Maybe Holmstrom Won't Be As Effective?

To be sure the NHL and, more importantly, the on-ice officials will be
watching him.

http://m.tsn.ca/site?t=sXxXWAvmarqzUDASWBMJiA&sid=tsn

It's about time! Go Yotes!!

Sent from my iPhone

Pete's First Round Round-Up!

First off, I just want to revisit last week's big post and my predictions for the playoff shakedown:
"My projected final week results:

Nsh v: @Phx (L)  STL (w)  (+2 pts)

Det v:  CLS (w)  @ CLS (w)  @ CHI (w) (+6 pts)

LA v: @Anh (w) PHO (L) EDM (w) @Col (L) (+4 pts)

Col v: @ Van (L) @ Edm (w) CHI (w) LA (w)  (+6 pts)

which leaves us with these standings in the bottom half:

(5) Detroit  102 pts

(6) Nashville 100 pts

(7) Los Angeles 99 pts

(8) Colorado 97 pts "

The games I got wrong were:

(1) Nashville's second game, which they lost to STL in a shootout

(2) LA's loss to Edmonton and victory over Colorado (still got the right record)

(3) Colorado went 1-3, winning every game I said they'd lose and losing the game I'd said they'd win.  Stayed in 8th place.

In all, the only noticeable difference is that the current seedings have LA and Nashville flopped in the six and seven slots, whereas I had them in opposites.  No biggie.  But, I called it, the Sharks are facing the Avs.  I leave my prediction at a four game sweep. 

Why the four game sweep?  The Sharks have a roster front to back and are playing better hockey than the Avs are.  The Sharks are not going to be pushed around or outscored by the Avalanche, period.  The Avs D is not talented or experienced enough to keep the Shark's treasure trove of offensive depth off the board for very long, and the early season heroics of Craig Anderson have given way to the late season exhaustion of a fatigued and very tired goaltender.  The Avs pretty much played their best game of the season (in terms of playoff hockey, not offensive output) against the Sharks last week and even when the Avs were at their most desperate and dangerous the Sharks still tied them at 4-4 with very few shots on goal. There is just no way they lose to the Avs.  So, why four games? I think the Sharks are going to win both games at home against the Avs, and that once the Avs bend they will snap, breaking off and losing it all.  Most pundits have the Sharks in five games.  I say nay!  The Sharks have been playing close to playoff hockey for a couple weeks now and this is the series where they find their feet and play real playoff hockey.  Why lose one when you can close them out in four games.  The Sharks will.

Predictions (my favorite part)

Most Goals: Dany Heatley, 4.

Most Assists: Joe Thornton, 4.

Most Points: Dany Heatley, 6.

Most Outstanding Open Ice Hit:  Scott Nichol, in Game 2, second period.

Most Surprising Sharks: Torrey Mitchell. I bet two goals in a four game series and outstanding forechecking.

Biggest Goat:  Devin Setoguchi, where are you?

Nabby Plays...?: Pretty well.  No easy five hole goals this time around.  Maybe even gets a shutout on the road.

Guy Who Will Need to Step It Up in the Next Round:  We're all looking at you, Patty.  Time to shine, superstar.

Demers, 7th D or Rob Davison's spot in the box?:  Seventh D.  Look for the Sharks to keep Stauby in the press box rather than the penalty box as they use the extra minutes to get Demers some skating time and keep him fresh for the power play.

More later, as I think of them.

Greg's Game One Prediction

Before I write my preview of the Avs series, I wanted to take a second to post Greg's game one prediction. Because he is too busy to write it all out, the perfectionist that he is, here is our chat transcript of it:
BEGIN:

Greg: busy day, but i'll see what i can do

10:55 AM important question: do the sharks have their standard sleepy 1-2 periods after a multi-day break and thus donk off game 1

 me: no, i think they come out flying

10:56 AM and put up 2 goals in the first period

 Greg: thereby magnifying all of the critics' volumes 10-fold

 me: one on the power play

 Greg: i disagree

  i predict they go down 2-0

  wake up halfway through the second

  get one before the second intermission

  then get 2 in the third and hold on for a 3-2 victory

10:57 AM they tie it like 5 minutes into the third

  take the lead with about 7minutes left

10:58 AM then make us all shit our pants as they try to play prevent against a fast team for 7 minutes

  nabby comes up big

  avs hit a post with like 3 min left

  there are more terrifying plays around our net in the waning moments

  but we hold on

11:00 AM me: I am posting that as your game one prediction.

11:01 AM Greg: yeah i guess i just did it right there

Go Sharks!!

Fear The Fin Chimes In Too...

A much more widely circulated blog, fear the fin had similar thoughts as me today!

FTF: Playoff Pick your poision

Sharks Playoff Matchup Outlook:

I have a need to be first.  In fact, that's basically why this blog exists.  I have an online record of my thoughts on the Sharks and sports so when challenged, I can tell people that not only did I call it, but I called it months ago.  I am obsessed with myself, I know.

This is the Sharks playoff outlook:

As it stands now these are the matchups:

1.  Sharks v. 8. Avs

2.  Hawks v. 7. Kings

3.  Canucks v. 6. Wings

4.  Yotes  v.  5.  Predators

But this is not where teams will end up, most likely.  Why?  First off, some teams (LA, COL) are backing into the post-season with significant slides while others, the Wings, are absolutely on fire as they charge towards the first round.  Secondly, some teams have played more games than others and some teams have ridiculously easy schedules remaining while others have very hard ones.

My projected final week results:

Nsh v: @Phx (L)  STL (w)  (+2 pts)

Det v:  CLS (w)  @ CLS (w)  @ CHI (w) (+6 pts)

LA v: @Anh (w) PHO (L) EDM (w) @Col (L) (+4 pts)

Col v: @ Van (L) @ Edm (w) CHI (w) LA (w)  (+6 pts)

which leaves us with these standings in the bottom half:

(5) Detroit  102 pts

(6) Nashville 100 pts

(7) Los Angeles 99 pts

(8) Colorado 97 pts

If we take these as the baseline predictions, we can highlight the really big games for these teams.  Note, the Sharks have a magic number of 2 points to clinch the first seed, so the Phoenix results don't really affect the Sharks in the first round.

