle, Ehrhoff and a couple first-round picks at a smaller, more flexible price tag than the current one? Incredible, I know.
14. You have to wonder what the future holds for Jody Shelley, a goon who’s playing out the last couple years of his career. He’s one of the last truly one-dimensional players in the league, an old-fashioned policeman who’s seen a lot of changes since he came into the league 10 years ago. Hopefully he’s back in the lineup soon, adding to his surging point total (he’s on pace for a career high) and keeping people in check.
15. The reports coming out of Worcester about Torrey Mitchell aren’t very encouraging. You knew it was going to take a while for him to get back into game shape and return to the level of play we saw during his rookie season, but there are some concerns that he might not ever be the same player he once was. Everyone’s hoping for the best, although it makes his three-year, $4.1 million contract even more baffling.
16. Looking at the numbers, it’s awfully tough to keep any of the Sharks candidates (Thornton, Marleau, Heatley, Boyle) off Team Canada. The forwards are third, fourth and ninth in NHL scoring, while Boyle is second in defenseman scoring. However, Steve Yzerman has been scouting players for over a year and there aren’t enough spots for all the talent. My guess is that Marleau will be the odd man out on New Year’s Eve.
17. As for other Sharks at the Olympics, I think Nabokov, Greiss and Pavelski are locks for the Russian, German and American teams. Douglas Murray is in the running for Sweden, but I can think of seven defensemen (Lidstrom, Hedman, Hjalmarsson, Kronwall, Ohlund, Edler, Enstrom) off the top of my head that I’d rather have suiting up along the blueline. However, Murray would be at the top of my list for the skate-into-him-and-bounce-off competition.
18. The lone Sharks player is horribly overpaid and inconsistent, but the Moen-Huskins for Bonino-Pielmeier trade doesn’t look terrible today. Nick Bonino has two points in four games playing his junior season at Boston University, while Timo Pielmeier has a 3.20 GAA and .882 save percentage in nine games for the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL.
19. The was an interesting article in Sports Business Journal recently, with Sharks co-owner Kevin Compton calling the Phoenix Coyotes saga a joke and claiming the NHL needs Jim Balsillie as an owner. While I wholeheartedly agree with him Compton is little late to the party on this one, and it’s disappointing he wasn’t more vocal during a time when his opinion could have carried some clout.
20. Am I the only one who feels that Thornton’s play and production have been a little disappointing this season? Not bad, but not good enough, because this is a superstar who won the Hart and Art Ross playing next to a guy who’s still searching for two goals after 18 games. Everybody, Thornton included, should expect another scoring championship. Anything less is going to be a result of his effort falling well short of his enormous talent.
21. Dan Rusanowsky had an interesting note the other night, pointing out the Nashville game would be unavailable on 92.1 FM in Concord/Walnut Creek “due to other programming commitments.” Those other programming commitments must have been crappy rock music from the early 90s that 92.1 FM plays during every Sharks broadcast. Honestly, I haven’t heard a single game on 92.1 FM this season, despite the promise it would serve Shark fans in the Concord/Walnut Creek area.
22. Circle the following dates on your calendar, because each one should be a barn burner down at HP Pavilion: Nov. 20 vs. Flyers, Nov. 25 vs. Blackhawks, Dec. 9 vs. Kings, Dec. 30 vs. Capitals. Each game should provide a good test and help us figure out if the Sharks have what it takes to compete against playoff teams.
23. After all that, are you still disappointed in last night’s loss to the Predators? Put a smile on your face. The Warriors are in complete shambles, the Raiders are looking to Bruce Gradkowski to pull them out of oblivion, the 49ers keep going back to an unreliable Alex Smith, and the Kings are going to be playing in Las Vegas two years from now.
