Blake gets the C and the Crowd Gets Butthurt

Well, ok, maybe I am exaggerating a little but the reactions that I have been witness to have been pretty mixed. It's safe to say that despite the fact the Blake has been a C wearing man before and despite the fact that he definitely fits the role of "veteran", I'd say most Sharks fans didn't see this coming. Boyle was a shoe in, with a lot of people picking Pavelski as another likely candidate.

Blake wasn't my first or even third choice, but whatever. It's not about me, it's about who the team feels can best lead them overtly and argue calls on the ice. It's also about who stepped it up the most at camp. Your winners are Blake, Boyle and Joe.

People are sort of freaked out.

Blake? BLAKE? OMGWHYBLAKEOMGHESSOOLDOMG.

Yeah, ok, so maybe he's only got a season or two left in him. So what? If the locker room is behind him and the staff is behind him, who cares?

But he's not the best player on the ice!

Nope. He's not. He doesn't need to be.

But he didn't earn it!

Well, apparently, he did or else he wouldn't have it.

Mina suggests that Blake my have a great locker room presence we know nothing about. YOU don't have to like the choice, but understand that he was chosen for a reason, even if it seems inexplicable right now.

The reaction to Joe is a mix of "Why did he get the A back?!" and "Why doesn't he have the C?!" Mina and I are both firm believers in the idea that your captain is not necessarily the best man on the ice (see above).

Joe WAS a Captain before, and I think he's the type of guy who does better in a "secondary" leadership roll. The C seemed to hurt him more than it helped, and besides, as Mina said, he can still carry the team even without a fancy letter.It can still be "Joe's team." That based on the way you play and how you are in the locker room, not on a letter.

But why give Joe back the A and not give Patty back the C?

Because quite possibly, somewhere along the lines in discussions we were and never likely will be privy to, it was decided that it wasn't going back to Patty. That's all. He's still a Shark and still a leader even without the letter. That much has even been said publicly and I don't think it's just lip service. Not this year.

Boyle, well, Boyle probably is the luckiest out of the bunch. Since most of us figured he was going to get the C, him getting the A is alright.Though some people are left wonder if this means there will be yet another fight for the C when Blake retires, but I'm going to worry about that when the time comes.

Something to Pass the Time

Here's a nice video to tide you over between games and comics. (h/t to schtimpy27 over at Fear the Fin)

Thornton Gets The C

That's right ladies and gentlemen, our very own Joe Thornton has been named Captain of the Western All-Star team. Go Joe! Kovalev got the C for the Eastern All-Stars.

Cheer Up, Charlie

There is some good news. Dan Boyle will be attending his first All Star Game this month and Joe will be attending his 80th* While I sadly see no mention of Seto or Marleau, at least the Sharks will have someone on the ice to balance out the Ducks.

Much like the baseball All Star Game, I generally only care about the skills competition and not the actual game itself. It's fun to see these guys do what they do best, without restrictions or the pressure of game time. Maybe this year some people will bust out some crazy stuff for the Breakaway Challenge like Ovechkin did last year. (video of the entire challenge is here in case you haven't see it.) Stuff like that is fun to watch. Since the game itself has no baring on the season, aside from adding travel and a day of work to a player's schedule, and it somewhat requires me to root for players I don't normally like, I have a harder time getting into it. Same goes for baseball. (root for the Angels? GAH!)


*number of All Star Games attended may be slightly inflated

Awesome Holiday Funtimez With the Sharks

Thank you to whoever put this on youtube. Awesome.

Post Toronto Mini Facts

Last night was Joe Thornton's third anniversary as a Shark. He celebrated by getting a goal and three assists. Not a bad way to party.

Douglas Murray, aka that brick wall people keep trying to knock over and end up bouncing off of, is also celebrating three years in teal.

There was a tribute to RW and crew last night on the jumbo-tron. RW claims to have missed it. They didn't show it on TV, so we missed it too.

"He Just Toe Picked It"

So I had a comic I was planning to post, but it turned out terribly. Until I have confirmation of its suckage or lack thereof It totally sucks; I'm posting this gem instead. It's a few years old but still hilarious.




Edited: THIS JUST IN!
Thornton's teeth have been found. We repeat, Joe Thornton's teeth have been found. Question 10 has the scoop.

Hockey: Keeping the Tooth Fairy in Business

Has Joe Thornton lost more teeth lately? I remember when we were at Teal and White there was an auidble gasp when he smiled. A ton of his teeth were gone. We all know hockey players lose teeth like the stock market loses money, but it seemed like half of his had fallen out over the summer. He even sounds different now.

Is he just not wearing his fake teeth during games anymore or did I really take this long to notice that he's missing a bunch of his upper front teeth?