I am taking it as a given that the scorching wings will win out and, frankly, barring a terrible game against the Blue Jackets, I don't see how they do not pull that out.

If Nashville can manage to beat Phoenix (which they might be able to) they could pull off a tie with the Wings for fifth place.  The first tiebreaker is overall wins and the Predators have a distinct advantage over the Wings, giving Nashville fifth place.  

If LA can win just one more game, they will overtake Nashville for sixth place and face the Canucks in the first round instead of the Blackhawks. This is a worthy reward.

Interesting scenario:  If COL wins out and LA loses two games, the last game of the season for each team is a game in Colorado.  In this scenario, the winner of the game would face Chicago and the loser would face the Sharks.  Why?  Because if Colorado wins two more games than LA, they would have equal points and equal victories.  The last tiebreaker is points head to head.  As it stands, LA has a 4-3 point lead against Colorado.  So, what happens in the case of Colorado winning in the shootout?  The final tiebreaker is goal differential, which LA has a seven goal advantage over COL with.  

Finally, yes, I am taking it for granted that the Flames are basically buried by the Sharks tomorrow night and Vancouver shortly thereafter.

So, if you're a Sharks fan, I'd expect to see Colorado in the first round:

1. Sharks v. 8. Avs

2. Hawks v. 7. Kings

3. Canucks v. 6. Nashville

4. Yotes v. 5. Wings

Predictions:

Sharks over Avs (4-0)

Hawks over Kings (4-2)

Nashville over Canucks (4-2)

Yotes over Wings (4-3)

Reseed: 

Sharks v. Nashville

Hawks v. Yotes

Winners: 

Sharks (4-2)

Yotes (4-3)

Sharks v Yotes

Winner: Sharks (4-2)

This is, after all, a Sharks blog.

Not a bad path to the playoffs for the boys in Teal.

Thoughts??

O' Mama, where to start?

First off, I'd like to give myself a hearty welcome back and, while I am at it, I'll give you one, too.  Things have been quiet around the Meows lately.  For one reason (taking time off to mend your soul post break-up), or another (laziness), there haven't been many postings about the past eight weeks' drama.  To be sure of what we have missed, I'll briefly recap from memory in order of importance:

-  The Sharks have, at times, really sucked out there against more focused and ready opponents.  At one point, they lost six straight.  At no point during that streak did they look at all dangerous yet it is funny to note that the Sharks actually had better statistical nights than their opponents.  Ba! Do not look at Nabokov like that!  It was not just him stinking up the joint, it took a whole team effort to play that poorly defensively.  If I had the time, I'd go back on to the the Mercury News site and dig up some of quotes from that time streak.  Either you can do it on your own or you can just believe me.  How to read this slide is the question that only hindsight can bring clarity to.  The jackals have started prancing around the desert, proclaiming that the Sharks April follies have hit hard a month early this year and its time to say "That's all, folks!"  Others say that the Sharks March slump is a benefit because it provides the Sharks with time to right the ship and play strong, solid hockey through adversity

-  Joe Thornton FINALLY took some time off, albeit involuntarily.  I missed this game last week while I was in transit, so it was fitting that I got this news almost immediately after one of the members of the Meownation lost a couple hundred dollars at the craps table.  Depending on how you look at this injury it is either a catastrophic harbinger of playoff failure or a serendipitous panacea for the Sharks playoffs ails.  Does Joe need time off in general, or did this ankle injury cripple his chances for playing well in the playoffs?  To be sure, I have not seen him play since the ankle injury, so I have no way of knowing yet.  Intuitively, I am going with the latter.  I think a break is exactly what Thornton needed to heal his game.  He is a big boy and for his size he is most aptly compared to a Western-Pacific Freight Train, constantly hauling cargo (the Sharks) forward through the NHL season, year after year.  Like a train, Joe needed to sit down for a bit and rest the motor.  As we so often grow accustomed to Joe's decreased performances at the end of the season, it is helpful to remember just how quick a skater Joe is and how dominant his performances are for the first quarter of the season.  As I always tell my friends, you can tell what kind of game he is going to have in the first ten minutes by judging the pace with which he moves his legs up the rink.  Hopefully, this break will allow him to return with some of the early-season giddyup.

-  The Sharks called up Logan Couture.  Hallelujah!  Echoing the hopes I've expressed all season for the playoffs, the thought of Logan Couture on the fourth line instead of Brad Staubitz has now become a reality.  I love this for two reasons: (1) benching Staubitz in the playoffs is a must.  He is a penalty machine with almost zero discipline, (2) Couture is dangerous on the rink and can flat out play.  Calling up Logan Couture is analogous to a decent trade deadline deal because the player adds depth to the roster immediately without affecting the top six or the power play.  His play over the past 10 days has proven that he is NHL ready and that he can be capable if not near-dominant at times during the game.  As Doug Wilson has said, the NHL is a young man's game and Logan Couture (just turned 21 this week) is certainly that.  Logan looks to help the Sharks with his speed, movement off the puck, and his stick handling.  He has played well at both winger and center and should be helpful to the Sharks as he helps us in the playoffs.

-  The Sharks called up Jason Demers to be the seventh/eighth D.  I like this move to keep Demers on the ice during the playoffs as the sixth or seventh D.  We all know that Rob Blake needs time to take a seat 5 on 5, and that his quality of play descends as his amount of ice time accumulates.  Adding the young and speedy Demers changes the character of the Sharks d-corps by providing a speedy, moving pivot that looks to zing the puck up the ice and change zones immediately.  He is youthful and, lord knows, he is going to make mistakes that will end up in the back of our net but the help he provides on the power play and, yes, at even strength are strong enough assets to have earned him playoff ice time.  I would expect that TM will play blake 5 on 5 predominantly and then mix in Demers if the Sharks took the lead, as well as playing opposite Blake or Boyle on the point during the power play.  At the bare minimum: We have to face it, having Pavelski on the point for a power play just does not work for the Sharks and it's worth Staubitz's ice time to have Demers on the roster.

-  Jed Ortmeyer....have you seen him?  Neither have I.

