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Distractions Mounting: Sharks Rumored To Be In Stadium Series Documentary

September 16, 2014, 2:39 PM ET [15 Comments]
Tim Chiasson
San Jose Sharks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
As if the San Jose Sharks needed any more distractions heading into the 2014-15 NHL season.

ESPN's Scott Burnside reported that later this month there will be an announcement made regarding the continuation of the reality television series that leads up to the Winter Classic and the addition of one for the Stadium Series, which will feature the Sharks. Although it won’t be HBO it will be just as much of a distraction. Hopefully it won't feature Marleau/Thornton/Wilson discussing trade options and waiving their NMC as the NHL's version of 'The Decision'.

With the 3-0 collapse still fresh on their minds, the endless trade rumors involving Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau that have stayed on the front burner since the NHL Draft, the stripping of the captaincy from the same two and now this, a reality TV series, the Sharks mental toughness is going to be tested. All of this is aside from the fact that the Sharks open the season playing 16 of the first 21 games away from home.

This season will provide the Sharks with more attention than they've ever had since their inception into the NHL and how they handle that will have a direct result on their season. No longer lost in South Western USA, the Sharks will be brought to television screens across the continent and with that comes pressure, internal and external. The quiet refuge that Thornton and Marleau have enjoyed is being torn apart which will take them out of their comfort zone, all the while reading about where they may be headed via trade almost daily.

October is going to be crucial to the Sharks season. If they can’t figure out a way to win on the road, and often, as well as put any and all distractions aside it’s going to be a long season. Whoever ends up wearing the letters for San Jose will have their hands full early on and will be responsible for keeping the club grounded each game, keeping everyone focused on what’s happening inside the 200x85 oval and forgetting about everything else.

A losing streak here, a random news article there isn't much in the way of adversity. The Sharks haven’t even had to deal with injury adversity, really, with their core group of players a generally healthy bunch. Should the Sharks survive October-to-Mid-November, maintain a playoff position and continue their regular season success this experience might just be a hardening one they could use to their advantage during the playoffs.

Maybe this isn't the Sharks equivalent of the apocalypse. Maybe going from zero pressure to a sauna-like sweat under a microscope is exactly what they need to come together as a group and push them further than they have in the past. When you push everything else away this is still the same team that finished with 111 points last season and there is nothing to suggest they can't go over 100 again this year if they can keep their focus on the ice.

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