First freakout this free agency season

Pollak has the scoop. I am going to be EXTREMELY sad if Boucher is gone tomorrow.

Grier, sir. We pretty much knew this day was coming, but it's a sad day indeed. You were awesome. Good luck.

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.

Player News

And Update from David Pollak of Working the Corners has several sharks receiving qualifying offers, while others have been left high and dry.

More as it develops.

Update [3:26pm]:

More on those who did and did not receive QOs today from the sharks official site and Mr. Pollak.

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.

The Best Laid Plans. Draft Day 2009

There's supposed to be art for this. It's sitting in my sketch book waiting to be scanned and completed. The Tarts are also supposed to be having a dorky little draft day party, which is made even more dorky by the fact that the Sharks don't pick until the second round. Both those things may still occur, but Gray caught a dumb cold, so the art may be considerably later than it should be and our recap may be a list of links. (or with how Gray feels, there may not be any art at all. Sorry)

Enjoy your draft day, ladies and gentlemen.