-  Ryan Clowe has emerged, once again, as a player who gets bored during the regular season and emerges to shine later in the year.  I said time and time again, DW would not trade Ryan Clowe mid-season because Clowe is a late season/ post-season player who is important for the Sharks.  I don't like to count on him because he is an important supplemental player who can make a good team better.  I am, though, glad to see the old Ry-no is back.

-  Nabby has struggled pretty solidly since his return from the Olympics.  This would seem to be at the top of the list, right?  Wrong.  If there was every a position in sports that can change directions on a dime, it is goaltending in hockey.  How Nabby plays during the playoffs is something that will be at the top of this list.  Until then, we have no idea how he is going to play.  As such, his current play stays down here until it's time to measure the important aspects of his game: post-season performance.

Sharks Deadline Must Read

Fear the Fin- Flying on Planes with Doug Wilson

A must read.  The guys at FTF continue to do a great job.

Stupid Unpleasant Reality...

Allow me to make a splash with my first post by presenting an unpleasant and probably undesired opinion: Joe Thornton's disappearing act in the Vancouver Olympics casts a very dark shadow over the Sharks' playoff hopes this season.

Already apologists are making excuses, claiming that he's playing hurt or that his turnovers are down or that he's playing better defensively or, most comically, that the creation of a "third-assist" stat would vindicate his play. As usual, though, the numbers don't lie. Big Joe's single goal, single assist and minus-1 rating for the tournament were the second worst among Team Canada's forwards, as he and Patrice Bergeron were the only players to sport a negative plus-minus. The team, it should be noted, was plus-19 for the tournament. Thornton somehow managed this feat even as his regular wingers, with whom he should have had the best chemistry of any center on Team Canada, put up completely respectable numbers.

Jumbo has always been accused of being a no-show in the clutch, and until now I always looked for reasons to argue against that opinion. Sadly last spring's playoffs combined with the last two weeks have swung me to the dark (and also correct) side. Two points in 7 games of near-playoff importance is almost as unclutch as it gets.

Thus in a couple of months we shall come upon yet another chance for Big Joe to redeem himself. I personally think it should be his last with the Sharks if that redemption does not occur. As many have discussed there will be some very difficult decisions to be made with numerous key Sharks needing to be re-signed in the coming offseason. The amount of cap space available for this task will be minimal, and thus every player's "bang-for-your-buck" factor will have to be scrutinized. Up until now Thornton has been considered by most to be untradeable, and his admittedly impressive regular season production has supported that viewpoint.

That regular season production of 1.02 ppg, however, drops to 0.7 ppg in the playoffs. This coupled with his failure to take it to the next level in elimination games drastically reduces the bang you get for his substantial buck. This is why unless Thornton has a stand out performance this spring that results in at least a Cup Finals appearance for the Sharks, I believe he should be the odd man out this offseason.

So who should be his replacement? Pardon me while I prepare to stab myself in the ear drum with a ballpoint pen as I say this.... the answer is Ryan Getzlaf. I personally have no idea how anyone will be able to wrestle him away from Anaheim, and any realistic trade would clearly have to involve another team that would provide multiple pieces that the Ducks would be looking for. All that being said, whether its realistic or not, I would trade Joe Thornton for Ryan Getzlaf straight up in a heartbeat. Like today.

The Duck-hater in me has finally been beaten back by the pragmatist: Getzlaf is everything Thornton is (gifted passer with size, vision and amazing hands) , and many things that he isn't (younger, plays with more swagger, more clutch, has a cup, can actually shoot the puck). He is also almost 2 million dollars per year cheaper than Big Joe. This combined with his additional multidimensionality, youth and proven ability to show up in big games give him a significant bang-for-buck advantage over Thornton.

Seeing as the Sharks have been described as "all-in" this season, another playoff disappointment will force a much bigger team shake up than last offseason's. I hope it doesn't happen that way, but I can't deny that the Sharks would be a more dangerous team as well as one in a better cap situation if Getzlaf took Thornton's spot as their top center.

-GBF

Trade Talk on ESPN....

The Sharks popped up in the bi-weekly discussion between Pierre Lebrun and Scott Burnside on ESPN.com...

One thing I liked was that they hadn't heard of a current Shark that they were shopping.  The flip side of that is the likelihood of some of these guys: Couture, McGinn, Joslin, Ferriero, Stalock, Greiss, Tommy Wingels, and Petrecki disappearing are high.  Poop.

View entire article here

"LeBrun: First of all, there's no doubt in my mind the Caps are privately married to the idea that Varlamov is their man come playoff time, but they like having Theodore around as a veteran presence. Moving on to Chicago, here's what I heard from there Wednesday night: they'd like to add a defenseman. That may seem surprising given their star quality there, but that's what I was told.


And here's the kicker: I'm told the team is still toying with the idea of adding a goalie. Huet has never won a playoff round and there's apparently some nervousness there. Given his $5.625 million salary, I can't believe the Hawks can even try this given how tight they are under the cap, but I was told if they can move a $3 million player and add a $2.5 million goalie, who knows. Dwayne Roloson's cap number is $2.5 million, although the Islanders would rather move UFA-to-be Martin Biron ($1.4 million), as we discussed Wednesday. Roloson has one more year on his deal. Seems amazing there's still concern about the goaltending in Chicago, but apparently that's the case. [Begin talk about the Sharks] As for the Sharks, it is absolutely clear Wilson is canvassing the rest of the league looking for a D-man. No question. That's where his move will be.



Burnside: We all know how these deadline deals can turn out. The Sharks have known their fair share of deadline misery, having jettisoned a ton of assets in prospects and draft picks since the lockout and never advancing beyond the second round. I would think Wilson will be very cautious. And frankly, there just aren't a lot of defensemen out there; Marek Zidlicky and Kim Johnsson if Minnesota falters, and then there's Nashville GM David Poile's dilemma about what to do with Dan Hamhuis if he doesn't think he can re-sign him. But you can forget Poile trading him to San Jose for a host of reasons. I think Hamhuis would look pretty good in Washington, and the Caps have some assets they could move, including Alexander Semin, who was brought under contract this season but could be expendable given the team's offensive depth. Of the "big three," which most needs to make a move to solidify a trip deep into the playoffs?



