08-09 Sharks Review: Forwards Pt 2

Forwards Part 2

Jeremy Roenick – Probably JR’s final year in the NHL.  I think he has done something really good with the team.  But it wasn’t enough to get them over the hump.  Last year was better than this year.  This year 2 shoulder injuries really hurt his play.  But nothing can take away from the energy and leadership that JR provided for this team.

Tomas Plihal – Played a good defensive role.  When given his chances he did not mess up.  He excelled defensively and provided some scoring here and there. 

Jody Shelley – The Enforcer of the team. Lead team in fights.  He’s got someone behind him who is ready to push his way onto the team, in Brad Staubitz.  But Shelley provides an XFactor that Staubitz can’t (yet). 

Claude Lemieux – Another veteran leader that the Sharks brought in.  But unlike JR, he wasn’t able to do the same.  There must have been something that prevented him from making an impact.  But this experiment failed.  He only played when there was an injury, otherwise he wasn’t as effective as they would have liked.

Travis Moen – Brought in to be the Mike Grier type player: gritty, defensively strong, chip in some timely goals.  Perhaps he sabotaged the Sharks, but he didn’t show up in the playoffs at all.  Disappeared like Guerin did a few years ago. 

Torrey Mitchell – Missed entire season due to a broken leg, but makes a surprise appearance in the playoffs.  Plays his heart out to try to win games.  His presence was missed during the year.  If he stays healthy, he will be a huge factor next year.  He was a pretty big factor this year in the 3 games he played.

The Call Ups

Brad Staubitz – We will always remember Staubitz busting Jordon TooToo’s nose in a fight.  One of the best fights.  Provided energy, hitting, fighting.  A Shelley to be.  He will continue to learn what it takes to make it into the NHL. But while Shelley is there, he’ll have to wait his turn.

Jamie McGinn – The most improved player on the team.  Called up from Worcester multiple times, and every time showed more and more that he learned and is willing to do what is needed to stay.  His last demotion also coincidently was the beginning of the end of the Sharks season.  So maybe he’s got something to bring next year.

Ryan Vesce – Led the Worchester Sharks in points.  Got the opportunity to play with the Sharks.  The 2nd call up he improved and showed he was learning what it takes to be in the Majors. 

Lukas Kaspar – Struggled this year.  Made the team but did not impress.  Where has this guy gone?  He has not been a scoring threat.  Most likely a bust.

Tom Cavanagh – Some stints, but nothing to write home about

Riley Armstrong – did not impress, but is still young and will be given another chance

Logan Couture & Mike Morris - recent draft picks; still developing, but has 1 -2 more years to prove that he belongs

Sharks 08-09 Review: Forwards Pt 1

UFA - Unrestricted Free Agent - Can sign with anyone

RFA - Restricted Free Agent - If signs contract with another team, Original team has right to match contract, or let player go for draft picks.

Forwards Pt 1 (the big guys)

Joe Thornton - Led the team in points, and assists... oh in the regular season.  Led the team in fights in the postseason (1).  The Superstar performed in the regular season, but can't in the post season.  There will be some major analysis whether he is on the team next year.  He's the leader, the superstar, and you can't have them disappear in the playoffs... again.  4 years in a row may mean he's gonna be looked at.

Patrick Marleau - Led the team in goals.  On the Penalty Kill, this year, led team in Shorthanded goals.  Rebound year from last year's disappointment.  However, this year he didn't appear in the playoffs, unlike last year.  Revealed to have an MCL injury which limited him in the playoffs.  But still, a leader and superstar, and you can't have them disappear in the playoffs (dejavu?).  Need to look at the leadership on this team.  He's the captain, and he couldn't lead the team this year.

Devin Setoguchi - Break out year for Seto.  Scored alot in the beginning of hte season, but tailed off with the rest of his linemates.  He may have suffered from the "I'm on Joe Thornton's line" syndrome (see Cheechoo, Jonathan).  Good young player should be here for awhile.  A cheaper Cheechoo.

Milan Michalek - locked up till 2014, shouldn't go anywheres.  Youth, Speed, power, getting fiesty around the net, pushing back.  Only going to get better.

Joe Pavelski - Smart player; reliable on Defense. reliable on offense.  Exceptional Penalty Kill.  I really can't see Pavelski moving.  He really played to a high level all year.  