Meanwhile, the Sharks are the best team in the NHL, with star players at each position and another playoff appearance waiting for them. That’s not even remotely in doubt, unlike most teams in the area, who are hoping to return to the postseason after long stretches of futility. See, no teasing, foreplay or preamble, but you still ended up satisfied.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
1. Bummed about last night’s 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators? Blame it on the penalty kill, which allowed two goals on four opportunities. It was a rare off night for the ultra-aggressive San Jose PK, dropping to second overall in the league (86%).
2. The jury is still out on Thomas Greiss, who’s the best goaltender to come out of Germany now that Olaf Kolzig has retired. Of course, that’s a little like being the hottest woman at a leper convention. At least he’s seeing semi-regular playing time and avoiding blowout losses.
3. Here’s an interesting stat and a continuation of San Jose’s woes from last season. So far this season, as of today’s standings, the Sharks are 8-4-4 (.500) against playoff teams and 6-1 (.857) against non-playoff teams. Once again, only playoff teams will make the playoffs this season.
4. The second line has had some bizarre patterns this season. Patrick Marleau had 17 points in his first 13 games, while linemate Ryane Clowe had two points over the same stretch. Joe Pavelski has six points in six games since returning from injury, but Marleau has three points during that span.
5. Is anyone else concerned about recurring injuries in San Jose? We’re still waiting for Torrey Mitchell’s full-time return over 14 months after the initial injury, Devin Setoguchi is back on the shelf, and so many recovery deadlines have been missed that the team doesn’t even mention them any more.
6. Speaking of injuries, does anyone have an update on Rob Blake? His injury is the reason teams don’t offer big money contracts to players at the end of their careers. Blake is one of four NHL players older than 37 years old who have a cap hit over $3 million. The other three (Modano: $3.45, Brind’Amour: $3.6, Lidstrom: $7.45) are Hall of Famers who have each captained their current teams to Stanley Cups.
7. The Sharks are going to sink or swim depending on the performance of Evgeni Nabokov, who has been outstanding through the first 23 games. He’s helped cover up a lot of holes in the San Jose defense and you have to consider him the team MVP at this point, overshadowing the performances of Thornton, Marleau, Heatley and Boyle.
8. Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Joe Thornton and Ryane Clowe combined for 155 goals last season. Ryan Vesce has scored 154 goals (three NHL tallies) during the last 10 seasons, dating back to his freshman year at Cornell, yet he was chosen over each of them in the shootout against Dallas last week. Todd McLellan needs to give his head a shake.
9. TSN reports that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are working on five-year contract extensions that would pay them over $6 million per year. Kane had five more points (70) and six fewer goals (25) than Setoguchi last season. Toews had 10 more points (69) and 9 more goals (34) than Pavelski last season. The Sharks duo might not combine for $12 million, but don’t be surprised to see them top the $10 million mark.
10. How’s the Heatley trade working out for everybody? The San Jose sniper has 14 goals and 23 points in 23 games, and he’s on pace for exactly 50 goals. The Ottawa duo doesn’t have as many goals or points combined in fewer games. Milan Michalek has eight goals and 11 points through 18 games, while Jonathan Cheechoo has one goal and two assists.
11. It was a familiar sight last week, watching Jonathan Cheechoo notch his first goal of the season to snap a 14-game drought. Of course, the former Richard Trophy winner claimed after he got his first one things would start rolling, but how has he performed in the three games since then? Zero goals, zero assists, zero points and a -5 plus-minus.
12. There’s been some debate whether this year’s Sharks team is better than last year’s, and my immediate answer is no way, are you painting-with-feces crazy? The biggest reason is depth, especially on defense. The Sharks are one more blueliner away from starting Joe Callahan, who doesn’t belong in the NHL on any team, much less a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
13. To go one step further, this year’s team isn’t any better than the 2007-08 version, which might go down in the history books as the Sharks team that had the best shot at a Stanley Cup. There’s a full screed on this coming down the road, but imagine if the Sharks still had Bernier, Michalek, Rivet, Carle, Ehrhoff and a couple first-round picks at a smaller, more flexible price tag than the current one? Incredible, I know.