LeBrun: I think the Sharks really need a defenseman. I get worried after Dan Boyle, Marc-Edouard Vlasic (injured right now), Rob Blake and the underrated Douglas Murray. Niclas Wallin of the Hurricanes is another available blueliner. Frankly, if I'm Wilson, I phone up GM Brian Burke in Toronto and tell him to inform the Tomas Kaberle (no-trade clause) camp that the Sharks are interested. It just so happens Wilson and the Sharks are in Toronto on Monday. Perhaps the two GMs can grab lunch. Until Friday, my friend."

The Wallin Trade Drinking Game!

I'll put a round of Long Islands down on this prediction (or closest):

To Sharks:
Wallin
2d rd pick

To Canes:
Huskins
Joslin

We'll all agree who was closest and who wasn't.  I retain McVet as my counsel.

It sucks to be St Louis...

The next seven games for the St Louis Blues:

3rd   Vs. Blackhawks
4th   Vs. Sharks
6th   Vs. Blackhawks
8th   @ Avalanche
9th   Vs. Red Wings
12th Vs. Maple Leafs
13th Vs. Capitals

They were already a bottom-three team in the Western Conference.  Yikes.

UPDATE::::::::
Just a post-script to this post.  The Blues posted some surprising wins in this stretch.

Record:

3rd   Vs. Blackhawks (win!, 3-2)

4th   Vs. Sharks (loss! 2-4)

6th   Vs. Blackhawks (loss! 2-1)

8th   @ Avalanche (loss! 2-5)

9th   Vs. Red Wings (win! 4-3(so))

12th Vs. Maple Leafs (win! 4-0)

13th Vs. Capitals (win! 4-3 (so)).

Overall, they finished 4-3.  Not bad!  Bad news: they are still at the bottom of the conference.  Sorry boys.

Niclas Wallin to San Jose?

At the expense of a more formal introduction (my name is Matt), I wanted to get this out there as soon as possible for anyone reading the blog.

About a half hour ago, TSN's James Duthie, who is usually as reliable as they come in the hockey world, reported that the Carolina Hurricanes were considering moving defenseman Niclas Wallin. He tweeted that San Jose was a possibility here-

http://twitter.com/tsnjamesduthie/status/8607868766

He went on to say that Wallin, who has a NTC, has likely waived it.

http://twitter.com/tsnjamesduthie/status/8608192001

It was just now confirmed that Wallin is indeed a healthy scratch for tonight, so this looks like it could be a done deal.

I'm guessing a 3rd round pick, or possibly a mid level prospect and a 7th.

Details and analysis to follow.


UPDATE #1 4:20pm

TSN is now reporting that a deal is imminent n their site.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=308812

Wallin's cap hit is $1.725m, and the Sharks can only afford a cap hit of $1.095m, so it would appear a roster player will be dealt if this trade is going to go through.


UPDATE #2 4:45pm

With a roster player having to go back, I'm starting to get the impression that this trade could be akin to the "trade someone with positive value (Wallin) for someone they don't want to take on plus a positive value draft pick/prospect" that has been popularized in the cap-ridden NHL.

If that is the case, I can see a few possibilities. The player would have to be earning at least $650k salary in order for the Sharks to have the cap space.

In order of my perceived likelihood (nothing is official)-

1. Wallin for Shelley (750K) + 3rd round pick
-Shelley is redundant with younger Staubitz and McLaren, and those two do not make enough (500K & 543K respectively) to clear

2. Wallin + 4th round pick for McGinn (997K)
-McGinn was sent to Woostah today, although as we all know, could definitely just be routine shuttling.

3. Wallin + 3rd round pick for Mitchell (1.357m)
-Mitchell hasn't regained form yet and has a high cap hit, and Carolina will likely be looking for a young player.

4. Wallin for Huskins (1.7m) + 5th round pick
-I'm going to say there is a very outside chance of this happening only because it would enable another move based on the wash in salary, and it would save salary next year (Wallin is going to retire at the end of the year).


UPDATE #3 5:15pm

So, a little backstory on Wallin while we're waiting for more information.

Wallin holds a NTC because there were a lot of rumors going around that after Carolina won the Stanley Cup in 05-06, Wallin (who was an impending UFA) wished to return home to Sweden to raise his family. It came down to him either staying in Carolina or moving home to Sweden, so Carolina offered him a three year contract with a NTC to entice him to stay.

This is relevant for any Sharks historians, who remember Wallin opting not to waive his NTC to come to San Jose in the 07-08 season, when the Sharks were offering Ehrhoff in return.

Flashing forward to the present, Wallin has stated that he will retire at the end of his contract, in which this is his final year. When this rumor first surfaced a few days ago, he also stated that he is honored that a team (SJ) thinks that highly of him, and that Carolina wants to give him a last shot at a Stanley Cup (of which they are nowhere close to).

In game thread

Its a good thing nobody reads this thing.....

its 2-0 10mins into the first period and my goat, Joe, has 2 goals.  Nicceeee.

oh! maybe not...2-2

Okay, I don't like to highlight every blown call out there but holy hell the refs tonight were incompetent.  They missed at least four calls against the Wings by my count in the third period.  They were completely oblivious to holding the stick twice, an interference, and a slash.

It's time to consider who we can deal away

As GBF and I gchatted about today, when it comes to the deadline DW gets things done.  Why?  Because DW will pay retail price for his rentals.

As we get to the topic of the deadline, we should know what it is we have in our wallet, how much value they carry, and how much we're willing to pay for what we need.

I'll start crafting this.  Brown, feel free to repost any HF boards postings on this topic.  I don't need to do work that's already been done.

Quietly, It's Confirmed That The Sharks Are Listening to HF Boards...

Taken from tsn.com's chat with Darren Dreger this afternoon:
"Trevor, Barrie: Darren, how much 'tweaking' do powerhouse teams like San Jose and Washington have to do? They seem unstoppable on most nights!

