DOH 291 – Merry Christmas and Go Sharks
December 23rd, 2014, 1:42 pm
The Sharks are still playing well, with three points against St. Louis and Anaheim. What are the keys to keep this run of good play going?
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Excellent episode Dudes. Happy holidays!
I agree with Doug’s assessment that the Sharks are in a kind of limbo. To my inexperienced eye, it looks like DW’s plan is to emulate the Wings. The Wings avoid full rebuild and always make the playoffs, but (recently) never haven’t been anywhere close to contender status.
Yes, the Sharks will always be a playoff contender with Joe and Patty in the lineup. But to get a roster like the Hawks, Kings, or Islanders have, you need top tier picks. And several of them, consecutively. Meaning, you need to dwell in the cellar for a bit.
Like the Dudes, I’d love to be wrong and see the Sharks shock everyone this year, with Joe shooting, Patty scoring consistently, TMac actually playing Stalock, and the 3rd and 4th lines contributing significantly, leading Team Teal to a Cup. But as you’ve said, this is not the SF Giants. Anyone who thinks this roster is full of cluth playoff performers who rise to the pressure is sadly mistaken.
Xmas is a celebration of Consumerist BULLSH*T.
Your ‘analysis’ is laughable.
[post script]
Hey Mike, I noticed you ceased your sh*t-talking on SCRIVENS . . . (!)
**Huh-Duhhhhh**
I’ve given up trying to convince anyone that this team can’t win.
I’m open to the argument that I’m wrong, I just haven’t heard a salient argument to the contrary.
No one thinks this year’s team is better than last year’s. And we got bounced by the Kings as soon as they decided to start playing for real. When that happened we had little answer.
And yet, THIS YEAR’S team can somehow win? Sure we might be able to get past a lower western conference team, but i don’t think we have a chance in hell against either the Kings or Hawks.
Given our situation as an organization, I don’t know how anyone can think holding on to aging, yet tradeable veterans is a good idea.
Honestly, I think fans hold on to this fantasy because a mixture of three reasons:
1. Straight up sentimentalism towards Joe and Patty.
2. An overemphasis on advanced stats, at the detriment of common sense. On paper this team looks like a cup contender, common sense says otherwise.
3. I’ll call it the anti-“blow-it-up” reaction. A lot of this is just the old fashioned straw man argument, but some is a somewhat legitimate disagreement with the concept of an old school rebuild. But either way, myself nor the dudes are calling for that. Its just easier to accuse someone with a differing opinion of having an opinion they actually dont have that’s much easier to knock down.
Well, you’re wrong in the most literal sense, the Sharks are surely capable of getting a little puck luck and winning it all. I don’t think it is likely, maybe an 8-10% chance of it happening, but it’s possible.
More to your point, I think the Sharks can beat the Kings in the playoffs, the Kings lost their #2 Dman in Voynov and their bottom 6 is has only gotten worse (both Stoll and Richards are aging fast, Brown is barely a 3rd liner). It will be close, probably 7 games again, but I think they have more than a chance in hell. I’d say slightly better than a coin flip.
Hawks are the best team in the league IMO, though I don’t think the juggernaut we all make them out to be. I’d take Nemo over Crawford any day. Their 2C is either Brad Richards or Andrew Shaw or they have to split up Kane and Toews. Still, I give the edge to them, their D is deep.
Actually, I think the Islanders and Lightning are very underrated. A CHI-TB final would be really fun to watch. I might even take TB in that one.
Tmac post game comments were telling last night. “This team wants everything on sale.” Wow. Pretty harsh but true.
But it leaves me wondering then why in the hell anyone refuses to do anything about it? Aside from the obligatory switch up the lines non-sense.
This org seems asleep at the wheel.
Happy new year, dudes and fellow listeners. I have a belated holiday wish: Wondering if the anyone, including the dudes, will answer these questions.
1) Considering he’s started almost 70% of the games, will Niemi be resigned?
2) Should Pavelski be given the C before the season is over?
3) Is the Sharks outdoor game jersey the ugliest uniform in franchise history?
4) Will Thornton, Marleau, and McLellan all be back in 2015-16?
1. Probably will be. But should be traded immediately. Just my opinion.
2. Yes.
3. Probably.
4. Depends if we miss the PO or are clearly out by trade deadline. I still think Jumbo might WANT to leave. Imagine Rick Nash and Dan Boyle calling Joe and twisting his arm to come to NY and help them win a cup.
If we’re in the PO, then no one is going any where.
1. No, unless he leads them to the Cup finals
2. No, they will give it to him, but the C should go to Vlasic
3. I think public opinion would say so.
4. Yes. I haven’t seen any indication Joe and Patty will leave. Unless the Sharks miss the playoffs, TMac will be back as well.