14. You have to wonder what the future holds for Jody Shelley, a goon who’s playing out the last couple years of his career. He’s one of the last truly one-dimensional players in the league, an old-fashioned policeman who’s seen a lot of changes since he came into the league 10 years ago. Hopefully he’s back in the lineup soon, adding to his surging point total (he’s on pace for a career high) and keeping people in check.
15. The reports coming out of Worcester about Torrey Mitchell aren’t very encouraging. You knew it was going to take a while for him to get back into game shape and return to the level of play we saw during his rookie season, but there are some concerns that he might not ever be the same player he once was. Everyone’s hoping for the best, although it makes his three-year, $4.1 million contract even more baffling.
16. Looking at the numbers, it’s awfully tough to keep any of the Sharks candidates (Thornton, Marleau, Heatley, Boyle) off Team Canada. The forwards are third, fourth and ninth in NHL scoring, while Boyle is second in defenseman scoring. However, Steve Yzerman has been scouting players for over a year and there aren’t enough spots for all the talent. My guess is that Marleau will be the odd man out on New Year’s Eve.
17. As for other Sharks at the Olympics, I think Nabokov, Greiss and Pavelski are locks for the Russian, German and American teams. Douglas Murray is in the running for Sweden, but I can think of seven defensemen (Lidstrom, Hedman, Hjalmarsson, Kronwall, Ohlund, Edler, Enstrom) off the top of my head that I’d rather have suiting up along the blueline. However, Murray would be at the top of my list for the skate-into-him-and-bounce-off competition.
18. The lone Sharks player is horribly overpaid and inconsistent, but the Moen-Huskins for Bonino-Pielmeier trade doesn’t look terrible today. Nick Bonino has two points in four games playing his junior season at Boston University, while Timo Pielmeier has a 3.20 GAA and .882 save percentage in nine games for the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL.
19. The was an interesting article in Sports Business Journal recently, with Sharks co-owner Kevin Compton calling the Phoenix Coyotes saga a joke and claiming the NHL needs Jim Balsillie as an owner. While I wholeheartedly agree with him Compton is little late to the party on this one, and it’s disappointing he wasn’t more vocal during a time when his opinion could have carried some clout.
20. Am I the only one who feels that Thornton’s play and production have been a little disappointing this season? Not bad, but not good enough, because this is a superstar who won the Hart and Art Ross playing next to a guy who’s still searching for two goals after 18 games. Everybody, Thornton included, should expect another scoring championship. Anything less is going to be a result of his effort falling well short of his enormous talent.
21. Dan Rusanowsky had an interesting note the other night, pointing out the Nashville game would be unavailable on 92.1 FM in Concord/Walnut Creek “due to other programming commitments.” Those other programming commitments must have been crappy rock music from the early 90s that 92.1 FM plays during every Sharks broadcast. Honestly, I haven’t heard a single game on 92.1 FM this season, despite the promise it would serve Shark fans in the Concord/Walnut Creek area.
22. Circle the following dates on your calendar, because each one should be a barn burner down at HP Pavilion: Nov. 20 vs. Flyers, Nov. 25 vs. Blackhawks, Dec. 9 vs. Kings, Dec. 30 vs. Capitals. Each game should provide a good test and help us figure out if the Sharks have what it takes to compete against playoff teams.
23. After all that, are you still disappointed in last night’s loss to the Predators? Put a smile on your face. The Warriors are in complete shambles, the Raiders are looking to Bruce Gradkowski to pull them out of oblivion, the 49ers keep going back to an unreliable Alex Smith, and the Kings are going to be playing in Las Vegas two years from now.
Meanwhile, the Sharks are the best team in the NHL, with star players at each position and another playoff appearance waiting for them. That’s not even remotely in doubt, unlike most teams in the area, who are hoping to return to the postseason after long stretches of futility. See, no teasing, foreplay or preamble, but you still ended up satisfied.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
Join the Discussion:
More from Ryan Garner
 |
 |