The Sharks Season is over. I and many others are severely disappointed that the Sharks did not make it over the Hump. Again, they started the Series good, but folded midway.
The Sharks played good the first 3 games. but in Game 4 it came down to one shift. The final 30 seconds of the third period the Sharks gave up a tying goal. Coach Wilson was not too happy and said "Some guys weren't in the game." It was discovered at the end of the series, he was talking about Captain Patrick Marleau, and Newly-acquired Bill Guerin. Apparently (I never saw the replay) the two of them were cheating in, and not doing their defensive duties. And it led to the score. From there it was all down hill, the Sharks decided to fold up and pack it in, losing the next 2 games. What was worse it was convincily done by the Red Wings.
So What now? GM Wilson has some hard things to look at. He thought he had the right pieces. And now question marks are all over the place.
1) To Fire or not To Fire - Some "Inside Sources" said to Fire Ron Wilson. But I don't believe it was his fault. I don't think you need to fire the head coach yet. He has done nothing but bring this team to the top. If you fire him they better have a better coach. A coach with Stanley Cup Rings. Is Scotty Bowman available?
2) To Strip or not To Strip - With Coach Wilson calling out Patrick Marleau, the relationship has to be strained. If they are both back (I believe they will be), there will be this rift between Coach and Captain. But I don't think stripping Marleau is the answer. That would be a knee-jerk reaction. So that leads to:
3) To Trade or not to Trade - Are you going to Trade Marleau away? I think everyone agrees this is a bad move too (Unless you're getting Joe Thornton... oh wait...). Marleau is the face of the Franchise and he is their leader. In Addition, what do you do about the Goalies. it worked this year, but rotating Nabokov and Toskala will not work Next year. I think GM Wilson has done a great job. He knows that either goalie will demand a 1st Round Draft Pick, so he wasn't worried about trading his 2 first round picks away. I personally think one will end up in Tampa Bay, where the goalies have been in Flux for 2 years.
4) To Sign or not To Sign: Hannan, Smith, Rivet, Guerin. The Sharks Free Agents. I think it is safe to say that Guerin is gone after a 0 goals 0 points, and the "I forgot to play defense" in the playoffs. Mark Smith has been fun to watch and grow up. He has always been one of the most dependable Sharks. Unfortunately he was hurt and didn't play for 2 months. And while he didn't play, the Sharks Rolled. So there's no room for him. Plus there's Lucus Kaspar and a whole wealth of youth ready to come up. Sorry Smitty, Good bye. I will miss you! If the Sharks can't sign Scott Hannan or Craig Rivet, the Sharks will lose a major part of the D. I think Rivet will be the better asset to keep being a Right Handed Shot. but Hannan is the Home Grown Talent. It'll be weird seeing him in another uniform. but I think these 2 are the 2 to sign.
So for the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals I think I have to root for the East. Can't root for Anaheim, being the division Rival, and Chris Pronger. Can't root for Detroit since they knocked the Sharks out. So It has to be the East. Buffalo or Ottawa...
