Gameday!

Little known fact: on off days the rangers in Jellystone play hockey.

Today's bout kicks off at 4pm Sharks time on Versus, or the radio for those of you not currently receiving VS due to arguments over your money. Arguments in which you're not really allowed to take part. Fun, huh?

Anyway, the Rangers are starting out super hot, having won 7 games on on their longest win streak in several seasons. Must help when you can get hockey advice from a smarter than average bear. (I am really stretching for these this morning, aren't I?) Not that I'm comparing Tortorella to a bear. I think I might actually have a chance against a bear in a fight. Torts, not so much.

I have no idea where I am going with this so I'll stop here. Go Sharks!

News and Notes: We have a surprise for you all! This will (likely) be our last post here at blogger. We're moving! While we haven't officially flipped the switch just yet, BUT, we'll be your new Bloguin Sharks bloggers!Yay!
We'll make sure to post a link as soon as we flip the switch! (which should be later today)

Our first post in our new home. Go here! Go!

Some Additional Thoughts On last Night

As I tweeted not too long ago,I'm really surprised that Patty's two goals got no mention from Teh Todd. He was apparently only pleased by the play of Demers and Ferriero. (Read the print article here WTC update on the game is also up but the page is currently down) I can't figure out how the guy who scores your two goals gets tossed in the poop pile with the rest of the team. Part of me is wondering if it's part of some vast anti Patty conspiracy, but that's going a little too close crazy town. No use in reading into things that I'm not even sure are there.

Also a little surprised that some expected the Sharks to come out of the gate like gangbusters. IIRC, the Sharks have a habit of losing their first games, and did so quite often under RW. It happens. Considering how much the team turned over towards the end of the off season, it will take time for all the new lines and defensive pairings to gel and learn how to communicate with each other. Yes, people were slow and missing assignments all night, but it was clear that no one was sure WHERE they needed to be, and my guess is some of that has to do with the fact that a lot of old familiar players are gone, and the older Sharks have to adjust to the newer players styles. The newer Sharks have to adjust to be Sharks. It will take a few games to shake the bugs out.

It just seems a tad early to start contemplating jumping off the bus.

I think I am going to get very tired of hearing about Heatley not scoring this season. At least until he does. haha

The second line looked good. Gonna love Joe Pa, Patty, Clowe this year. Bringing the awesome to your face!

Trouble in Huskinsville?

As per WTC. Pollak, as always, is the man.

I think of all the summer moves, the (re)signing of Kent Huskins' is one that registered on everyone mind boggle radar. He got 1.7 mil and we haven't even seen the dude play as a Shark. I long ago gave up trying to understand the moves GMs make because, well, to be quite honest they don't seem to follow the same logic I would in their transactions. Now, much of this is because I only have the vaguest idea of what being a GM takes, (Look good in a suit. Tan early and often), whereas Doug Wilson and other GMs actually do this for a living. I suspect their insight into the job is somewhat better than mine.

The hope is that a less than stellar off season does not a bad regular (or post) season make. He was out for awhile and maybe it's just taking him some time to get back into the wing of things. Maybe he's still tentative and doesn't want to risk re-injuring himself this early. Maybe it's a combo of that and not quite being comfortable with the Sharks system yet. This is what I tell myself, anyway, because good or bad, he's here and all I can do is hope he works out.


Working the Corners provides us with more insight into the Huskinsville saga. It's not so much a saga as a slightly interesting conversation one wouldn't mind over hearing at lunch.

News and Notes

The Sharks and Ducks face off tonight @ 7:30 for some preseason Tank action. Sadly, you won't find it on your TVs. And judging by how the Sharks site doesn't have it on the news crawl (yet) it's probably not on your radio, either.

This video on Puck Daddy is fantastic. Hockey fans are different. 'Nuff said.

Between this guy being signed and snagging Malhotra for pennies (700K reported to be the deal) Doug Wilson has gone from a weak GM to the best GM ever once again in the mind of some fans. I think the 180 is pretty funny, personally. Similar to the one that happened when Heatley became a Shark. I can't decide if this means that we're a fickle, or accepting, lot.

Kinda of a bummer of a preseason. 2 wins and 3 losses, including one in OT where the Sharks had the lead going into the 3rd.Not to sure if that really means anything though. And as Mina likes to remind me, the year the Sharks were beasts in the preseason they started the season with like 10 losses.

This image may not have brought luck during the playoffs, but I like it just the same. It also summarizes my feeling towards the Ducks quite well.



Go Sharks.

News and Notes

Sharks face off against the Canucks again tonight in preseason action. Canucks.com will be carrying the game. As always, preseason + Sharks + Canucks = extracurriculars. 7pm.

Puck Daddy lists the Vegas odds for NHL teams to make the playoffs this year. I'm not a betting (wo)man, but if I were, I'm sure this would be kind of exciting.

Fools and Sages has a mathtastical break down of special teams.

