2014-2015 Season

[sjrules99]

went to game last nigth. LA dominated from the moment jumbo scored to the final buzzer. Its preseseason, but it looked alot like regular season/playoffs. Sloppy several weak goals from nemo, positionally weak, not supporting the puck. I know you dont read much into preseason, but I hope that wasnt a sign of whats to come

 

[sjrules99]

one other note, Burns needs to be a forward. He got beat many many times but swifter footed forwards. He belongs down low banging bodies and ripping off wristers from the high slot, not trying to backskate and keep up with slicker forwards defensively. I predict that if he remains on D, the sharks will to be able to score and burns will be a big minus. He'll be a forward within a month or two. Personally, Id rather him at forward and we deal with Fedun or someone like that in the lineup in order to have the hole on D instead of on D and O with burns.

 

[RaiderZar]

one other note, Burns needs to be a forward. He got beat many many times but swifter footed forwards. He belongs down low banging bodies and ripping off wristers from the high slot, not trying to backskate and keep up with slicker forwards defensively. I predict that if he remains on D, the sharks will to be able to score and burns will be a big minus. He'll be a forward within a month or two. Personally, Id rather him at forward and we deal with Fedun or someone like that in the lineup in order to have the hole on D instead of on D and O with burns.

If one of the young D can step-up, maybe they'll move him back (& quickly).

 

[sjrules99]

If one of the young D can step-up, maybe they'll move him back (& quickly).

I thought Mueller and Fedun could possibly make it.

Braun, Vlasic, Demers, Irwin, Hannan, Mueller, Fedun as your top 7. That's some seriously weak D, but thats what happens when you jettison 3 vets and add no one.

Doherty is clearly not ready, he will be gone soon.

I wouldnt be surprised to see goldobin make the team since they can send him back after 9 games with no harm, no foul on the ELC. Same with Mueller actually, so I expect both will make it. Tierney and goodrow seem less likely to start the season, but we could see them not long after depending on how things go. hayes will be back down shortly.

Stalock should be the starting Goalie as nemo just sucks.

obviously, if they want to get younger, they will give these youngs guys good looks. I think alot of changes will happen if the first month or two of the season goes south. They are on the road for nearly 2 straight months, so its a brutal way to start the year. if they go well under .500 in the first 20 games, I think we'll see some big names hitting the market. Dougie tried to deal jumbo, but if things go badly for the sharks and another team comes knocking with a reasonable offer, dougie will do it pending jumbo's NTC. I think patty was not on the market, but he could be too. Nemo will be gone for sure given his UFA status and Stalock's heir apparent status.

Simply put, if they start out well, likely changes will be few, but if the kids struggle out of the gate, and the team starts weakly, Dougie will have no choice but to get value for his older assets and really go young. This really reminds me of the 2005-2006 year, where they started terribly and that incited the jumbo deal. The sharks have at least 3 big names that are older and clearly marketable and I cannot see dougie going down with the ship without getting value for those guys.

 

[23sharks]

I thought Mueller and Fedun could possibly make it.

Braun, Vlasic, Demers, Irwin, Hannan, Mueller, Fedun as your top 7. That's some seriously weak D, but thats what happens when you jettison 3 vets and add no one.

Doherty is clearly not ready, he will be gone soon.

I wouldnt be surprised to see goldobin make the team since they can send him back after 9 games with no harm, no foul on the ELC. Same with Mueller actually, so I expect both will make it. Tierney and goodrow seem less likely to start the season, but we could see them not long after depending on how things go. hayes will be back down shortly.

Stalock should be the starting Goalie as nemo just sucks.

obviously, if they want to get younger, they will give these youngs guys good looks. I think alot of changes will happen if the first month or two of the season goes south. They are on the road for nearly 2 straight months, so its a brutal way to start the year. if they go well under .500 in the first 20 games, I think we'll see some big names hitting the market. Dougie tried to deal jumbo, but if things go badly for the sharks and another team comes knocking with a reasonable offer, dougie will do it pending jumbo's NTC. I think patty was not on the market, but he could be too. Nemo will be gone for sure given his UFA status and Stalock's heir apparent status.

Simply put, if they start out well, likely changes will be few, but if the kids struggle out of the gate, and the team starts weakly, Dougie will have no choice but to get value for his older assets and really go young. This really reminds me of the 2005-2006 year, where they started terribly and that incited the jumbo deal. The sharks have at least 3 big names that are older and clearly marketable and I cannot see dougie going down with the ship without getting value for those guys.

