Flashback Friday: The 1993-94 Sharks

You know the adage that you never forget your first time? That could definitely be said about this edition of the San Jose Sharks, even with it being their third season in the NHL.

With the Cow Palace era firmly behind them, the Sharks were ready to move into the new jewel in downtown San Jose on West Santa Clara Street. The San Jose Arena would welcome the team and its ever growing fan base into its newly christened walls for the 1993-94 season. Not only would this year bring with it a new arena, but a new coach would be patrolling the benches as well.

Kevin Constantine, Miracle Worker. Photo by Houston Aeros (AHL).

This year begins the fondly remembered Kevin Constantine era, which began with great optimism after the previous two years under George Kingston. No doubt the drastic step backwards in the team’s second season played some role in the decision to change coaches.

With the entry draft fast approaching, GM Chuck Grillo definitely had some work to do. While hoping the injury plagued season of former first round selection Pat Falloon was not a harbinger of things to come, Grillo’s second go-around in the draft would be a bit light on notable names. These notables however, would not exactly garner the most love in hindsight:

(1, 6) Viktor Kozlov, C, HC Dynamo Moscow/Russia; (2, 28) Shean Donovan, RW, Ottawa 67s/OHL; (3, 58) Ville Peltonen, LW, HIFK/SM-Iiiga

With a new coach, a new arena, a new captain in Bob Errey, and a totally remade roster, the Sharks were ready to begin their quest for the first playoff appearance in franchise history.

One of the newcomers that would shine during the season was Sergei Makarov, who actually did not come to the NHL until 1989 after a long career in the former Soviet Union. He would break in as a member of the Calgary Flames before joining the Sharks and made an immediate impact by leading the team in goals (30) and points (68). Another Russian legend to help the Sharks along was Igor Larionov, leading them in plus-minus (+/-) rating for the season at +20 to go along with his 56 points. Even Todd Elik, another newcomer, would lead the team in assists (41). Finally, this year would also mark one of the first impact moves at the trade deadline for the Sharks as they would acquire Ulf Dahlen from Dallas.

This would also be the year that goalie Arturs Irbe would come into his own during his first year as the full-time starter. Achieving cult status throughout San Jose while earning the nickname “The Wall,” Irbe would post some pretty good numbers (30-28-16, 2.84 GAA, .899 SV%).

With all of the pieces starting to grow before the fans’ eyes, the San Jose Sharks would use their balance of youth and experience, and the help of some luck along the way to make their first ever appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Igor Larionov, veteran leader. Photo from russkiyhockey.wordpress.com.

The seedings in the west would not be kind to the playoff newcomers though, as they would immediately be paired against the consensus favorites to win it all: the Detroit Red Wings. Though it seemed unlikely at the time, this is where the magic of this season would truly begin. The Sharks were just happy to be there after just squeaking in for the final spot, while the Red Wings had bigger dreams ahead and viewed the Sharks as just a mere obstacle to the glory path.

Game 1 would be the first shocker, as the Sharks would surprise the Red Wings with a 5-4 victory at Joe Louis Arena. From there, the back and forth would be unlike anything in a series pairing the 1 and 8 seeds. The Sharks would head to Detroit feeling pretty good about their chances after defeating the Red Wings 6-4 in Game 5. The favorites were backed into a corner and were starting to get desperate. That’s when the Game 6 sucker punch came, a 7-1 thrashing that would have left many teams feeling pretty dejected. That would not be the case with these Sharks, as current color guy Jamie Baker would be in the right place at the right time to score perhaps the biggest goal in franchise history to this day. Here’s the moment to be relived for years to come.

The Sharks would then force yet another seven game series with the Toronto Maple Leafs (don’t know how Toronto was in the west at that time though), but the roles would be reversed as the cinderella run through the postseason would come to an end.

At that point, it probably did not matter to the Sharks or their fan base. For a first go around in the playoffs, they had far exceeded even some of the most optimistic predictions for how far they would go. The little eight seed that could gave the Silicon Valley memories that would last for a lifetime, and a chance to create more next season.

Note:  Information from Wikipedia and Hockey Database was used as part of this entry.

Tags: Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday: The 1992-93 Sharks

Even though it may not be Friday for this edition, the weekend still warrants an easy reading piece as we continue our journey through the past of the San Jose Sharks. Season two is our next stop, as we look back on the 1992-93 season.