I've been working on a fun little side project with a few fellow artist bloggers, and I'd love to get some more folks participating. The idea is simple: Do your own interpretation of this piece by Francis Bacon using an NHL figurehead. All media are accepted. If you're photoshoper, do it in photoshop. If you like watercolor, do it in that. Me? I'm painting mine with acrylics. (pics here)

I chose Bettman, but other folks are doing Balsillie (who isn't a figurehead but is in the news a bunch) and potentially Burke. I want to keep it to Bettman or the GMs, preferably recognizable ones, but really, feel free to do whatever.
This is NOT a competition. There are no prizes. It's just for fun.

If you want to participate, let me know. (email off to the side of the blog. Scroll down a tad). It'd be cool to post a gallery of these.

News at 11!

Luko and Ehrhoff out, two Canucks prospects in.

To be addressed at more length later. Now back to your regularly scheduled lunch break.

Oh Captain, My Former Captain

Marleau, unseated.

This was coming, and we knew it, but it's still a bit of a shocker. This also means no one has an 'A' currently, either. Should be interesting to see who ends up with what letter come season start.

*H/T to MyMcLife by way of Working the Corners
Why can't Gray spell Captain right? The world will never know.

Whhhhhhhaaaaaaaa???

Patrick Kane beats up cabby, gets a night in the sin bin.

I understand that there are two sides to every story, and I'd sure like to hear the Kane's. This is just weird. Who punches a cabby over 20 cents? (honestly, who punches a cabby?)

Tweets of Sadness

JR to retire.

We'll see on Thursday if this is for sure true. If it is, it will be a sad day.

UPDATE: Press conference set for Thursday at 11.

UPDATE 2: And the Merc with the confirmation.

NO DEAL!

Past the parts of a wedding ignored, you shall find some info regarding what could have been a deal that would have sent Heatly to San Jose. Apparently SJ is on the "approved" list of teams Heatly would move to, but the trade wasn't good enough.

I am wary of Garrioch, but in this case, it seems very very likely the the Sharks have been going after Heatly, and were willing to toss players at Ottawa to get him. Personally, I (Gray) am not at all comfortable with Heatly moving to the Sharks. Skills aside, past performances have shown us that there's a good chance he'll want out in a few seasons, and we could be stuck having paid a potentially high price for a guy who had no intention of sticking around.

There's no way any sane GM takes Cheech and Ehrhoff for Heatly. That would have been a steal of epic proportions. No, Ottawa is going to want more. A lot more. Picks, another player? (I think they have enough players, but ignoring that) Our Captain, perhaps? (DW DO NOT trade Marleau for this guy. Seriously) For as much as we Sharks fan talk about attitude being important, we seems to be willing to glaze over it somewhat in the case of Heatly.

I'm just not sure this guy has the type of attitude we need to push us over the "wait, how does the post season work?" hump.

As always h/t to TCY over at FTF who refuses to be scooped by anyone.

Schedule Is Out! Rejoice!

Find it here!

We'll be discussing this later, probably this weekend.

Same goes for the signing of Nichol. A man who's name I will inevitably add an S to several times this season. My apologies in advance, sir. Welcome to Team Teal.

Late News Is Better Than None

It's been a whirlwind here the past 24-48 hours, so I have gotten behind on blogging. Sad times. Anyway, here's Pollak's "latest" update on the Sharks moves this summer.

The Monster Signs Elsewhere

Gustavsson signs with Toronto.

This doesn't come as a surprise to me. The Leafs only had one goalie before he signed, and he was injured at season's end. Toronto offered the best chance of getting regular starts this season.

Here, on the other hand, Nabby is the unquestionable number one and work horse of the team. Gustavsson wouldn't have gotten nearly as many starts, and while I think I read that he wanted to work with an experience goaltender, the lure of ice time is undoubtedly strong. I don't blame the kid in the slightest for signing where he feels is best.

Burke was also giving him the hard sell, and I can't imagine it doesn't weigh into your decision somewhat, (either positively or negatively), when a GM is that active in trying to get you to sign with his team.

I'm going to totally ignore the lure of a town like Toronto, with its ravenous fan base and seemingly unquenchable thirst for all things Leafs related, because I have no idea if that was at all part of his decision.

1: 35pm UPDATE:
WTC update on the reasons Gustavsson signed with the Leafs and why DW didn't do anything wrong (that last part is for all you nay sayers out there)

WTC Update Regarding Clowe and Misc.

A few hours old, I know, but here it is. Two updates for today, so I'm just linking to the blog proper.
Working the Corners update

No News Is Good News

No news to report from the Teal front. No Sharks filed for arbitration, and none of Team teal has been on the move since Boosh headed to Philly. I expect moves to trickle out as the summer wears on and other teams start to realize they need this piece or that. Odds are many GMs will realize trades are the way to go, given the cap situation many teams are facing. We will , of course, report any news as we get it.

To help fill the void, Gray will making sure you have some artistic entertainment. Next up on "Drawing the Sharks" is Dan Boyle. No ETA, as I have a busy few days ahead of me, but I'll be working steadily on him all this week. The hardest part of this will be picking Sharks I think have a chance of staying through the summer. Not a problem I had been anticipating!