Darren Dreger: Trevor, I know the Sharks had considerable interest inIan White, an inexpensive defenceman with tons of upside, before the Flames scooped him in the Phaneuf blockbuster. That's an example of the type of deal San Jose will be in the market for. As for the Capitals, it's going to be intriguing to watch George McPhee play his hand. Does Washington need some help on the backend? Maybe a shutdown forward or PK specialist? McPhee has the cap space to add some bodies and with consistant goaltending, there is a growing sense the Caps should be considered the favored team in the East."

Well, that's what we've all thought the Sharks should do.  Now, we know it's what they think too.  And now, we wait.

Chat Transcript Link

Predictions for Tonight

I have a bad feeling about tonight's game against the Wings.
The Sharks this season have shown a characteristic best described as "failing to get up for a big game."  Most recently, the Sharks looked like Mike and Trent from Swingers at the blackjack table getting schooled by grandma for the first period of the game against the Blackhawks.  Before that, the Sharks ruined my christmas present by taking a dump on the logo in their locker-room in their 4-1 loss to the Wings.  Before that, the Sharks were lucky to beat the Wings in Chicago and before that, the Sharks completely embarrassed any Sharks fan in their 7-2 whoopdown at the Tank.  Before that, the Sharks got manhandled by the Kings, 6-2 in the Tank and way way before that the Sharks lost two in a row to surging Kings and Coyotes.
What does this mean?  Doesn't every team lose a big game?  Well, of course every team has a disappointing loss.
What this means to me is that the Sharks are very even keel and that they have a tough time coming out amped up to get their feet moving and get the game off to a good start.  Recently, Nabby said that this team has a very even keel.  This is good and bad, in my mind.  It's bad because it means you can be overwhelmed by a more keyed up opponent.  Excitement is a friend early on.  Not too much, but some excitement is very good to have on your side.  The even keel is good because it allows you to play a little more mistake free than the excited team, it allows you to not get too down on yourself if you give up an early goal and allows you to come back.  This is all stuff any basic athlete knows, I don't need to expound the benefits here.

Anyways, I have a bad feeling about the Sharks tonight.  Their weak D also inspires zero confidence.  I hope that I am proven wrong and that later tonight I write some post extolling the benefits of a prolonged absence for Boyle and Vlasic to the rest of the D-Corps.

Actually, come to think of it, this is a good thing.  What better way to push your D men and allow them to grow by letting them get in a big game playing in a bigger role, to a man?  Also, the trade deadline is coming up (two days after the NHL resumes post-Olympics) and there have already been a few trades in the past few days.  If the Sharks get smoked tonight and their D looks just out of place and awful.... Well, I'm not DW.

But I wish I was.

Later, Dion!

Some good videos from TSN about Dion's move to the East.

Ron Wilson speaks well of the kid

Phoenix Coyotes will be a buyer very soon...

Now reaching the checkout stand at every NHL firesale, the Phoenix Coyotes:

Scottie Upshall just tore his ACL

Big Moves in Both Conferences!

The immediate impact of the big deals today (see: here for the trades made) will be felt in the Western Conference.
Calgary got...different with the acquisitions of White, Stajan, Hagman, and Mayers and the peace-outting of Phanuef.  You have to wonder if this might be the trade that has the Flames fans saying "Really?! We made that deal?!" three years from now.


I'm not going to pretend be a Leafs expert.  Frankly, I know relatively little other than their names for many players who have played exclusively in the Eastern Conference.  Some of that has to do with a lack of curiosity about random dudes in the East, some has to do with the lack of a National TV deal for the NHL, and all of it has to do with never seeing these guys.  So, when I analyze this trade I will frame it from a "what I learned about these dudes" standpoint.


Calgary:::


Obviously, something was going to happen.  I had been privately speculating since the Sharks 9-1 beating of the Flames that either Brent or Darryl had one foot out the door in Calgary.  I was wrong but I had heard from various sources (ESPN's Scott Burnside was the loudest voice, I think) that Darryl was looking at dealing one of the big three D up in Calgary.  I think there was some talk up there privately that some people were both unhappy with him and that he was visa versa unhappy in Calgary.  We all knew they were going to do something, so here it is:


Nick Hagman:  ESPN Player Card
Not bad second line numbers!  I remember Hagman being a name on the Stars but I don't really remember him making much of a difference on the ice.  His career high of 27 goals came with a very strong Dallas team.  I want to say that I don't remember Hagman being much defensively on the ice but I dont think Calgary could give a shit about his defense.  They need scoring in the lineup, especially in the top-six.  This will help Calgary compete with Vancouver.


Matt Stajan:  ESPN Player Card
This guy is an example of a name that I know and the numbers that I don't.  So, he has 16g and 25a for a center.  Those are pretty good!  Perhaps Stajan was Hagman's center?  Idk.  But, these are the kinds of numbers the Flames need in their top six to compliment Iginla and Bourque as the only people there capable of registering a point.


Ian White:  
Surprisingly, Darryl only got back one Alberta born player from the Leafs.  To those who are unaccustomed to Darryl's ways, he has a reputation for building a psuedo-supremacist organization chock-a-block full of Honky's from Alberta.  No matter what the position, his players are 6' 2" 200+ lbs.  White, a young D man, whom I am almost wholly unfamiliar with is having a career year.  He's young, seems to be agile but not quick, and (as youtube shows) has a knack for rushing the net to dunk the puck.  This could be a great help the Flames to give JayBow some offensive help along the points.


Jamal Mayers:
Quick note:  In my mind, Jamal Mayers has been a complete jackass since the 2004 playoffs (the same series when his linemate and current ex-con Mike Danton was arrested for plotting to kill...somebody).  Why you ask??  Because to follow up with the usual headshaving bonding exercise, Mayers shaved his eyebrows in STRIPES.  Who the hell is going to be intimidated by a dude with tiger striped eyebrows?  Anyways, another grinder for Darry's fourth line.  Maybe he'll crack the lineup here.


Overall, a depth building trade for Calgary.  It should help keep them in the playoff picture but I dont think they have enough star power up front to make a difference in the playoffs.  


Toronto::::::


Nice move from Brian Burke, you knew he'd pull something before the Olympic break because he's been screaming loud and clear that he was going to do just that.