After the inaugural season concluded, changes were already afoot with the franchise. I say that because it was not just the roster. After one season, a new GM would begin to take the reigns. Chuck Grillo would become the new architect of the Sharks, replacing Jack Ferreira after his only season at the post. Like Ferreira, one of the first new responsibilities would be the entry draft. For the second go around, these were the notable names that Grillo selected to become a part of Team Teal:

(1 , 3) Mike Rathje, D, Medicine Hat Tigers/WHL; (1, 10) Andrei Nazarov, LW, Dynamo Moscow/Russia; (5, 99) Marcus Ragnarsson, D, Djurgardens IF Stockholm/SEL; (6, 123) Michal Sykora, D, Tacoma Rockets/WHL

From just the notable names of this draft class, Grillo placed a clear emphasis on infusing some young talent into the blue line. With the solid rookie season of Pat Falloon, perhaps there would be a chance to make some impact under second-year coach George Kingston. What would follow during the regular season was anything but pretty. When the regular season is highlighted by league records such as longest losing streak (17 games), and most losses in a season (71), the season had very few highlights. However, there were some to be had as some franchise firsts were accomplished during the 1992-93 season:

Hat Trick:  Rob Gaudreau (23 G, 20 A) would actually have the first two in franchise history.

Arguably the Sharks' first real star. Getty Images

Shutout:  Arturs Irbe (7-26-0, 4.11 GAA) would not have the strongest of rookie seasons, but the shutout would be a sign of things to come for the young netminder.

Taking Falloon’s place as points leader that season was Kelly Kisio with 78 (26 G, 52 A), while Falloon would appear in only 41 games that season and record 28 points (14 G, 14 A). Johan Garpenlov would continue to become a solid addition with a nice season of his own tallying 66 points (22 G, 44 A).

With all the nice individual performances, it was clear however that changes would need to be made. Losing 71 games in a season will affect anyone’s job security, and it turned out to be the case for head coach Kingston. He would be replaced at season’s end and the search for a new head coach was set to begin. With a new arena on the horizon, the Sharks would bid farewell to the Cow Palace after only two seasons there.

Thus, a whole new breed of excitement was soon to be born.

Note:  Information from Wikipedia was used as part of this entry.

Tags: Flashback Friday

Winter Classic Ideas…in July???

This perhaps is the telltale sign of being a big-time hockey fan: when you think about new ideas for the Winter Classic in JULY. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened to me earlier this week. Now, the 2011 Winter Classic matchup is already set with Pittsburgh and Washington set to face-off at Heinz Field, home of the Steelers. Have you notice that it seems only to be an east coast exclusive on this type of event?

This is not just another east coast bias rant my friends, there are actually some great ideas the NHL could look into for growing this great idea that is only a few years old. Of course, the Sharks will be involved with a lot of these ideas but imagine all the possibilities they would bring about for the Winter Classic.

Sharks vs. Ducks (AT&T Park):  The park has been used for football before, and the Cal Golden Bears will be using it as a temporary home while their stadium undergoes renovations. I figure this much, a hockey game there wouldn’t cause too much damage to the field. While San Francisco is not exactly known for its “wintery” weather, if you will, imagine the picturesque scene of a rivalry such as this being played at a waterfront park. For programming purposes, this could actually be the back end of a doubleheader. The ratings and attendance for the game would be as they usually are for this kind of event, but would extend the reach to the west coast.  While the Ducks would make for a great west coast rivalry game, the Kings, Coyotes, and Avalanche would also make for some good alternate opponents.

Sharks vs. Avalanche (Invesco Field at Mile High, Coors Field):  Either one of these sites would make for a great atmosphere for the Winter Classic. Since hockey seems to be on the upswing again in the Rocky Mountains, Invesco Field could draw a pretty good crowd. The nice thing about both of these sites is that they are still fairly new, even though it seems Coors Field has been around for quite some time now. If the scheduling doesn’t work out for the Sharks to participate, other participants could include the Coyotes, Stars, or even the Blues.

