Ask Unkie Trunkie IV
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From: SJC
As I have said, the Sharts have come in two flavors:
1.) Run up to the all-star game, then hang on long enough to get a decent seed in the play-offs.
2.) Drive asleep at the wheel until the all-star game, then go charging all the way into the play-offs.
Either way, they've always gotten into the play-offs, and well into said play-offs, for many years, in time to choke. However, they've always been contenders up until this year.
This year, I could tell that by October, the dynamics had changed dramatically. They were not only pulling plan #2, but with a complete failure to get shots on goal pre-all-star break. When I saw the standings, it was apparent to me that even if Plan 1 or Plan 2 Sharts even touched the playoffs, they were going to get their asses handed to them by the shooting freaks (IIRC, Boston was the flavor of the week back when I made that prognostication). I checked out.
So now, everyone is calling to get rid of players. The only argument for that is the fact that the Sharts have been bad at clearing the puck from behind the goal. You could blame Thornton for that. Thornton might be getting old too. Past that, there's nothing I'd heavily change in the line up. My suspicions are first on McLellan and his assistants (like I said, you could blame Thornton, or you can blame the coaching), but I'd even go further up to Doug Wilson's office. Given how there's a (-n emerging) pattern (Setoguchi, Cheechoo) of trading popular players for draft picks, I really have to wonder if San Jose churns a team just to churn a team: throw out a "bad player," declare victory against failure for next season, only to fail with a variation on the same theme.
They need a coach with a bullwhip and a hot iron, and a GM that can make that kind of hiring happen.
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From: Nowhere
Neither Setoguchi nor Cheechoo did much after their trades and were largely expendable; you can put any decent finisher with Thornton and Marleau and they'll get 30 goals. Cheechoo flopped hardcore after he left. Burns (acquired for Setoguchi) was one of the Sharks' better D (not saying a ton), Setoguchi is decent for the Wild.
The Sharks were #2 in the NHL in shots on goal. They just didn't score very often.
Statistically the Sharks and Devils were pretty similar, except the Devils won most of their shootouts... and neither is doing well in playoff land.
The Sharks were #2 in the NHL in shots on goal. They just didn't score very often.
Statistically the Sharks and Devils were pretty similar, except the Devils won most of their shootouts... and neither is doing well in playoff land.
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From: SJC
Neither Setoguchi nor Cheechoo did much after their trades and were largely expendable; you can put any decent finisher with Thornton and Marleau and they'll get 30 goals. Cheechoo flopped hardcore after he left. Burns (acquired for Setoguchi) was one of the Sharks' better D (not saying a ton), Setoguchi is decent for the Wild.
The Sharks were #2 in the NHL in shots on goal. They just didn't score very often.
It's mostly irrelevant (but fun to mention), but of the 4-5 Guppies games I've been to, one was where they set the team record for shots on goal, and still lost.
Statistically the Sharks and Devils were pretty similar, except the Devils won most of their shootouts... and neither is doing well in playoff land.
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From: Nowhere
That last thing was mostly just a comment about 2 of my 3 favorite teams. The Devils had a good record but if you take out the shootout they barely make the playoffs... just like the Guppies.
I still think blaming the GM might be misguided - especially on the two trades you mentioned. Cheechoo was traded (essentially) for Heatley, a much better player. Setoguchi (an average winger) was traded for Burns (an average defended who looked a lot better before the trade).
I still think blaming the GM might be misguided - especially on the two trades you mentioned. Cheechoo was traded (essentially) for Heatley, a much better player. Setoguchi (an average winger) was traded for Burns (an average defended who looked a lot better before the trade).
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From: SJC
I still think blaming the GM might be misguided - especially on the two trades you mentioned. Cheechoo was traded (essentially) for Heatley, a much better player. Setoguchi (an average winger) was traded for Burns (an average defended who looked a lot better before the trade).