That is definitely a valid point about Clowe. I think most of us are expecting him to put up 60-70 points, with much of that improvement coming with better 5v5 play on his part. If he is a 50 pt forward, I think he is overpaid and another restricted free agent mistake by Doug Wilson. Until he decides otherwise, Clowe is not a Holmstrom-like beast in front of the net, he is a Joe Thornton-extra lite who likes to dish and use his body for puck possession. If he wants to be a 40-50pt big body playmaker, he profiles as a 3rd line winger on this squad with some 2nd unit PP time.

This is the last year for this team before “rebuilding” as I see it. The big name contacts are up.

Don’t you remember how last year we looked at all the stats about how when anaheim won the cup and when detroit won the cup, they started out incredibly dominant, and then went through some bumps and bruises before picking it up later? There will always be a stat or theory that supports the way the team is currently playing.

I say it’s better that they start mediocre, play like a normal team, with ups and downs. Give the young players a chance to grow and work out their kinks. And then when the playoffs come around we’ll root for them as much as we can and hope for the best!

He is a 20G/50pt guy, right? He’s already 27 and he typically gets injured. I feel like there is this expectation of 30G/60pt for him, but I don’t know how accurate that is (both the perception and the expectation).

Clowe has had two distinct stretches of games that might have inflated the perception of his worth: (1) the first 4 games in the ’08 Calgary playoff series and (2) the first 2 months of last year, where he potted 11 goals and 23 points in 24 games. He had just 2 points in the remaining 9 playoff games in ’08 and after the all-star break last year, he had just 3G/14pts in 26 games. I know he was injured then, but he still ended up playing 71 games and wasn’t that when the 2nd line was keeping the team afloat?

Is he really just a 3rd liner getting paid as a 2nd line forward and the latest “overrated” SJ forward? (Which goes to Tom’s point above how Wilson might have had trouble getting “value” for him this off-season.) It’s funny how McLellan compared him to not Holmstrom, but Franzen, during those first 2 months last year. Now, with our collective frustrations, he’s like the new Cheechoo.

Re: trading Clowe. If Clowe has 10 points in 45 games, who is going to want him at that salary? I think he stays, he keeps his PP time because he has a history of success there, and he will get a handful of games with Pavs. If he is still struggling, he gets 3rd line duty and a refresher course on battling.

You make some good points and they are hard to argue with especially when you state them with such moral authority….lol

However, tell me exactly what have the Canucks done? Regular season or Playoffs that the Sharks have not. Have they even made a Conference final? Have they done anything… Seriously, the Canuck love is over-rated.

And the Stanley cup champion Penguins were terrible in the first half of the season last year.

And I would much rather the Sharks finish strong than blow their load too early like last year.

Mike, the reason McLellan isn’t playing Greiss is the same reason the team is struggling right now. Our defense sucks. McLellan can’t play Greiss because it’ll mean an automatic loss given how our defensemen are (not) performing.

Aside from the problematic blue line, the team’s main issue remains the same – their attitude. For whatever reason, Doug Wilson continues putting together teams that lack heart, hunger and nastiness. You certainly don’t want a team that gets too high or too low, but the Sharks are TOO even keeled.

Did anybody see the Vancouver vs Chicago game on Wednesday? The Canucks’ were down 2-1 in the 3rd period when Willie Mitchell smashed Jonathan Toews with a thunderous check. It was a vicious but clean hit on an unsuspecting Toews who could barely stumble his way off the ice afterward. Mitchell’s hit completely shifted the momentum of the game and Vancouver ultimately came back to win it.

When was the last time we saw that type of play and effort from the Sharks? As the debacle in Tampa unfolded, I was waiting to see if anybody on the Sharks would show some pride and step up the way Willie Mitchell did for Vancouver. Alas, the Sharks just mailed it in with their signature ho-hum effort.

If any team has an excuse to have a hangover from last year it’d have been Pittsburgh. The last I checked, the Penguins are 9-1. The Sharks have no excuse. They had something to prove after their disastrous playoff series against Anaheim. The Sharks should’ve stormed out of the gates. Instead, they’ve come out flat in just about every game so far.

The sad part is, the window of opportunity with this group closes after this year. Because chances are, Marleau, Nabby and Blake won’t be back next year. So this is it. I don’t know how Doug Wilson is going to fix the defense and the team’s overall mentality by the trade deadline. But that’s what he has to do if this team’s going to do some damage in the playoffs.

But Mark Stuart is a D… I am suggesting that as well. and I think DW would trade him because everything DW has done so far points to an “all in” kinda attitude. Cup or bust sort a thing…

I don’t think Dougie will trade Clowe even if he finishes a season with 20 points. Remember, it took the whole season for him to trade underperforming Bernier and Carle.

Clowe will wake up. Probably sooner then we think.

If anything, it’s our defense that needs serious help. I really wish instead of signing Clowe, we’d invested his salary into Scuderi.

I agree with your point about Tampa. They looked and played hungry. Sharks didn’t look hungry and desperate.

Also, thanks for fielding my question on the podcast… I was not though, as you probably figured out afterwards, suggesting that Pavs get bumped…

I think where you guys went with the discussion is what I was getting at. Clowe has to be the odd man out if he isn’t scoring and Vesce is. He is now on 3 goals in 3 games and seems even more comfortable. I REALLY DO NOT agree that Vesce should get sent to Worster. Doug is right, you can’t preach a message of play well and you get the ice time, and then ship the guy down… that would send a bad message. I think you stick Clowe on the third line.

But where you guys went was where I go logically. If Clowe really starts sucking bad… like 25 games later he has only a few points, I think you gotta trade him.

Something you guys said at the end of the P-cast made me think. The one team that would really do well with Clowe, that might need help now is Boston.

I would love to get Mark Stuart.

Also, and I’m asking more on this one (and yes evilducks everyone’s opinion…) anybody know anything about Tuukka Rask?