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.
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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.
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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!