few thoughts

[sjrules99]

tough game vs. la tonight, but I am thrilled with the sharks play this month. Although the start was bad, the sharks deserved the 2 points, and the depth is beginning to emerge. Donskoi and hertl are on fire right now, and tierney is looking good too. the youth are starting to pick it up and its fun to watch.

The one guy who needs to go is PM. He is an anvil in every area. team leading -14. no real goals in 13 games (the ENG doesnt count) and only 1 in the last 18. He is crushing the PK which is now amongst the league's worst. the proof is in the numbers:

On the sharks, Marleau has literally the worst GA/60 mins of PK time on the team at 11.5 (note: tennyson and lerg dont count), and he has never been on the ice for a shorthanded goal for. He also leads the team in the worst GA/60 mins at Even Strength, while ranking 12th on the team in GF/60 mins of even strength. Clearly, he sucks at EV, he sucks at PK, and he is hurting the team every game he plays.

Now is the wise time to bite the bullet and make a move. Not only could they get a whole lot in return (likely a package of a sub 25 year old NHL quality forward and a 1st rounder... like Pulkkinen or Sheahan +1st from detroit), but they would get addition by subtraction and could give more ice time to up and coming guys like karlsson or Tierney who are currently stuck on the 4th line playing 9-11 mins /gm. They could get moved up and playe 13-15 mins and the sharks wouldnt miss a beat.

Jumbo has elevated his game tremendously and shown that he is still highly effective. But, after last season complete boondoggle and this season's similarities, its time to make the deal, cut the cord, and improve the team with giving the younger, hungrier players more opportunities, and getting value in return. The fans will be mean at first, but they will forgive when they see how much better the team is without they $6.7M minus machine anchor.

 

[sjrules99]

PS: last year, he was dead last in GA/60 on the PK too. 2nd to last in GA/60 at EV. Again, 12th in GF/60 at EV. Again not on the ice for a single shorthanded goal for.

2 years ago, the sharks PK was respectable, but PM was the 2nd worst GA/60 on the PK. (only burish was worse). PM was also the number one worst in GA/60 mins at EV.

What I dont understand is why Deboer copies Mclellan and puts him out there, when it obviously doesnt work? he produces nothing shorthanded, so his speed is obviously not a threat, and he is consistently for 3 years in a row, the worst player on the team in giving up goals on the PK? Gee, maybe its time for a different guy to play on the PK, eh? Maybe throwing PM out there each time is the #1 reason for your shitastic PK? hmmm???

Wow: 3 years running as the teams worst (or 2nd worst) PKer. 3 years running as the worst (or 2nd worst) at EV goals against. Never in the top 5 in GF/60 at EV and 2 out of three years, not in the top 10 on the team. So, gee, I think the numbers speak louder than anything...

Patty's time to go is now and the team will be far better for it.

 

[Cmon_WTF]

Of course Marleau going to have a huge minus in the +/- department. Look at the situation he's being put in at evens. His line draws the toughest comp and he is the only offensive forward threat on his line. Marleau is a good player but he's not one who can create offense by himself and with Ward and Nieto as linemates that is literally what he has to do to score. That lines job it to limit the offense produced by the other teams top players so Jumbo and Couture's lines can have mismatches against 2nd and 3rd tier comp for jumbo or 3rd and 4th for Couture. Look for Marleau to be a -1 or better rating a game. If he does that then he and his linemates have done their job and its up to the other lines to take advantage of their mismatches.

If you remove Marleau from the picture and don't replace him with a player who is equally gifted on offense and defense the Sharks will be in a world of hurt. The other lines will be forced to play against comps that are above their level and not only will the offense suffer but you'll see a sizable increase in goals against and that will result in a lot more losses than wins.

I honestly couldn't be happier with the play of Marleau and his line given there overall abilities and who they are matching up against. Since they made the adjustment, one game after Couture's return, of Couture centering the 2nd line and Marleau to the 3rd every line has played great. The only issue I have is Mike Brown being in the line up. I have no clue what the coaching staff sees in him.