Sharks vs. Wild (Target Field, TCF Bank Stadium):  I know the Winter Classic is in its infancy in a sense, but now that Minnesota has two prime outdoor facilities it can really open up some new ideas. Minnesota is a hockey-crazy state as it is, so combine that with the wintery conditions and you definitely have the potential for something to be memorable for a VERY long time. While Target Field can produce more of the intimate feel for the fans attending, TCF Bank Stadium could be the better option for bigger attendance numbers. Either way, should something like this come to Minnesota, I doubt there will be a big problem getting the seats filled. Other opponents besides the Sharks could also include the Blues, Avalanche, or even the Blackhawks.

Now this is just the start of ideas that could really expand the Winter Classic across the country, and up until this year there had not been a scheduled outdoor game to take place in Canada. There can be so many different ways to expand on this event that has only served to help the NHL since it debuted in 2008 in Buffalo.

Here’s hoping for growth to such a great event!

Stay tuned for the next edition of Flashback Friday for the San Jose Sharks!

Tags: Off-Season

Flashback Friday: The 1991-92 Sharks

The Patch for the Inaugural Season. murphandpat.com

Prologue:  The story begins in the late 1980s, when buzz surrounded a potential new team in the San Jose area. Hockey had been present before, thanks to the California Golden Seals from 1967-76 before they moved to Cleveland. The names Gordon and George Gund were instrumental in moving the Golden Seals franchise to Cleveland, but had a desire to see a new team in the Bay Area. It only made sense, as voting on a new arena in the area had just been completed and construction was set to begin. The Gunds original plan was to move the Minnesota North Stars to San Jose, before the NHL denied their request to move the team. Nevertheless, their desire to see a hockey team in San Jose remained evident. Thanks to the efforts of former Hartford Whalers owner Howard Baldwin, a compromise was reached. The Gunds would sell their share of the North Stars on May 5, 1990 in exchange for an expansion team in San Jose. In fact, not only were the Sharks not an expansion team, that was not even the top choice for the new team name. The winner from mail submission was actually “Blades” but due to a concern from the Gunds about the correlation to weapons stemming from the name, they would go with the runner-up name “Sharks.”

That is how we begin the first of this Flashback Friday series leading up to the 2010-11 regular season marking the 20th anniversary of the San Jose Sharks. What better way to lead up to the start of the new season by taking a trip down memory lane at some of the best and worst moments in Sharks history? From the highs and lows, to the hits and misses of past draft picks, I’m covering the whole gamut as we go through the previous years of Sharks hockey. So, what better way to start than with the beginning with the inaugural season of 1991-92.

The Sharks' first Entry Draft Selection, Pat Falloon. Check out that mullet! sbnation.com

With the rights to the team in place, the work was set to begin to put together the roster. GM Jack Ferreira would be put in charge for that task, and would be in a unique situation. Not only would he oversee the entry draft, but also the expansion and dispersal drafts to precede the 1991-92 season. The first order of business would come via the Dispersal & Expansion Drafts on May 30, 1991. Needless to say, it didn’t carry much in the way of coverage as this was all down via a conference call. Here are some of the notable Sharks selected via the Dispersal & Expansion Drafts. Recognize any of these names?

Dispersal Draft:  (4) Rob Zettler, (7) Link Gaetz, (18) Arturs Irbe, (21) Tom Pederson

Expansion Draft:  (1) Jeff Hackett, (3) Jayson More, (5) Rick Lessard, (7) Bob McGill

With those drafts out of the way, there was one more to be done. June 22nd would bring about the much more ballyhooed entry draft. In one of the final steps to roster completion, some of the most notable names in Sharks history would enter the fold. Their place in Sharks lore, for better or for worse, is a completely different story altogether. Here are the notable selections.

Entry Draft:  (1, 2) Pat Falloon, (2, 23) Ray Whitney, (2, 30) Sandis Ozolinsh, (3, 45) Dody Wood

With all of that out of the way, October 4, 1991 was just around the corner. That date would mark the first ever regular season game for the San Jose Sharks. They would take the ice for their first home game at the Cow Palace a day later, but both of these firsts came against the Vancouver Canucks. Here are more of the franchise firsts that would take place throughout the season, as well as some of the top performers and final numbers.

