Dan Boyle now leads the NHL in points by a defensemen. This guy has been a stud all year and will continue to be for years to come. As Drew said, we should be thanking Campbell for leaving instead of booing him. Thank you Doug Wilson for pulling another brilliant trade!
Not that my email had anything to do with it but...below is an email I wrote to Doug Wilson a year ago (12/19/07)
Hi,
I've been a fan since 94 and have been going to at least a dozen games a year. I don't know why this team lacks passion/intensity for important games, but I do know this:
Our Defensemen are offensively challenged.
If you have been watching, I'm sure you will agree our D men have an adventure when it comes to breaking out of own zone or setting up on the power play.
I am a firm believer that you need at least one bona fide power play QB. Our last truly legitimate player was Gary Suter.
This past summer Souray, Rafalski, Schneider were available. I do believe Dany Markov is still out there too. Why couldn't we pick up any of them? Esp: Rafalski?
If you truly want to win the Cup as you contend, then we need to either develop that power play QB or trade for one.
Sincerely,
Ting
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Random Thoughts
Sorry I have been neglecting this blog lately. Too busy with various things throughout the week. But I don't feel like working right now, so I'll just jot down a few random thoughts I have.
- You can make a lot of money buying and selling Sharks tickets. I just sold my Detroit tickets for 1/17 for $280 on Powerplay (pocketing $252)!! Funny how Peter Fong's been talking about money for the past month or so and how the love of money is evil. I am conflicted =(
- The Sharks played the ugliest game of the season last night... and still won! I'm not sure whether to be happy or upset. It's good to know we can still win when we don't play well (other than Nabby). However, it's also kind of disturbing how a team like Columbus, with inferior talent, can outwork and outplay us so badly. And it's not like we came out responded in the 2nd period after the lackluster first. Where were the adjustments? The step up in intensity? It's not like we played the previous night or had any travel.
- We definitely need some more 3rd and 4th line scoring. This has been a problem for us all year. The first and second lines have been carrying our scoring, as they should be. And while the other 2 lines haven't been playing horribly, they still need to contribute a little bit more. Remember the days of Scott Thornton, Mike Ricci, and Niklas Sundstrom? Those third liners were scoring 15-20 goals. The return of Mitchell and getting Cheechoo healthy should both help, so I guess we'll see.
- Are we not using JR to his full potential? When Todd McLellan threw JR on the top line with Joe and Patty last night, he fit right in. Although he's definitely lost a step since his prime, isn't he being wasted on the 4th line? How is he ever going to score playing with Jody Shelley and (insert Worchester call-up here)? Remember what he did against the Flames last year in the playoffs? And why do you think we continue using him in shootouts? Do you think maybe it's because he knows how to score? I just realized this whole paragraph is made up of questions, so i will end with a statement. I don't know where exactly you would put him in the lineup, but I just don't think he belongs on the 4th line.
- You can make a lot of money buying and selling Sharks tickets. I just sold my Detroit tickets for 1/17 for $280 on Powerplay (pocketing $252)!! Funny how Peter Fong's been talking about money for the past month or so and how the love of money is evil. I am conflicted =(
- The Sharks played the ugliest game of the season last night... and still won! I'm not sure whether to be happy or upset. It's good to know we can still win when we don't play well (other than Nabby). However, it's also kind of disturbing how a team like Columbus, with inferior talent, can outwork and outplay us so badly. And it's not like we came out responded in the 2nd period after the lackluster first. Where were the adjustments? The step up in intensity? It's not like we played the previous night or had any travel.
- We definitely need some more 3rd and 4th line scoring. This has been a problem for us all year. The first and second lines have been carrying our scoring, as they should be. And while the other 2 lines haven't been playing horribly, they still need to contribute a little bit more. Remember the days of Scott Thornton, Mike Ricci, and Niklas Sundstrom? Those third liners were scoring 15-20 goals. The return of Mitchell and getting Cheechoo healthy should both help, so I guess we'll see.