That's how I see it playing out too. If they get off to a bad start, he'll have to make moves....If they don't...they'll have a good regular season like they usually do, then get beat in the first round.
With the new playoff format, I just don't see them doing anywhere. They are gonna play LA or Anaheim in the 1st round, and prob lose. Maybe they can beat the Ducks, but we know they aren't going to beat LA.
So I guess I still see them as like a 4-8 seed....just good enough to get in the playoffs and get bounced early...

 

[Cbrower91]

Just read the recap the Kings had their starting day roster on the while the sharks had 7 guys trying out for a spots, that probably had a lot to do with results of the game.

That being said everything i heard was that Nemo was doing everything he could to give up the starting job so that will be interesting.

As for Burns he spent the majority of the year at the wing, it took him a while last time he was jumping from forward to d and vice versa to make the adjustment. Still leaves a huge hole at forward no sharks forward does that kind of heavy hitting and dirty outside of wingels. and he just lacks size.

But the D isnt as horrendous as your making it out to be, Braun and Vlasic are top tier defensemen on any team demers, hannan, and burns arent bad either. Big and mobile and can all start the transition. Obviously there isnt a shea webber or doughty but there arent many of those out there to begin with. Mueller is a real wild card.

I hope Vlasic isnt stuck baby sitting burns all season, but i dont see Demers being able to do it nor Hannan. So i guess that splits up the teams best pairing in Braun in Vlasic.

Im still not really caring about this season, not even remotely excited about it starting lol

 

[sjrules99]

Just read the recap the Kings had their starting day roster on the while the sharks had 7 guys trying out for a spots, that probably had a lot to do with results of the game.

That being said everything i heard was that Nemo was doing everything he could to give up the starting job so that will be interesting.

As for Burns he spent the majority of the year at the wing, it took him a while last time he was jumping from forward to d and vice versa to make the adjustment. Still leaves a huge hole at forward no sharks forward does that kind of heavy hitting and dirty outside of wingels. and he just lacks size.

But the D isnt as horrendous as your making it out to be, Braun and Vlasic are top tier defensemen on any team demers, hannan, and burns arent bad either. Big and mobile and can all start the transition. Obviously there isnt a shea webber or doughty but there arent many of those out there to begin with. Mueller is a real wild card.

I hope Vlasic isnt stuck baby sitting burns all season, but i dont see Demers being able to do it nor Hannan. So i guess that splits up the teams best pairing in Braun in Vlasic.

Im still not really caring about this season, not even remotely excited about it starting lol

yeah, preseason is preseason, but the sharks also had a pretty full roster. Only pavs up front was out and carter was out for LA. The D was also younger than it would be with braun, pickles, and demers all out, so Im sure that exaggerated the struggles. Still, it didnt look good, and burns is fast and big but not quick. He was getting beat regularly and it looked alot like right before they switched him to be a forward. Personally I'd rather he go up front and leave the D without a big shot, but at least competent in their own end.

Braun, vlasic, demers, Mueller, Irwin, and hannan is not a horrible D, especially not in their own zone. Mueller looks a whole lot like vlasic, smooth skater, confident with the puck and solid at making the simple right play, but he offers little at the other end. Braun and pickles fit the same mold. Irwin gives more offensively but is iffy in his own end. Demers could elevate his offensive game this year and may need to. Hannan is old and a liability but his minutes can be limited!

With their roster, if burns plays D, they lose O and D, but if burns moves up, their forwards are respectable and the D would be fine in their own end, but it will be tough to score 3 on 5. I cannot see a scenario in which they are better than last year or even remotely close.

The first two months will be reallllly interesting.

p.s.: nemo is done, I expect he wont be a shark in april.

 

[Cbrower91]

I don't know if Nemo is done as much as its his style of goaltending and the Sharks d play don't match up well. Nemo is a prototypical blocking goaltender, which if your d is good at clearing the slot/net and are good at puck retrieval that's fine. Sharks are good at puck retrieval out towards the boards but get dominated in the net front/ slot area, an arena were nemos style makes it worse. On the right team like Chicago or la 2 teams that control the front of their net he'd look all world again

 

[Cbrower91]

Wow the Ice Landers got both Ledddy and Boychuk today. I think they are making the playoffs this year

 

[MacJ88]

I was floored when I saw that the Islanders landed Leddy AND Boychuk. Leddy would have been the perfect acquisition for the Sharks going through our "whatever the hell this is" mode. He's 23 and getting better, I wonder if DW was even in on this.