Coach:  George Kingston

Captain:  Doug Wilson (yes, the current GM)

First Goal:  Craig Coxe

First Victory:  4-3 vs. Calgary on October 8, 1991

Points Leader:  Falloon (25 G, 34 A)

Top Goalie:  Hackett (11-27-1, 3.84 GAA)

Record:  17-58-5

All in all, the first season went like you would expect it to for an expansion club. As the phrase goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Even after this first season, there would be some changes to the roster and to the front office as well. The first season at the Cow Palace will always hold the first win in Sharks history, achieving that feat in front of the hometown fans is always the best way to remember it.

Hopefully you enjoyed this trip down memory lane of the first ever season in San Jose Sharks history. We’ll be going in chronological order leading up to the season, but the names should get more and more familiar the closer we get to the modern era.

Thanks for stopping by!

Note:  Information from Wikipedia was used as part of this entry.

Tags: Flashback Friday

Time for Plan B for the Sharks

Well, so much for Niklas Hjalmarsson joining the Sharks’ blue line. Not long after signing a 4-year/$14 million offer sheet, the Blackhawks decided to match the offer. If you’re wondering who Hjalmarsson is, he is a 23-year-old defenseman who just completed his first full NHL season. His numbers during the regular season weren’t all that impressive, but he really started to come into his own during the playoffs. Besides, a young defenseman with upside is really something the Sharks could use right about now.

To play the other side of the coin: had the Blackhawks not matched the offer sheet, the Sharks would send a first and third round selection as compensation. This tells me a couple of things. One, GM Doug Wilson anticipates another selection at the latter end of the first round and does not see anyone worth that selection. Two, it increases the likelihood that Wilson will either try another offer sheet to someone else or either package the picks in some sort of deal. With that said, there isn’t a lack of options for RFA’s on the blue line. One of which that would make a great target is Ian White, whose rights are held by the Calgary Flames. Calgary is also dealing with some money issues of their own, and given how depleted their farm system is they could use the extra picks.

With all of the news surrounding Hjalmarsson, perhaps some of the oddest free agent news was surrounding Mike Modano. The inital chatter linked him to the Red Wings, but even ESPN Dallas and the San Jose Mercury News have verified that Modano and the Sharks have indeed had preliminary talks. This move, to me, has the makings of a Claude Lemieux redux. It is clear that the Sharks are moving in a direction of getting younger and more physical, and Modano just does not fit the mold.

Put it this way, if the Sharks were into giving aging veterans one final victory lap they would have jumped at the chance to bring Ray Whitney back. At least he can still contribute more than just a bunch of memories of a previous era of hockey.

Tags: Off-Season

Nabokov Heads Back to Russia

Well, not only is Evgeni Nabokov’s Sharks career at an end, it appears that his NHL career has simultaneously come to a close as well.

Team Teal’s most successful netminder in franchise history will be heading back to his home country to play for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL. In reality, the deal he received is probably one only the KHL club would be willing to give him. Not only does he not have to take a pay but to stay employed ($6 million per season, according to ESPN), but he also got the fourth year on his deal that perhaps put a wrench in any potential agreement he could have had with the Flyers because of his age (35 this month).

This is not a new development for the KHL, as they have routinely brought over players from the NHL, especially because they can pay them better. Players such as Jaromir Jagr, Sandis Ozolinsh, Viktor Kozlov, Jiri Hudler, and Sergei Fedorov to name a few have all made the transition overseas to continue their playing careers.

In Nabokov’s case, perhaps there is a bit of a mild surprise that he chose to go back to Russia to continue playing. Of course, there is a bit of irony that comes with the signing. In looking at the Sharkspage website for more insight to the Nabokov signing, sports.ru blogger Vadim Kuznetsov actually refers to the SKA club as the “Russian Sharks…They always play great during the season, but can lose to some outsider during the playoffs.” So much for the change of scenery if that’s the case.

Future Entry Notes:  Seeing that this upcoming season will be the 20th for the Sharks, I will be starting a series of entries chronicling some of the players from the past. As I am sure that there are some memorable players over these 20 years, feel free to send over any suggestions you may have.

Tags: Off-Season

My Reaction to Early Sharks Moves: Huh?

Silly me, all this time I believed that this free agency period would provide some clarity on the Sharks’ roster. Mind you, not all the moves (or lack thereof) have left me with my head scratching. However, I do not see much in the way of improvement so far.