- Are we not using JR to his full potential? When Todd McLellan threw JR on the top line with Joe and Patty last night, he fit right in. Although he's definitely lost a step since his prime, isn't he being wasted on the 4th line? How is he ever going to score playing with Jody Shelley and (insert Worchester call-up here)? Remember what he did against the Flames last year in the playoffs? And why do you think we continue using him in shootouts? Do you think maybe it's because he knows how to score? I just realized this whole paragraph is made up of questions, so i will end with a statement. I don't know where exactly you would put him in the lineup, but I just don't think he belongs on the 4th line.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog....
Ting: im beating you this week in fantasy =P
me: oh yea?
Ting: yes
me: i wouldn't know
=P
am i losing badly?
Ting: and why do you have i heart petr sykora
i thought you heart vlasic
me: sykora's my first love
well sykora and stuart
Ting: gosh
so many
me: dood sykora makes the playoff beard sexy
he's the only player that looks good w/ all that hair on his face
Ting: lies
he looks like a werewolf
me: http://im.sport.cz/985/9852-article-jqito.jpg
he looks better w/ hair
than w/out
Ting: something is not right
and i think its me looking at this picture of a guy
me: you're attracted huh?
i don't blame you
me: oh yea?
Ting: yes
me: i wouldn't know
=P
am i losing badly?
Ting: and why do you have i heart petr sykora
i thought you heart vlasic
me: sykora's my first love
well sykora and stuart
Ting: gosh
so many
me: dood sykora makes the playoff beard sexy
he's the only player that looks good w/ all that hair on his face
Ting: lies
he looks like a werewolf
me: http://im.sport.cz/985/9852-article-jqito.jpg
he looks better w/ hair
than w/out
Ting: something is not right
and i think its me looking at this picture of a guy
me: you're attracted huh?
i don't blame you
all star voting
Nabby just passed Osgood for 2nd in the West.
And Crosby finally broke the stupid Canadians voting in the East!
And Crosby finally broke the stupid Canadians voting in the East!
Homegrown Talent
More Kudos to the Sharks organization for drafting well. What makes this team so exciting and great is that the majority of our roster was homegrown (unlike the New York Rangers or any NY team for that matter)
The following players were either free agents or obtained through a trade.
Blake- Free Agent Signing
Boyle and Lukowich- Obtained through a trade during the summer for Matt Carle (who was drafted by the Sharks)
Boucher- Free Agent Signing
Joe Thornton- Obtained for Sturm, Stuart and Primeau. The first two players were drafted by the Sharks.
JR-Free Agent Signing
Mike Grier-Free Agent Signing
Shelly- Trade
That means the rest of our roster were all homegrown if not indirectly homegrown. I love talent that develops from within an organization. It can save a team a bundle of money by getting NHL talent for cheap price. Let's not forget why Detroit has been so good. They picked up Datsyuk and Zetteberg in the 6th and 7th rounds repsectively!
The following players were either free agents or obtained through a trade.
Blake- Free Agent Signing
Boyle and Lukowich- Obtained through a trade during the summer for Matt Carle (who was drafted by the Sharks)
Boucher- Free Agent Signing
Joe Thornton- Obtained for Sturm, Stuart and Primeau. The first two players were drafted by the Sharks.
JR-Free Agent Signing
Mike Grier-Free Agent Signing
Shelly- Trade
That means the rest of our roster were all homegrown if not indirectly homegrown. I love talent that develops from within an organization. It can save a team a bundle of money by getting NHL talent for cheap price. Let's not forget why Detroit has been so good. They picked up Datsyuk and Zetteberg in the 6th and 7th rounds repsectively!
i <3 Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson is a genius. Maybe 2nd best GM to Ken Holland.
Brought in Todd, Boyle, Blake, and didn't tear up his roster from last year.
David Silva posted this on "Working the Corners", but it was something I thought about too this morning.
He just assigned Armstrong back to Worcester, and brought up Cavanaugh. So far McGinn, Staubitz, Armstrong, and now Cavanaugh have been rewarded with a taste of the big leagues for their great play in Worcester. I love how DW is giving them these guys an opportunity to play in SJ, and it can only help them grow and improve. It also helps that the Sharks are doing amazing right now, and there are a couple injuries, but still, I like how he's giving EVERYONE a chance.