No surprise that he picked up Jiggy, that should help solidify their goaltending sitch.  Kind of surprising that he ditched a fair amount of the middle of his lineup but he could be shaping up to acquire some mid-lineup salaries from other teams as the deadline approaches.
NHLNumbers says that Hagman had a hit of 3 mil, Stajan was 1.750, white was 850, Mayers was 1.333.  With Phaneuf and Sjostrom and Aulie coming to Toronto, the Leafs add 7.25 in salary while subtracting 6.850.  So, overall they are nearly a salary wash and the Leafs retain around 1.5 mill in cap space.


Anaheim:::::
No surprise seeing them turn the reigns over to Hiller and acquiring a real backup goalie.  Jason Blake should help their depth but to be honest, he kind of sucks now.  Anaheim took back more salary than they gave up which would handcuff them greatly moving forward.  I think Blake and Tosk are both UFA's after this season and this would open up the Ducks for some big moves in the UFA season. 


For much better, more professional analysis, I turn you over to the people I read:


Bob Mackenzie


The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy


Burnside at ESPN

Hell of an effort against the 'Hawks :(

Oh, man, where to start?  I think this might have been the most intense regular season game the Sharks have ever played.  That wasn't like a playoff game, it WAS a playoff game.  What we learned:
________________________________________

-  Joe Pavelski has been known to be a gamer and it isnt surprising that he showed up again tonight.

-  Does the scoresheet have Joe Thornton on it?  Didn't think so.  Come on, Joe.  You have to show up too.  Okay, that's not totally fair, he did generate a lot of opportunities or near-misses.  But still, the point remains, get those points in the big games, kid.  I feel like Joe needs a breakthrough moment where he just unleashes the beast in a big game to break through, yet, I know this is a pipe dream because the root of the problem isn't effort.  The problem is that Joe's style of playing along the boards can't work against The Good Teams in the NHL.  Those teams have very strong top-pairings who can shut down the front of the net.  I covered this in a previous post.

-  The fourth line deserves many kudos for being the only line to show up and deliver from 0-63:25.  The pairing of Mitchell and Couture looks good and Shelley was in the right place at the right time and was an able distributor out there.  Who knew Jody could dish from behind the net?  Seriously, that was an extraordinary effort from the fourth line.  I hope Logan Couture realizes he just reserved himself a spot on the playoff roster.

-  The third line showed their importance from the second period through the end with their tenacious forecheck and hard-hitting style along the boards.  There were two or three shifts where the third line handcuffed the Hawks in their own zone, hit them hard in the corners, stole the puck, and created a shooting opportunity.

-  How clutch was our D?  Pretty clapworthy effort tonight from the whole D corps, running half the game undermanned against the fastest and most explosive offense in the NHL.  Combined with the forecheck, they were able to pretty much shut down the Hawks for thirty minutes.  They played smart by  closing space on the faster Hawks after keeping them to the outside as they entered the zone.

- Shut up, Quinneville: That was obviously an interference penalty.  Your entire cycle is predicated on interferences in the corners.  I can't wait until the NHL puts you on blast in the first round for interference penalties and you end up losing a game or four to the Kings/Wings.  I hate this system how the good teams are the ones that skirt the line of interference in the offensive zone.  The "soft interferences" in the zone are obvious penalties and should be called as such.

-  Special MeowClaps to the best Sharks defenseman tonight (prepare yourself, GBF) Kent Huskins.  He was masterful out there and made the most of his limited skills by demonstrating his willingness to leave his feet and take one or two in the ribs for the team.  I like you now, Kent.  Way to earn your keeps, that was a hell of an effort from you tonight.  The guy looked like Bobby Hurley out there, flying on the ice, chest first into the puck, pushing guys, punching guys, doing whatever it took to keep them away from Nabby.

-  Jason Demers will be good in a few years but he is the lesser-ready between him and Leach.  The missed passes, getting abused in the boards and deked out of his shoes all highlight that he's a little above his level defensively.  He will get there, I am sure.  He did show some moxy by hammering some dudes in the second period when we were down by two.

- Once the Sharks started slamming on the Hawks' shoulders and stood them up, they were able to generate  more opportunities and handcuff them in their own zone.  That's how they have to play against teams like Chicago, Vancouver, and Detroit.  TM always talks about how the Sharks feel like they have some need to play fancy when they are playing skilled teams.  The Sharks need to learn this.  I hope tonight was the night.

- In future games against teams like the Hawks, 'Nucks, and Wings, the Sharks should press them with their forwards deep in the other team's zone, then have their D-men pinch back tight to the center of rink to keep the other forwards on the outside of center, putting them in a strong position to deny the zone with speed.  Slowing teams down is the most important thing.

-  Dany Heatley is a playoff player.  I like the slashes and interferences and the hard shots in close.  They all

- I think my neighbors are all aware that I am a Sharks fan, if they weren't before.  My apt sounded like a one man version of section 212.

- And, sadly, the Hawks are the better team right now.

Good for Goc!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4864333

The greatest de-facto trade the Sharks and the Predators never pulled off was the Goc for Nichol trade of this past summer.  While in reality it was just a coincidental signing of third/fourth line centers, this virtual swap has worked out very well for both teams.  Both fan-bases are enamored with their new player and both players seem to be having great years for their new team.

So, will the Sharks lock up Nichol long term???  I think they sign him to another one-year deal after the season.

Oh yes, sweet drama.

The Chicago Blackhawks Outed By A Gossip Rag. Love it.

Apparently, these few Hawks went dumb in Vancouver the night before their 5-1 thrashing at the hand of the Canucks.  Nice move, guys.  Enjoy hearing about this the rest of the season.

I love that this is now all over the interwebs.

Huff Post Link: "Patrick Kane Takes a Sexy Limo Ride in Vancouver."

Apparently, it started from here: http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/kurtenblog/default.aspx

Also, in case you're wondering how these players played the next night?  Combined, they had four shots on goal, were a minus-2, and had zero points.  Although, John Madden did win nine of fifteen face-offs.

Still, I don't know what Twenty Cent is thinking.  This is only going to add to it.  Roasted.

Mike Grier, if only you could dunk on the breakaway or open net, we'd miss you more.

