DOH 300 – Postseason Hopes Collapse
March 24th, 2015, 3:12 pm
The Sharks have been in a must-win situation since the last podcast, and they’ve gone 1-4. Mike and Doug discuss the latest in the DW-Thornton debacle, and where the Sharks should focus the rest of the season.
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Tags: San Jose Sharks
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Love the podcast dudes. I’m on the east coast and your show always reminds me of happy times in sunny CA.
With the Sharks out, here are some things to look forward to in the playoffs.
1) Playoff hockey. We’ve been watching the Sharks play so poorly for so long, it will be a welcome change to watch good teams amp up their games in the second season. Bring it on.
2) DB22. I will be rooting for him and the Rangers. More him than the Rangers. Would love to see him hoist the cup again.
3) Lots of Canadian teams. I’m American, but still enjoy watching Canada collectively lose its mind rooting for their teams. It’s possible every Canadian NHL team could make the playoffs. (No, I do not consider the Maple Leafs an NHL team at this point.)
4) Rampant speculation. Fans and media can engage in the annual tradition of guessing what the heck this franchise is doing.
I agree with Tyler’s / Doug’s prediction re: TMac getting fired. But I don’t see that being the answer. Need to blow the whole thing up. Should also get rid of DW, Joe, and Patty. The last 12 months, from the Kings series wipeout to now, have been ugly. This is an opportunity to make radical, sweeping changes, and that’s what needs to happen. Hasso Plattner, if you don’t have the stones to do anything, do us all a favor and sell the team to someone actually involved in the team.
I was glad to see the comment last week about Plattner. I don’t get how there isn’t more focus on him. One of the big Sharks mysteries is, how did this man end up buying the team, and what does Doug Wilson’s comment mean that the organization was lucky he bought it and kept the team in SJ. Maybe a Purdy follow-up? Consider how his absence reflects a systemic leadership crisis in the Sharks organization.
Owner -never attends games, not part of the community, lives across the ocean
GM – feuding with the former captain, has some kind of disconnect with the coach
Coach – not on the same page as the GM, routinely expresses public frustration that the players don’t follow his gameplan
Captain – there isn’t one
One more comment. I think Wilson’s response was too soft to Joe’s “shut his shut mouth / lying” comments. The soft response typical of Wilson’s Sharks. Wilson should have suspended Joe for a game (which would have further angered him), and then pushed him out the door this summer. Even a point-per-game player is not worth that kind of attitude. Now, as Ratto / TK pointed out, Wilson has actually empowered Joe.
I’m sure Joe wants to win a cup very badly. But why on earth would he leave? His family has deep roots, clearly doesn’t want to go, and gets paid 6M a year to play hockey, something he clearly loves to do. In what world does he waive, even if management makes it awful for him (I would argue they haven’t yet)? I just don’t see him pulling an Iginla/Jagr at the end of his career. I don’t.
Agree, whether that is good or bad for the franchise, I think that is the reality we are stuck with.
I’ve had a bad feeling about Plattner since day one. He’s a professor, a tech guy,and a philanthropist.. I don’t get the idea of him being a hockey owner. He has no roots in the game. He has little roots in the area outside of SAP. I really hope this doesn’t turn into a Seattle Supersonics scenario.
You make a strong point about the systemic leadership problem, from bottom to top.
Great podcast. With the exception of the Burns to forward discussion, I pretty much agree with your guys’ take on the state of the Sharks.
At this point, I am hoping for the following:
– Stalock plays 8 of the last 9 games, if not the whole 9.
– “Demote” Scott and Hannan. They don’t have to actually go to Worchester, but they have 0 purpose at this point. I don’t think it is possible without some kind of injury, but bringing up Grosenick and maybe Tennyson would be nice.
– I hate to say it, but Marleau, Thornton, and even Pavelski and Vlasic should be playing 8-10 minutes a night (if not scratched). Maybe even Braun, too. No PP time, no PK time. Not as a punishment, just as recognition that these last 9 games are an early tryout for the young guys for 2015-16.
– Conversely, a top line of Hertl, Tierney, and another young guy. Give them 20+ a night. Top PP unit of Hertl, Tierney, Couture, Burns, and Irwin. A 2nd PP unit of Karlsson, Wingels, Tarasov, Fedun, and Mueller. Free Fedun!
Won’t happen, but that would give me something to cheer for.
Great podcast dudes! I was of the firm belief that for a rebuild we should have had a new gm and coach. Granted I like Tmac but a a fresh start all around would be nice. I just hope after everything thats gone down that Tmac isnt the only person who is a casualty. If Joe, Doug, or both arent gone we will incredibly more dysfunctional and leaderless then we already do. I think if Hasso needs some advice on a gm he could always ask Larry Robinsob and/or Jim Johnson.
Do you guys think Raffi’s walking dead leg can hold up all season next year? Also since he is a “veteran” guy and next year is his last season under contract do we have a spot for him going forward?
Honestly, I think Raffi is done. If he’s healthy though, there’s definitely a spot for him.
I agree. I think he is done too unfortunately.
Disappointed to see Niemi start again tonight. I agree with the dudes, that one likely explanation is TMac wants to keep winning for his next coaching gig. Unfortunately, that’s hurting the team right now. We should be seeing Stalock and Grosenick exclusively.
Im kinda glad Hasso isnt like Jerry Jones…. Trying to control everything of the team leading to a decade of mediocrity and poor personnel managment.
Here is a wild theory. What if the Sharks are going to use Stalock as a trade chip. Say trade Stalock and our first rounder this year to say Edmonton for their third over all pick this year and then maybe draft Dylan Strome. This obviously depending on us not winning the lottery.
Word just came that SJ just assigned Goldobin to the AHL. Good news imo. He could use the PO experience.
It makes me wonder who will get sent to the AHL after the NHL season is over. Tierney seems very likely. I’m not sure who is eligible, but I’d sure like to see Hertl, Nieto, and Muller go as well. I don’t know if Woster has a shot a winning, but I think it could be great development for them.