Ryane Clowe (RFA) - Led team in Power Play goals.  strong in the corners.  didn't have to fight that much this year, but one of the best "light heavyweight" fighters on the team.  Good hands. Hard to beat up and push around.  I'd keep Clowe.  Move him into a bigger role next year. 

Jonathan Cheechoo - How the mighty have fallen.  From 56-goals to 10+ goals in 2 years. I think being on Joe Thornton's line helped balloon his value.  But now that he's crashed down we see what he really is, or that teams have adjusted and he hasn't.  Reduced to a role player on the 3rd line.  Has a big contract and really isn't living up to it.

Marcel Goc (RFA) - It's up and down with Goc.  a good defensive player.  This year he was good in Faceoffs, last year he wasn't, the year before that good.  So that means this upcoming year is a down year in faceoffs.  Suffered a back injury twice.  Might have value to trade.  

Mike Grier (UFA) - Its hard to say if Grier is going to be back next year.  It depends on what happens with Travis Moen.  Both are UFAs.  Both do the same thing.  Ferocious forecheck, and penalty kill.  Hard to think that both will be back.  My bet is that the Sharks will go after Moen more than Grier.  Grier 3 years ago was the unsung hero of the Sharks.  He deserved to be Team MVP, except there was a guy named Joe Thornton.  But injuries have started to occur.  And other players are now stepping into his position, such as Torrey Mitchell.

Be back for the rest of the forwards!

Sharks 08-09 Review: Defensemen

UFA - Unrestricted Free Agent - Can sign with anyone

RFA - Restricted Free Agent - If signs contract with another team, Original team has right to match contract, or let player go for draft picks.

Defensemen

Dan Boyle - What didn't Dan Boyle do for this team?  He was a great offensive player.  And he played Defense, and he wasn't a liability (See Brad Lukawich).  Offensive threat, goals, assists, power play, puck movement.  the best aquisition of the year without question.  Who was that guy last year? Campbell something?  Boyle's not going anywheres.  He's a fit in McLellen's system

Rob Blake (UFA)- Another great aquisition.  Power Play prowless, points, hardest shot.  Age was catching up because he took alot of penalties.  Otherwise a force.  He'll be a free agent.  And I'm sure there will be alot of suitors for Blake's services.

Christian Ehrhoff - Probably the guy who improved the most on the Defense.  Fixed his shot and most got on goal.  Speed helped him.  Watching Dan Boyle helped improve his game.  More confident handling the puck.  But still makes alot of Errors, hence the fans called him "Error-hoff".  Erhoff could be gone next year.  He hasn't really been the guy who they thought he would be.  

Marc-Edouard Vlasic - "Pickles" was all he could be.  Defensive position is superior.  Rarely beat, rarely out of place.  Steady M-Eddie.  Plays with poise.  Not physical, but makes it up with his great position.  Lots of offense this year, and chipped in frequently.  Vlasic isn't going anywheres.  I'd be surprised if he was moved; he is upper escholon of defensive defensement.

Brad Lukowich - The Dan Boyle Liablity clause.  When Boyle becomes the 4th forward, Lukowich became a steady defensemen.  He covers Boyle extremely well. Slowed by injuries during the season, but was steady and reliable.  Could get moved.

Douglas Murray - Fan Favorite, hard hitting, and intimidator on the blue line.  I don't see Murray moving anywheres.  He's had alot of ups and some downs on D.  The other team are intimidated of his huge checks.  Hard to knock down.  Again, he is well liked and I'd say he stays.

Alexei Semenov (UFA) - 7th man on the D was moved to forward a few games, but that experiment went away when there were injuries to other D-men. He had a really good stretch of being reliable.  Some times he's a liability.  Slow skater, but a good hitter.

Kent Huskins (UFA) - Recieved in a trade with Anaheim, but was on IR for the entire time.  How does this guy pass a physical?  Or was it McLellen not letting him play?  My bet is he's gone or an 8th D-man.  I didn't see him play so how would I know?

Derek Joslin - Called up to fill in the roster during injuries.  At first he was intimidated and was being pushed around.  The 2nd callup, he did alot better and improved.  Depending on the roster changes, he could be on the team next year.  Or he's part of the roster changes and he's traded.  He's not the top tier, nor bottom tier.  

Kyle McLaren (UFA) - Stuck with a huge contract and salary cap hell. In Minors all year.  Traded, and couldn't pass a physical so returned.  His contract is done, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Sharks tried to bring him back.  He's still a Fan Favorite.  Realistically he's now a 7th D or 8th D.  Less minutes would lessen his wear and tear.