 

[Likewall32]

OT but can someone explain the Krug situation, where teams werent allowed offer him contracts even tho he wasnt signed? I thought he was an RFA? My buddy told me boston signed him for 1yr 1.4mil. Steal of the decade

 

[MrChangoT97]

Krug, sucks let it go Likewall.

The Sharks are going to be a mediocre team, with no BIG names on the team.

 

[Likewall32]

Krug, sucks let it go Likewall.

The Sharks are going to be a mediocre team, with no BIG names on the team.

Im still curious whar rule that fell under where teams werent allowed to offer an RFA a contract. Ive never heard of this

 

[MrChangoT97]

Im still curious whar rule that fell under where teams werent allowed to offer an RFA a contract. Ive never heard of this

I think it was because of the number of games he has played, not including playoffs.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

I agree with you guys about the dmen on this team. Highly unproven, not necessarily weak, but doubtful. Forwards look good tho. If you guys played in the East you would be a top tier team, but it will be a struggle in the West with this roster.

 

[Cmon_WTF]

OT but can someone explain the Krug situation, where teams werent allowed offer him contracts even tho he wasnt signed? I thought he was an RFA? My buddy told me boston signed him for 1yr 1.4mil. Steal of the decade

Players with fewer than 3 years pro experience are not eligible to sign offer sheets. 3 years pro experience means having played 25+ games at the AHL or NHL level or in a European pro league.

 

[Likewall32]

Players with fewer than 3 years pro experience are not eligible to sign offer sheets. 3 years pro experience means having played 25+ games at the AHL or NHL level or in a European pro league.

Your statment makes no sense then. Krug played 79 games last year. 82 total nhl games and 63 ahl games. Lmao so he was way over the 25 game mark. Again why he was able to tender offers is something ive never seen before

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Your statment makes no sense then. Krug played 79 games last year. 82 total nhl games and 63 ahl games. Lmao so he was way over the 25 game mark. Again why he was able to tender offers is something ive never seen before

He wasn't eligible to receive Offer Sheets because of his experience. He signed his ELC at age 20, and at that age you have to have at least 3 years professional experience (1 year of "professional experience" as it pertains to the NHL is 10+ games in a season, not 25) before an Offer Sheet or Arbitration is available to you.

So while you you are correct that he played in 79 games last year (91 total including POs, which is the total count for 2013-14) he only played in 2 games in 2011-12 and 23 games in 2012-13 (1 RS + 22 POs). The first year, 2011-12, didn't count as "professional experience" obviously. He was one year of experience short of being eligible.

Sucks to be him but dems are the rules designed to keep limited-experience RFAs from huge dollar deals well before they have earned them.

 

[Likewall32]

He wasn't eligible to receive Offer Sheets because of his experience. He signed his ELC at age 20, and at that age you have to have at least 3 years professional experience (1 year of "professional experience" as it pertains to the NHL is 10+ games in a season, not 25) before an Offer Sheet or Arbitration is available to you.

So while you you are correct that he played in 79 games last year (91 total including POs, which is the total count for 2013-14) he only played in 2 games in 2011-12 and 23 games in 2012-13 (1 RS + 22 POs). The first year, 2011-12, didn't count as "professional experience" obviously. He was one year of experience short of being eligible.

Sucks to be him but dems are the rules designed to keep limited-experience RFAs from huge dollar deals well before they have earned them.

Thanks. He will def get a huge raise next yr tho. Still pissed we didnt pry boychuk from the bs

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Thanks. He will def get a huge raise next yr tho. Still pissed we didnt pry boychuk from the bs

He showed a lot of promise, needs to tighten up his defensive game a little bit. I had him in the Kings Board FHL last season and he played pretty well for me statistically. But on a good defensive team like Boston watching him, he made some typical rookie mistakes. If he can develop his defensive game like he has his offensive game, he will be something to watch in a few years when he matures.

I actually thought Wilson might have chased Boychuk a little bit, he is a very underrated defender. Solid in his own end, physical and has a booming shot. The Islanders got a very good defender taking advantage of Boston's cap situation. I had him 2 years ago in the FHL and he was solid, and watching this guy, he is simply a smart, physical player who can chip in now and again. He's not a liability by any means.

With the Sharks moving out Boyle and Stuart I think Boychuk could have been a solid addition for some time on the blue line. Don't know if Wilson didn't want him in the mix or just flat out missed the boat but a missed opportunity nonetheless.