I'll be honest, I clapped pretty loudly and even hollered a little bit when Griersy popped up on the jumbotron midway through the first period.  Although I did boo Craig Rivet, it was only out of my desire to have him on our current team that my boo's rained upon him.

Mike Grier's best year with the Sharks was probably his first year, where he had the least injury problems and was the most impactful on the ice.













As it turns out, Griersy didn't look forward to playing against the Sharks so much.

http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_14252110?nclick_check=1

It was nice seeing you, Griersy.  Wish you well.

Hockey Players are Normal Like Me and You...that is if you are a 20-something with no job.

The Coyotes Wage a Flip Cup Battle v. G-Town Hoyas

Original Article:
Here's the Original NBC Washington Blog Iteml

At least they won the flip cup challenge, right?

One of the Best Sporting Events of My Life

In my life, I have been to a few World Series games, a World Series blowout, an AFC Championship Game, and a couple Stanley Cup playoff games (all elimination games, one an overtime game).  I've even spent a year working for a professional baseball team and spent many of those games either on the field or in the dugout.  Of all of these experiences, the Sharks game I attended on Saturday night is somewhere in the top five.

I would agree that, regularly, a regular season game somewhere in the middle of the season should not belong on this list.  Yet, somewhere between the excellent seats, my brief conversation with Tom Holy, the Molson's, and the Sharks kicking some ass laid the groundwork for a top-flight sporting experience.  Much props to Randy Goettsch for selling me excellent seats at a very reasonable price and for possibly letting me buy them from him more regularly.

On to quick hits:
-  Jed Ortmeyer stood and delivered like a champ the day after he was the subject of some discussion here on Meows.  His first goal was an instinct play that surprised him when it went in as it did.  A nice instinct play from a hockey lifer.  Extra points for the strong visual post-goal, celebrating on his knees.

-  Greg is not much of a fan of Nabby's but I think even GBF can acknowledge that Nabby has played exceedingly well this season, especially in the past month or so when Nabby has been playing frequently.  TM has said, and I agree, that certain goalies play better when they play more.  RW thought this was true and in 2007 played Nabby to a record 77 starts.  Now, will Nabby tire heading into the playoffs?

-  Patrick Marleau kicks ass and must be retained.  He deserves to be a career-Shark.  The only problem?  With Nabby also being a free agent and a much less likely to return player, the Sharks would risk some locker room discord if they locked up PM to a contract anytime during the season and hadnt even made an offer to Nabby.

Okay, I'm tired and I'm out.  I'll post more youtubes of interest later in the week.

Quick Hit

No way, Ortmeyer took today off for a "maintenance day" today.  Could it perhaps have anything to do with the nasty slash on the hand he took in the first and the finger wrap he showed in the third in the penalty box.  Methinks it does.

He'll be out there tomorrow because he's a hockey player.

Also, he's another U Mich stud and is maybe the most popular player out of U Mich ever.
http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/jed-ortmeyer/

NYT Article about Ortmeyer from the same day

Some Hot Spice Coming Out Of Los Angeles, LA Times

First, all the necessary links:
(1)  The LA Times  Article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/01/dean-lombardi-jack-johnson-kings-michigan-hockey-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LAT_Sports_Blog+%28The+Fabulous+Forum%29

(2)  The Frozen Royalty Interview With Dean Lombardi:  http://frozenroyalty.net/2010/01/20/dean-lombardi-jack-johnson-is-learning-his-craft-belatedly/

The most important line from the LA Times article: "A spokesman for the Kings said Lombardi's quotes in the interview were accurate." 


When I was younger, I didn't understand the gravity of what Deano did for the Sharks.  I associated him with Al Sims and Jim Wiley.  More accurately, I should have thought of Owen Nolan, Igor, Kevin Constantine, et al.  To be fair, he did give away Chris Pronger but thats neither here nor there.  Now that I am older, I have grown to appreciate Deano as a GM and I think he has done a good job in LA.  He made a big mistake in hiring Marc Crawford and that probably delayed his development of the team, which to LA fans has taken too long, but he has done a good job of building a solid organization down there.  And then he unleashed his armada of truth bombs.  I don't know if he was drunk when he said this or if he was pissed off, or if he has a particular bone to pick with U Mich, or what, but his quotes are pretty roasty. 


 It would appear that the writers at Frozen Royalty agree with what Deano said and it would appear that most, if not all, of what Deano said is true. 


This story will continue to develop.  For the Kings, they better hope that they can resolve this.  Typically, this sort of criticism is only resolved when the player shows that he is an adult and can accept criticism of his past and move on.  Jack Johnson has never shown that ability and has been run out of town by a pair of teams despite his status as a top-three draft pick.  


To  be fair, Deano says a lot of positive stuff about the guy at the end of the article, talking about how proud he was of Jack for having the other GM's talking about how improved he was on the ice.  I hope Jack Johnson reads the entire article first before going crazy about it.  


Oh, what's that?  Too Late?: [From the LA Times]
"I'm a Michigan man. I'm very proud of it. I wouldn't want to have it any other way," Johnson said after the Kings' 4-3 shootout victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Staples Center.

"Michigan has produced more NHL players than any other school. Even the U.S. development program, people rip that and they just don't know anything about it and don't know what they're talking about."

Berenson, Johnson said, "is one of the finest coaches and men that I've met. For my general manager to rip me as a person and criticize me as a person and as a player and call me an awful hockey player is irresponsible and unprofessional."

Sounds like these dudes need to sit down.  If I'm the Kings, start thinking about whether you can ditch JJ in that heralded trade for Kovy.  I haven't spent a single second thinking about that trade so I have zero idea if they'd want to do that.  Deano's past indicates he has no problem pulling the trigger on a big trade (see: Nolan trade, Selanne trade).


Some of Deano's tidbits:


Deano On U Mich's Coaching Jack Johnson: “This guy has never had any coaching [at the University of Michigan],” Lombardi said. “Jack just did what he wanted.”

“Michigan is the worst.” Lombardi added. “For hockey people, if you’ve got a choice between a kid—all things being equal—one’s going to Michigan and one’s going to Boston University, you all want your player [going to Boston University]. Michigan’s players—[head coach] Red [Berenson] doesn’t coach. It’s ‘do what you want.’ He gets the best players in the country.”