Thank you, Doug Wilson, for making this off-season a bit more interesting (just not in the positive sense).

First off, the Sharks inked goalie Antero Niittymaki to a 2-year/$4 million deal to give the goalie situation a bit more of a platoon approach. This is their signal of giving Thomas Greiss more of a chance to acclimate himself before taking more of the full time role between the pipes. This is the very definition of a cost-saving measure, as this is approximately one-third of what free agent Evgeni Nabokov would have commanded either here or on the open market. More on the recent developments with Nabokov later on. As far as this goaltending situation goes, it has all the makings of a training camp free for all for the starting job, even if it eventually becomes Greiss’ gig in the near future.

Now for the head scratcher, letting Manny Malhotra leave San Jose to sign a new deal with Vancouver to the tune of 3 years/$7.5 million. Perhaps the preceding moves before free agency began all but nudged Malhotra out of the picture, with the re-signings of Scott Nichol and Niclas Wallin just to name a few. While I do like what Nichol brings to the table, I do wonder if Wilson made the right call in choosing him over Malhotra. For me, the purpose of depth is having players who are versatile. This fits Malhotra to a “T” if you will, as he brings some offensive punch with his physical play. Nichol, on the other hand, is more of the one-trick-pony type of player. From a financial standpoint, you can certainly make the case why Nichol was the smarter signing as his cap figure gives the Sharks more flexibility. As far as bang for the buck, I would classify this as an early misjudgment.

Wallin being re-signed did not exactly leave much room either, as his contract will command $2.5 million this upcoming season. Now this one REALLY made me wonder. I understand the Sharks’ need for physical defensemen, and Wilson was perhaps forced to bring him back because the arrival of Wallin preceded the departure of Jody Shelley. Dealing a popular player for a rental is a questionable move, so it is on Wilson to make this work. However, is there something wrong with letting Derek Joslin get a crack at the starting gig? After all, he wouldn’t have received a qualifying offer if they didn’t believe in his talent, right? After all, look what happened when Jason Demers got a consistent chance to prove himself. Besides, the blue line combinations would have some upside to it by swapping Wallin for Joslin.

The only thing left at this point is for fans to cross their fingers for Wilson to be able to swing a deal of some sorts. If his track record is of any indication, Wilson is more of a dealmaker than anything else. He even cemented that reputation by not having to give up Patrick Marleau in the much-ballyhooed Dany Heatley trade before last season. Perhaps these peripheral moves suggest he has a trick or two remaining in his back pocket. If one of those tricks is to turn my opinion from a “Huh?” to something more positive, I will gladly snag a front row seat for it.

Nabokov Update:  Looks like Nabokov has additional attention from the SKA St. Petersburg club in the KHL, closer to his home in Russia. While the Flyers can offer him a shot at winning the Cup, the KHL can certainly offer him a better pay rate. It will all come down to what his priorities are, and whether he wants to uproot his family and move back to Russia. It presents an interesting situation nonetheless.

Tags: Off-Season

Draft Complete; Free Agency Looms Next

The draft of 2010 is in the books, and needless to say the Sharks made the most with their selections. In fact, they even acquired an additional pick by dealing goalie Henrik Karlsson to Calgary. Here is the rundown of the Sharks’ selections over the weekend:

1 (28) Charlie Coyle, RW/C, South Shore Kings (EJHL)

3 (88) Max Gaede, RW, Woodbury HS (Minnesota)

5 (127) Cody Ferriero, C, Governor’s Academy (Massachusetts)

5 (129) Freddie Hamilton, C, Niagra IceDogs (OHL)

5 (136) Isaac MacLeod, D, Penticton Vees (BCHL)

6 (163) Konrad Abeltshauser, D, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

7 (188) Lee Moffie, D, University of Michigan (CCHA)

7 (200) Christopher Crane, RW, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

These new prospects will bear watching, as there will usually be one of those late-rounders that blooms out of nowhere. Case in point: Joe Pavelski (7th round, 205th overall), and Jason Demers (7th round, 186th overall) are just a couple of the proverbial diamonds in the rough. The blue line prospects warrant special attention, especially now that some of the prospects will be brought up to San Jose on a more permanent basis.