I was surprised when McGinn was sent down again for Staubitz. McGinn had 2 goals and 1 assist in 5 games in SJ, and was playing really well. He only had 2 shots on goal in those 5 games, and both those shots were goals! But it turns out that Wilson wanted to give everyone a chance.
great move.
Brought in Todd, Boyle, Blake, and didn't tear up his roster from last year.
David Silva posted this on "Working the Corners", but it was something I thought about too this morning.
He just assigned Armstrong back to Worcester, and brought up Cavanaugh. So far McGinn, Staubitz, Armstrong, and now Cavanaugh have been rewarded with a taste of the big leagues for their great play in Worcester. I love how DW is giving them these guys an opportunity to play in SJ, and it can only help them grow and improve. It also helps that the Sharks are doing amazing right now, and there are a couple injuries, but still, I like how he's giving EVERYONE a chance.
I was surprised when McGinn was sent down again for Staubitz. McGinn had 2 goals and 1 assist in 5 games in SJ, and was playing really well. He only had 2 shots on goal in those 5 games, and both those shots were goals! But it turns out that Wilson wanted to give everyone a chance.
great move.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Lemieux, Sharks chances...
-According to Hradek of ESPN, the 43 year Claude Lemieux in three AHL games has a goal, an assist, 14 shots and is a plus-2. How nuts would it be if this guy makes the Sharks roster and gets a spot?
Grit is always welcome on this Sharks team.
-With the best start in NHL history for the first 25 games, its hard not to look further down the road of the Sharks chances. The Stanley Cup is the most difficult trophy to win in sports and if the Sharks can overcome some obstacles, we just may be ready to plan for that victory parade off Santa Clara street!
The following are a myriad of possibilities that can go wrong this Spring.
1. Injuries / Depth - I believe this will be the number one determining factor in how far we get in the playoffs. Case in point: The year the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Oilers to win the Cup, they had to go through the Sabres in the ECF in a 7 game battle. The Sabres even led entering the third period of that game 7 but ultimately lost that game and series. However, the Sabres were missing four or five regular starting defensemen for that series! Nobody here wants to see Semenov much come playoff time. Any major injury to our key player or players could derail all hopes.
2. Hot Goaltending- It doesn't matter if the Sharks put 100 shots on net. If they run into a hot goaltender in the playoffs who outplays Nabby and Bouch, we could still lose the series. I think the Sharks have enough firepower to over come this. Be wary, the Detroit Red Wings were the number one team in the regular season in the early 2000's for many years only to be ousted in the first or second rounds by hot goaltending. (Anahiem, Edmonton, Calgary)
3. History is not on Sharks side. Three years in a row. I know, I know different situation, but until proven otherwise, this team need to get over not just the 2nd round hump, but the WCF, and the SC Finals.
Grit is always welcome on this Sharks team.
-With the best start in NHL history for the first 25 games, its hard not to look further down the road of the Sharks chances. The Stanley Cup is the most difficult trophy to win in sports and if the Sharks can overcome some obstacles, we just may be ready to plan for that victory parade off Santa Clara street!
The following are a myriad of possibilities that can go wrong this Spring.
1. Injuries / Depth - I believe this will be the number one determining factor in how far we get in the playoffs. Case in point: The year the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Oilers to win the Cup, they had to go through the Sabres in the ECF in a 7 game battle. The Sabres even led entering the third period of that game 7 but ultimately lost that game and series. However, the Sabres were missing four or five regular starting defensemen for that series! Nobody here wants to see Semenov much come playoff time. Any major injury to our key player or players could derail all hopes.
2. Hot Goaltending- It doesn't matter if the Sharks put 100 shots on net. If they run into a hot goaltender in the playoffs who outplays Nabby and Bouch, we could still lose the series. I think the Sharks have enough firepower to over come this. Be wary, the Detroit Red Wings were the number one team in the regular season in the early 2000's for many years only to be ousted in the first or second rounds by hot goaltending. (Anahiem, Edmonton, Calgary)
3. History is not on Sharks side. Three years in a row. I know, I know different situation, but until proven otherwise, this team need to get over not just the 2nd round hump, but the WCF, and the SC Finals.
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