THE SHARKS SWEEP THE DUCKS! THE SHARKS SWEEP THE DUCKS.

I know we all wished this was the headline back in April, but I still took some minor personal satisfaction watching our rookies beat the feathers out of the Ducks rookies last night, completing total domination of the three day rookie tournament where the Sharks kids outscored the Ducklings 13-4. Perhaps the Ducks young players needed Papa Carlyle to sit on their eggs a little bit longer because there wasn’t much to look at on their side. As for the Sharks, the main attractions (Sexsmith, Stalock, Couture and Petrecki) were not on the ice, so we got a good look at some recent draft picks and guys looking to earn a free agent contract. As we talk about on this weeks podcast, guys who caught my eye included tryout player Daniel Erlich, who is a 5’6 ball of speed that had four points last night, earning the crowds chants of “RUDY, RUDY”. I also was impressed by Frazer McLaren, who is certain to be getting a cup of coffee in the NHL at some point this year, if not at the beginning of the season if he outperforms Staubitz and Shelley at camp. If I were them, I’d be looking over my shoulder. The biggest puzzler of the night was why the Sharks didn’t let Sexsmith see any action – instead he sat and watched the entire game as the back-up. I was looking forward to seeing him answer Stalock’s shutout performance from the night before since they will be sharing duties for Worcester this season.

So what did I get out of last night besides slight heartburn from a hotdog and griddle marks on my ass from the metal benches? I felt encouraged that it appears the San Jose Sharks are moving in a new direction in terms of their farm club, relying on college kids and prospects to develop instead of stocking the roster with AHL retreads who have no shot at sniffing any NHL action. While there a few in this category (Danny Groulx and Joe Callahan come to mind on the blueline) the rest will likely be college prospects and young talent – a nice change of direction for a team last year that had seven players over the age of 27. This year, it would appear there would be only four guys in that category (Ortmeyer, Groulx, Callahan and Vesce) and Ortmeyer might stick as the scratch in San Jose.

Bruce Garrioch is babbling about a new rumor that will still send Dany Heatley to San Jose, Patrick Marleau to the LA King and Frolov and Stoll to the Sens. I still think any deal involving Patrick Marleau has limited to no chance of being pulled off because he refuses to leave the Bay Area this season. What do you think, trade clause be damned – would you make this deal? Who gets the better end?

Thanks to our friends at Fear the Fin, the Sharks have invited former Red Wing and Canadiens defensemen Mattieau Dandenault to camp for a tryout. Sort of like auditioning to sit in the press box, but hell – it’s a cheaper option that would allow someone like Joslin to play every night in Worcester instead of eat Combos and drink Molson with Ryan Garner. So I say, sure – why not.

If you’ve made it to the end of this post, then maybe you might want to join our Dudes on Hockey fantasy hockey league? It’s not for the faint of heart and only people who are obsessed enough with hockey to maintain a current roster need apply. For more info

League ID: 106993

League Name : Dudes On Hockey

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If you want to join but the league is full, either comment here or email us at questions@dudesonhockey.com – if we get enough overflow we will start another league.