Don't you love how I dance between 1st and 3rd person? I also enjoy 1st person plural. Whatever fits my needs at the moment.

*cricket cricket*

*how can you not love and utilize that amazingly terrific Kendra quote?

Anyway, slow day today for any fan looking for hot hot UFA action. I guess everyone sat down after yesterday and realized they didn't have any more money. Ah, the economy...

Sharks fans are still waiting for the finalized deals with Huskins and Clowe. How long does it take to fax papers back and forth, guys?

The general consensus is that it's a long summer and DW won't make a splash too quickly. He has a long time to work out the best deals to finish filling out the roster, while also moving some salary around so we don't go over the cap. It will take some creative trade work, but he'll get it done. What's sure is that the team we knew and loved over the last few seasons is no more. The Sharks will have a new look.

Like Garth, we fear change, but we realize it's also inevitable. I'm going to try and reserve judgement on the signings/moves until we have a better picture of what the end result will be, but I'll likely still be unhappy/annoyed/elated/pleased/etc with the moves that are still to be made. So much so, in some cases, that I will feel the need to post about it.

Any player news will obviously be posted, regardless of opinion.

Speaking of which...Joe Pa may find himself staring down some familiar faces come the 2010 Winter Olympics. Assuming all four Sharks make their respective teams, that is.

The Sharks don't have much else to share, but they did make a handy guide for folks new to the free agency thing. It's got some out of date stuff on yesterday's free agency air time here in the states, but it's a good start for anyone confused with what's going down.

Technical Difficulties

Power's been off and on all morning. Updates on players, moves, etc, if they come today, will be sporadic at best and non existent at worst.

UPDATE:

Luckily, nothing huge went down today. Makes sense since the first is tomorrow. All the big splashes the Sharks may or may not make are more likely to hit then. Hopefully Gray will have reliable power tomorrow so as to provide you with coverage of all the day's events (or lack there of).

Working the Corners gives a more in depth reason for it being all quiet on the teal front.

Only thing in there that piques my interest is the Flyers potentially interested in getting Boosh back.

One thing of note: Joe Pa was invited to Team USA's Olympic camp. Whooo! Go Joe Pa!

And now, Gray is off to try and get some artwork done for tomorrow. Study all day, draw all night. And all with a cold. Don't say we don't love our readers.

Blake Back In Da'House

Working the Corners has the early (or late) down low on the dealio.

(h/t to swisherthreser at FTF)

Analysis/reaction to come tomorrow.

Potential Moves and the Danger of Disappointment

Change is coming, according to Pollak's chat with DW. But how much?

Are 6 to 8 roster moved enough to satisfy the angry cries rising up from some in the disgruntled San Jose fan base? It likely depends on what those changes are.

Unlike a lot of fans, I neither expect nor want to see Wilson blow up the team. I realize it's probably time for some players to go, (most Sharks fans I know agreeing that the time left in teal may be short for Cheech and Grier), but is it time to blow the team up?

One of the changes I consider possible, and large, though likely not large enough for many, is a changing of the leadership group. No, I'm not trying to toss Patty under the bus. I'm a big support of our current Captain, and if he keeps the C, I won't be surprised or concerned. However, I can see moving the letters about a bit to rewards those who showed pretty great leadership on the ice in that disastrous first round series against the Ducks. Ignoring Patty playing with a torn MCL for the moment (hello, leadership), Boyle and Palveski are pretty good picks if one if looking to toss some As around. JR has been a great motivator for the team, maybe give him a LM and make him the official team loud mouth. (I mean that in the best of ways, honestly. Love JR) I know, that's not an official thing, but still. If they don't have a life size cut out of him they are stripping naked with every win in the locker room, they should.*

Team motivation is what really needs to change. Beyond the players and their issues on the ice, there is clearly a lack of something within the organization. Some driving force. (No, no heart. They have that in spades as far as I am concerned.) Changes to the bench obviously influenced the team positively, but there's still something lacking within the team's core. I'm not sure how explosive moves in the locker room would aid/hinder that particular fix. Only time will tell.

I have a feeling that no matter what Wilson chooses to do in the remainder of the off season, it won't be enough for some. Some people won't be happy unless he ships out everyone minus Boyle. Personally, I'd be ok with a minimalist approach. A surgical strike on the roster, if you will. Oly fix what you know is broken. Leave the rest and see how it knits itself back together.


*Major League reference for those who don't waste as much of their time on pop culture as I do/did.

Worst Recap Ever

Mina and I did watch the draft yesterday, and she watched some of it today. Normally this would mean we'd have an amusing, though not necessarily in depth recap of the day's events for you, but Gray is feeling the full effects of her cold at the moment, and isn't really into typing things the require deeper levels of thinking. So, for now, we leave you with the following links to browse and our apologise at dropping the ball. You may want to wash it if you pick it up. It's got cooties.

Mirtle
FTF
Pollak
Puck Daddy

Lame, we know, but it's better than not posting at all.