Deano On Jack Johnson's Play Out of College: "“Jack was a thoroughbred out there,” Lombardi explained. “But he was all over the place. He was awful as a hockey player. As an athlete, you’re going, wow! Look at the way he skates, shoots, he can pass. But he had no idea where he was going.”

“At times, he was playing forward at Michigan,” Lombardi elaborated. “You had no idea what position he was playing. But he had always been the star and he always got his numbers. Then he turns pro and for the first time, we’re telling him ‘whoa, just make the first pass and learn to play in your own end.’ How about making a read in your own end about the right guy to pick up? He was awful.”

yikes.

Quick Hit

Looks like Jed Ortmeyer is playing with a broken right pinkie judging by the wrap and brace under his glove.

Calgary and LA Get Clacked Up, Boyle's Injury, Jay Leach, and Meows

If you're reading this blog, you're the type of fan who is already aware of the click-clacking that Calgary and LA were doth served.  You don't need me to dispense with the platitudes of secondary-scoring and its importance.  I loved those games.  I do worry that the Sharks secondary scoring is too streaky and that the scoring will disappear soon.

Honestly, the Sharks are in the playoffs.  There are three things that Sharks fans really give a shit about (okay, maybe four) over the next two months.

(1)  Who do we match up with in the playoffs:  We won't know until the last week who its likely we will see.  My prediction: Another pacific division foe, LA.

(2)  Are we drop 'em hot entering the playoffs:  I won't stand for another year of limping in with overtime losses into the playoffs.  And none of this 2-1 bullshit like in 2007. Yeah we won out for March, but they were all shitty games the last half of the month.

(3)  Are any of the important people injured:  Given that an NHL roster is so small, most players are important.  So, are any of the top six/top 4 injured?  The final week of the season will determine much for this issue as well.

(4)  How did the Team Canada boys do in the Olympics:  I think this will have an effect on how the team addresses the playoffs and what kind of intensity they play with.  Did Canada win gold?  Did Jumbo, et al play really well?  Did they get seventh, and eat total crap?  This is a factor, like it or not, into the Sharks playoff future.
___________________________________

Jay Leach  is impressing me with his smarts.  He had a great play on the Boyle goal, reading that there were four D on the ice and taking it upon himself to screen Quick for Boyles dunk.  He is impressing me with his venturings outside of his defensive capabilities.  He might have been a xmas present.
____________________________________

I am in talks with a person to acquire a quarter share (11 games) of season tickets for a great price and a great location.  More details to come as moves are made.

Is Joe Thornton the best athlete in the Bay Area??

http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks-headlines/ci_14209666

We can all thank Mark Purdy of the Merc for this debate! Off the top
of my head, I can think of few athletes in the Bay Area who might be
more dominant in their sports than Jumbo. Over at Cal, Natalie
Coughlin has, what, seven gold medals?

I look at the Warriors and I don't see any players who are dominant in
their sport. Sure, Anthony Randolph is a human trampoline but he
hasn't even cracked the starting lineup. Monta is a hell of an
athlete but dominance isn't in his vocabulary let alone his repertoire.

Across the Coliseum, the Raiders have their share of amazing athletes,
some of them are even dominant! Nmandi Asomugha is one of the best
corners in The League and belongs in the conversation. The rest are
all great athletes, the Raiders are an NFL team that draft based
solely on athleticism, but they have nearly a decade of losing behind
them. You can't be the most dominant athlete in the bay area on the
most pathetic franchise in the NFL. Sorry, Raiders :(

For the Niners, Patrick Willis, Frank Gore and Vernon Davis enter this
conversation. Takeo Spikes clearly had the thickest neck on Earth.
Check back in 3 years for a possible michael crabtree inclusion.

The A's have zero candidates. Please.

The Giants bring The Freak to the table. If you ask yourself, "what
about Panda," consider that the Giants just ran a two-week camp called
Operation Panda to teach the beloved Kung Fu Panda about the benefits
of weight lifting, hard work, and dieting. QED, Panda is not included
in this conversation because he is, basically, a really young fat guy
who hits the ball hard and makes us laugh as he swings at everything.

FC Gold Pride does not have any world class athletes despite what
Steve Nash says.

Well, coming back to the Sharks, you have to consider Jumbo and Patty
the two best athletes on the team. Or, do you? A surprise entry to
this conversation is Evgeni Nabokov. He is a two time Olympian, a
world cup gold medalist, and the starting goalkeeper for one the
toughest teams to crack in the world (yeah, sure the Sharks too but I
meant Team Russia).

For my vote, I go with Joe. I am pretty biased though. I own his
jersey.

Sent from my iPhone

Past Sharks Playoff Highlights

I'm bored on a Friday night so, with the Olympics coming up and the intensity of hockey in the air, I thought I'd relive some of the Sharks organizations greatest playoff moments.  Well, at least those that are available on Youtube.

Enjoy the memories!

The 5-on-1.5 penalty kill v. Edmonton:
Who cares that the Oilers scored 15 seconds after this kill.  What a kill!



The highlights of the 1994 series are pretty hard to come by so here is a montage of the two:



 The 2007 Series against the Preds:



A much forgotten moment in the 1994 Playoffs, the Leafs scoring an own-goal in Game Seven:



2007 Game Seven Victory over the Flames (The Jeremy Roenick Show):



Bryan Marchment's Knee-Hit on Joe Nieuwendyk in the 98 Playoffs:

 It's easy to forgot how nasty the Sharks-Stars series were in the late 90's, here's another clip:

This clip is posted below but it's best to include it in both because I can't get enough of this one.  Screw you, Eddie!

What a great series:

more to come!

I like this!

The Ducks are surging right now and they are playing really well.

This should slow them down for a few weeks.

Sorry Teemu.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4824520

UPDATE:  I just saw a replay of what happened last night and, to be honest, that looked like it really hurt. Teemu is a pretty tough dude but he looked exactly like a player in NHL 94 when their face got bloodied- he even kicked his feet!  So, I take it back.