The Rest in the minors:

Nick Petrecki, Jason Demers, Julien Demers, Mike Moore

Sharks 08-09 Review: Goaltending

UFA - Unrestricted Free Agent - Can sign with anyone

RFA - Restricted Free Agent - If signs contract with another team, Original team has right to match contract, or let player go for draft picks.

Goaltending
The Doug Wilson/Dean Lambardi philosphy was to build from the back forward. Doing that we start off at the Goaltending.

Evgeni Nabokov - The Starting Goalie had a great regular season. He still won alot of games, even missing out 2 stretches of games. Still 2nd in the league with wins. The question is what to do now? He has not been able to lead this team to the Stanley Cup Finals. He, like Joe Thornton, is getting a reputation of not being a playoff performer. He needed to steal a game, and he couldn't. Perhaps the most important is that Nabby is 33 yrs old. He probably only has 2-3 years of good quality goaltending. This year the Sharks will proably draft a goalie, and groom that person to take over in the 2-3 years later. Of course if the Sharks stink, Nabby could be gone sooner.

Brian Boucher (FREE AGENT) - There were two stretches where Nabokov was injured. First stretch, the Sharks were unbeatable, and so was Bouch. The second strectch, the Sharks were playing average. And so did Boucher. He's a good backup who is hot is hot, who is not, is not. He could be back next year. Hard to tell what kind of backups will be available next year.

Thomas Griess (Restricted Free Agent) - Another year in the Minors. Part-time backup when Nabokov was hurt. Is this guy going to get an opportunity? It has to be coming up soon, otherwise he'll go the way of his buddy Dimitri Pazold. Then Tyson Sexsmith and Taylor Dakers will have the next opportunity.

If you missed it, here's the other reviews:
Management
Goaltending
Defensemen
Forwards

Sharks 08-09 Review: Management

Management and Staff

Management can not be blamed for this.  You needed Money, so CEO Greg Jamison opened up the wallet and dished out some money.  The Sharks payroll jumped up into the upper tier of payroll.  You needed Playoff winners: So General Manager Doug Wilson brought in winners in Dan Boyle, Brad Lukawich, Claude Lemuix, Rob Blake, Travis Moen, Kent Huskins: All with Stanley Cup rings.

After bowing out of last year's playoffs, GM Wilson fired Coach Ron Wilson, and brought in youth with Todd McLellen.  In my opinion, McLellen had an average time.  I'd give him a "B".  he was a rookie coach and it showed at times.  I can not tell if his success was because he inheritied such a great team, or because he implimented a better system.  It worked at the beginning of the year.  And to the front you can't tell if there was any in-house issues.  I wonder if there was.

But here's the thing I didn't like about how Coach McLellen ran his team.  

1. At Calgary, McLellen changed up his lines.  His team was on fire.  but he decided to experiment by breaking up all of his lines.  This WAS a mistake as the Sharks got outplayed and destroyed.  "If it isn't broke, don't fix it."
2. Coming down the stretch, the Sharks top line of Marleau-Thornton-Setoguchi was struggling.  They couldn't score, they were hurt, and they were not leading the team.  NOW is the time you break up the line.  CHange it up, see if there is another combination that will click.  "If it is broke, FIX IT."
3. Lastly, the injuries.  There were players who felt they were ready to go, but McLellen refused to put them in.  Can McLellen be cautious, sure.  But coming down the stretch it was important to make sure everyone was up to speed and had their game going.  I don't think he allowed enough time for this to happen.  Or at most, he gave alot of mixed signals to the media and public about when players were going to be ready or not ready.

When things are going well, it is easy to say "Nothing is wrong" but when things aren't, you have to figure out what to do to fix it.  Fixing it too early, or not fixing it at all lead to alot of problems. 

Next year I believe that McLellen is going to have "his team".  In reality, he inherited this team from Ron Wilson.  He's going to have to look at the entire roster and decide which players followed his lead, and which ones he doesn't want (Kind of what this blog is doing).

Lastly, I think this was a learning experience for Coach McLellen.  He's still one of the brightest minds in the game.  And it was his first year on the bench.  So he has a small excuse for some of his errrors.  But year by year he needs to recognize and fix these mistakes.  If he doesn't, he'll find himself out (ala Mike Nolan).  That's a long time coming.  And there's alot of time and hockey to be played between now and then.

