Cam Gore: Defense was at a premium in Calgary

Is Clowe supposed to be back in the lineup after the all-star break or is it more serious than that?

Is Clowe supposed to be back in the lineup after the all-star break or is it more serious than that?
- AlexF

He's supposed to be back relatively soon after the break, but no official timetable is set. Burns could play their next game (January 31st).

Hey where's my buddy? He hasn't posted yet?!

Hey where's my buddy? He hasn't posted yet?!
- Sharks_12

Hush now, you are going to ruin it just like I did last time and he'll blame you if the Sharks lose their next game. Don't you get it?

Hush now, you are going to ruin it just like I did last time and he'll blame you if the Sharks lose their next game. Don't you get it?
- Aliaksandrhn

What did I ruin last time? Personally I find it funny how delusional he is. It's really not that hard to prove him wrong on pretty much everything he says. Relax though, he never posts after the Sharks win

What did I ruin last time? Personally I find it funny how delusional he is. It's really not that hard to prove him wrong on pretty much everything he says. Relax though, he never posts after the Sharks win
- Sharks_12

No, you didn't ruin anything, last time, I was the one who did. After the Sharks won I pointed out yet again that he never posts after the Sharks win. Then he showed up and posted. The Sharks lost their next game and he came here and blamed me for "ruining it", also told me that "Some people just don't get it". So now don't make the same mistake that I made last time or else if the Sharks lose to Columbus next Tuesday he'll blame YOU for ruining it.

No, you didn't ruin anything, last time, I was the one who did. After the Sharks won I pointed out yet again that he never posts after the Sharks win. Then he showed up and posted. The Sharks lost their next game and he came here and blamed me for "ruining it", also told me that "Some people just don't get it". So now don't make the same mistake that I made last time or else if the Sharks lose to Columbus next Tuesday he'll blame YOU for ruining it.
- Aliaksandrhn

Over the All-Srat break the Sharks need to refocus and regroup. Even though we've have an ok Canadian road trip overall, I think the team hasn't played all to well over the last 4 or 5 games. Also it's nice to have only one representative going to Ottawa so that most of the guys can get some much needed rest before the stretch run. A lot of games coming up in February and March.

Niittymaki on waivers... I really thought someone who want to acquire him via trade.

Some quotes from Nitti:

"I'm on waivers? Nobody told me anything or called me."

"It's not a surprise. There was some talk yesterday. I'm glad they did it and are trying to do something."

"I don't want to be in this organization at all anymore, nothing wrong with city. Glad they did it, hope somebody picks me up."

"I'm not the hottest name in market and my salary isn't on my side either. $2 million is big money for someone who hasn't played much."

Niittymaki on waivers... I really thought someone who want to acquire him via trade.
- Sharks_12

I was thinking the same thing.

I was thinking the same thing.
- FinAddict

The last pick in the draft for Nitty?

Take it or leave it

if by buddy you are referring to "sharks48" or whatever his name is he posted on csnbayarea site in Kevin Kurz article regarding nitty on waivers. Its pretty funny actually. He wants the team to trade Thornton......sounds familiar....

if by buddy you are referring to "sharks48" or whatever his name is he posted on csnbayarea site in Kevin Kurz article regarding nitty on waivers. Its pretty funny actually. He wants the team to trade Thornton......sounds familiar....
- jrod42085

I just read those. Pretty funny. Still going on and on about the same things. Disregarding the fact that despite currently being down Burns, Havlat and Clowe, we are 12 points ahead of the pace we were on last year at this time, the team that finished with a division title and a visit to the WFCs.

And as stipulated before... Havlat, who is currently injured was traded for Heatley, who was injured and completely ineffective during the last 2 playoff seasons.

Also Nitty, who he pretty much paints as a complete failure and waste of money... Was integral to us surviving the start of last season, a time during which Niemi struggled mightily.

I know right!! ^^^^

At this point calling Thornton a lazy player and a non playoff performer have both been debunked thanks to his play the last two playoffs...but that is his argument all the time..

Like you said the sharks are in a tough stretch dealing with some very key injuries to their lineup and continue to play. Nobody said they would go 82-0....


Sharks!!!!

I know right!! ^^^^

At this point calling Thornton a lazy player and a non playoff performer have both been debunked thanks to his play the last two playoffs...but that is his argument all the time..

Like you said the sharks are in a tough stretch dealing with some very key injuries to their lineup and continue to play. Nobody said they would go 82-0....


Sharks!!!!
- jrod42085

Yeah your right Joe Thornton FROM NHL> COM
Inproved in the playoffs

In 2009-10 he finished 341st out of 342 playoff players with a -11 and in
in 2010-11 He improved to 317th out of 339 players with a -5. So yeah considering there are only 300+ players better in plus/minus then yes I guess he improved a lot.

I know I made up that stats that are posted at NHL.com

And if I look at his scoring stats they were actually down last year compared to the season before. According to ESPN his production rating was 23.34 last year compared with 26.40 the year before.

And correct me if I am wrong, but Joe is on the top line and his primary function and that lines primary function is to score goals right?


In the series vs Vancouver last year Thornton did improve a little bit

He had 1 goal 5, Assists was a team high -3. the prior year in the Chicago Series
Joe Stood on his head

He had 0 goals, 1 Assist and a team high -5

So yes Joe is a big game performer.