Sharks season ends too early

The Sharks were eliminiated from the Playoffs in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks.  It sucks. The Sharks were the favorite to win the Stanely cup, but everyone knows that they are under-achievers in the playoffs, and could not shake off that reputation this year.  3 years in a row of early exits.  This does not bode well for the franchise.  

I knew from the get-go that this would be a really hard matchup.  The Sharks were slumping into the playoffs.  They'll deny it, but playing poorly (or "just enough to win") during the post-all-star break led to this.  Going into the playoffs versus the 3 bottom feeding, last place teams, and getting outplayed led to this.  They did not play with the determination and desire as they did at the beginning of the season, and it showed.

Meanwhile, Anaheim Ducks went 8-2-2 at the end of the season.  They were the best team going into the playoffs.  So they took it to the Sharks and out played the Sharks in every aspect of the 7-game series.  They had heart and desire, while the Sharks had nothing.

So what now? the neculus of the team is really strong. But is it strong enough?  Is there enough winners to push this team into a playoff power house?  Over the next few blogs, I'll take some time to analyze the aspects of the team and figure out what I think went right, and what went wrong.

• Management / Coaches
• Goalies
• Defensemen
• Forwards
• Anything else

Hopefully we'll figure out why things went wrong and how is it going to be fixed.

Completed Pat's Run (UPDATED w stats)

Victoria signed me up to do Pat's Run, the tribute to the late Pat Tillman.  It was a good run.  Only 4.2 miles (#42 was his number).  But after the soccer game I was tired.  But I did what I said I would do. 

I ended up running the first 2 miles, then walking the 3rd, then jog and run the remainder.  Victoria was so proud that I ran it in.  I was happy to do that.  I checked the times online.  Ha. I was near the bottom.  like very bottom.  not last.

UPDATED: here are my stats

• Chip Time: 48:34 (from Crossing Starting line to Crossing Finish Line)
  
• Clock Time: 49.56 (from they say "GO!" to crossing Finish Line)
  
• Overall Place: 2092 / 3058
  
• Gender Place: 1261 / 1607
  
• Division Place: 422 / 502 (dunno what this means)
  

Victoria was very high on the times.  She did extremely well.  Especially in her gender/age group.  I figured she would do fine.  I'm glad she did.

But it wore me out for the rest of the weekend.  I really didn't have the time to recover after these two events.  I watched the Sharks game, took engagement pictures, birthday for Victoria's mom, and then crashed out.  

An all around fun and tiring weekend.

First win with new team!

Here's alittle bit of news.  My Soccer team, the house team, won its first game.  We played hard and out worked the other team.  I don't think I played my best game, but I had a few blocks and an assist.  We ended up winning the game 8-2.  

At the end of the game I also discovered that Debbie is going to manage the team.  So we're not a house team any more, we are an official team.  We have to decide what roster to have though.  Players have come in and out and we need to figure out who should be here.  I think we have the core players, the players who come every week (so far).  Then we have players who have come time to time.  Also we need a goalkeeper.  I also told Debbie that she needs to establish the character and direction on this team.  She wants to manage she has to decide how this team will be run.  She points in the diretion and we will follow that direction.  Hopefully she'll take my wisdom and experience as guidence.  I'll follow her lead.  And on we go.  Next season should be alot better now.

Cut from Soccer Team

While on vacation, I recieved an e-mail from the team "secratary" (she handles all the coordination).  In it was my pink slip, my cut form, my "wishes in all your future endevers".  

I was shocked to know that I was being cut from the team.  Apparently there were 2 "returning" players.  And they had "senority" to the team so they started cutting the new players.  And because "S" came before "T" I was first cut.  Hope Travis knows he could be next. 

To hamper the situation, they informed me on the day before the season started.  And to make matters worse, I was out of town. It appears I can not join another team this season.  So I'm really screwed.

I really enjoyed playing soccer again.  I was looking forward to new opponents and new challenges this season.  

I will have to be processed in the free agent process in order to get onto another team next season.  That's in 10 weeks (now 9).  But here's what I'm going to do.  I'm going to get better.  I'm going to join some classes that Strikers Den offers.  This way I can get more practice and learn some new moves.  

Hopefully, I won't play against my old team soon.  You get the revenge factor going and then you play alittle more aggressive than you really want to.  Then things are done, words are said, and it's all over.  

Now I know how it feels on pro teams. ha.  Somewhere there's a silver lining.  I'll have to find it.  Hopefully I can get onto a new team and play next season.