Yeah your right Joe Thornton FROM NHL> COM
Inproved in the playoffs

In 2009-10 he finished 341st out of 342 playoff players with a -11 and in
in 2010-11 He improved to 317th out of 339 players with a -5. So yeah considering there are only 300+ players better in plus/minus then yes I guess he improved a lot.

I know I made up that stats that are posted at NHL.com

And if I look at his scoring stats they were actually down last year compared to the season before. According to ESPN his production rating was 23.34 last year compared with 26.40 the year before.

And correct me if I am wrong, but Joe is on the top line and his primary function and that lines primary function is to score goals right?


In the series vs Vancouver last year Thornton did improve a little bit

He had 1 goal 5, Assists was a team high -3. the prior year in the Chicago Series
Joe Stood on his head

He had 0 goals, 1 Assist and a team high -5

So yes Joe is a big game performer.
- Sharkfan48

Joe actually played pretty well in 2010-11. I would go as far to say that he was one of our best players. He was far from perfect as his defensive play was horrible (the biggest reason his +/- was so bad, especially compared to linemate Marleau's) but he did do a lot of good things. Two games through the third round he was leading the league in playoff points which is something I thought would never happen.

But I agree with you completely that he played badly in 2009-10. Why people gave him a free pass I have no idea. And now after his good year in 2010-11 people want to leave him alone. Marleau's had many great years and still gets questioned all the time, at least since Thornton arrived (people group in Marleau with Thornton's failures). But Joe has one very good year and all of the sudden he is off the hook? Totally unfair.

For the record I have never been opposed to trading Thornton for the right return.

Also Nitty, who he pretty much paints as a complete failure and waste of money... Was integral to us surviving the start of last season, a time during which Niemi struggled mightily.
- IntotheTeal

All of the 2010-11 this organization preached that when playoffs came around they'd go with the hot glove. Then SJ decided to give Niemi an extension (at the worst possible time, when his career was at his highest point) and that changed things. When Niemi stunk it up in the playoffs (one of the worst goalie performances in the playoffs I've ever seen) against LA and VAN, SJ still stuck with Niemi. When Niittymaki did see time in the playoffs last year he was excellent (don't forget the 4 goal comeback) but since the organization invested more in Niemi they had to play him.

I was a big Niittymaki fan. But his comments are inexcusable. No one in this league is guarenteed a spot. You have to earn it. He just comes off as a spoiled brat. It's not SJ's fault he got injured. And they gave him a conditioning stint but obviously they felt he didn't play well enough for us to keep him in the big leagues. If he thinks he was treated unfairly maybe he should talk to Thomas Greiss who was treated much worse than he was. Greiss never said a bad word about the organization but instead worked hard to earn his spot back. This organization (in this case) gave the spot to the player who earned it, not to the player with the biggest name or the biggest paycheque. I'm proud to cheer for an organization like that and if Niittymaki doesn't want to be a part of it then good riddance.

I still think we should have just gone with Greiss-Stalock in 2010-11 and used that cap money on depth instead.

Doug Wilson assured the media that he told Niittymaki's agent he was going to be waved and that the agent told the player. Niittymaki's full of it.

Doug Wilson assured the media that he told Niittymaki's agent he was going to be waved and that the agent told the player. Niittymaki's full of it.
- Sharks_12

The same way he assured Setoguchi that he would not get traded the day after he signed his contract right.

As the Deadline approaches I don't expect much more then an over rated average 3rd line grinder, but I can hope. Here is my list wish list.


1. Zach Parise
2. Rick Nash
3. Erik Staal
4. Cory Sarich
5. Jeff Carter
6. Bobby Ryan
7. Tummo Ruutu
8. Ryan Suter

But my guess is we settle for something more like this

1. J. Hecht
2. Bryan Allen
3. Tim Gleasaon
4. Pavel Kubina
5. Dominic Moore
6. Kristen Huselus

The same way he assured Setoguchi that he would not get traded the day after he signed his contract right.
- Sharkfan48

As the Deadline approaches I don't expect much more then an over rated average 3rd line grinder, but I can hope. Here is my list wish list.


1. Zach Parise
2. Rick Nash
3. Erik Staal
4. Cory Sarich
5. Jeff Carter
6. Tummo Ruutu

But my guess is we settle for something more like this

1. J. Hecht
2. Bryan Allen
3. Tim Gleasaon
4. Pavel Kubina
5. Dominic Moore
- Sharkfan48

In order to bring in Rick Nash Wilson will most likely have to trade either Thornton or Marleau. You know it and I know it, this is just not going to happen.

As the Deadline approaches I don't expect much more then an over rated average 3rd line grinder, but I can hope. Here is my list wish list.


1. Zach Parise
2. Rick Nash
3. Erik Staal
4. Cory Sarich
5. Jeff Carter
6. Tummo Ruutu

But my guess is we settle for something more like this

1. J. Hecht
2. Bryan Allen
3. Tim Gleasaon
4. Pavel Kubina
5. Dominic Moore
- Sharkfan48

Out of curiosity, what do you propose we could realistically give up for these guys? Considering you are always on DW for overpaying/mismanaging prospects , especially at the trade deadline, I figured your trade targets might be more down to Earth. I feel that at this point we need to hold onto our first rounders to restock our average-at-best pool of prospects.

Parise though