Following in Demers’ footsteps most likely will be Derek Joslin, who was extended a qualifying offer along with Devin Setoguchi and Steven Zalewski before the July 1st deadline. For those unfamiliar with this process of restricted free agency, the qualifying offers now put the Sharks at a clear negotiating advantage. Any other team that chooses to extend an offer, the Sharks have a set period of time to either match the offer or to receive a type of compensation for losing the player (usually resulting in draft picks). The only one really at risk, at least from my perspective would be Setoguchi. He has only begun to realize his vast potential, and it has definitely come in spurts. Once the light goes on and he becomes much more consistent, he will be a major threat in the league for a long time.

One development, or lack thereof, that really caught my attention was the situation with free agent Manny Malhotra. With all of the re-signings and qualifying offers, nary a peep was heard about his situation. As of now, the latest news courtesy of Brodie Brazil at CSN Bay Area is that offers have been exchanged back and forth. The fact that the sides are talking and exchanging numbers is a good sign, and the hope is that he will return. Having a gritty guy with 20-goal potential can really make this team that much deeper.

As of this moment, that is the latest on this end. Come July 1st, I can only imagine what kind of news will be racing around the corner. Keep it here for the latest. Thanks for stopping by!

Tags: Off-Season

Marleau and Pavelski Get Paid, Now What?

In what was all but expected after the news of Evgeni Nabokov’s imminent departure, the Sharks re-upped Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski to new four-year contracts. The news broke this morning through ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun about the new contracts for Marleau (4-years, $27.6 million) and Pavelski (4-years, $16 million). While this is good news for all parties involved, there was a bit of news that flew under the radar that helped to make this possible.

Good thing they're stickin around, eh?

For those that were unaware, the NHLPA picked up the option to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) through the 2011-12 season. This meant a big jump in the salary cap for next season to a figure of $59.4 million. Considering that last season’s number was $56.8 million, there is little doubt that GM Doug Wilson will find the extra cash room to be helpful in trying to retain his key free agents. The remaining names of course being Devin Setoguchi, Manny Malhotra, Scott Nichol, and perhaps a couple of other outsiders to fill the gaps. With all the salary cap issues that plagued the Sharks, which actually led to the Jody Shelley trade after acquiring Niclas Wallin, perhaps this can open the door to a bigger name being brought in to help bring a more physical presence to the team.

There is, of course, the NHL Draft taking place this weekend. The way it’s being categorized is as follows: Hall, Seguin, & Everyone Else, which kinda sounds like a bad name for a rock group. This is not to say that Wilson won’t find some talent in the draft, but the headliners will usually dominate these kinds of events. Given how thin the Sharks are along the blue line, and their drafting slot, do not be surprised to see them select a defenseman with their first-round pick.

While this all but assures that Marleau could feasibly finish his career as a Shark, fans will get to enjoy Pavelski’s prime years in pursuit of that elusive Cup.

With these new raises in play, it perhaps also clears things up with the goaltending situation. The more players they reward with raises, the more likely it appears that Thomas Greiss emerges as the starter unless Wilson swings a very creative deal. This is something that I really am not opposed to, even with his limited experience. For the first time in quite a while, there will be a case of potential upside in net. That is something I believe the Sharks fan base can grow to appreciate.

Nabokov Departure Takes the Headlines

When I was thinking of what to write for my next off-season piece, I was going to chronicle some of the new logos commemorating the 20th anniversary season for the Sharks. While the jerseys will be showcasing those logos, there will be some different personnel sporting these unique sweaters. Needless to say, those ideas were put back on the drawing board with today’s news.

While the departure of goalie Evgeni Nabokov was the move that grabbed the headlines, young enforcer Brad Staubitz was also sent out albeit in a less ceremonial fashion.

To sum it up, Staubitz was dealt to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a fifth-round selection in this weekend’s draft. This seems very much like the deal that Jody Shelley was involved in during this past season, when the return was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft.

Fans will definitely miss Staubitz's penchant for fights. San Francisco Chronicle photo.

Here is what really puzzles me about this deal. When they ran into Chicago, they got out-physicaled after being able to assert themselves during the first two rounds. Would Shelley and/or Staubitz have been able to help with, say, moving somebody like Dustin Byfuglien out of the crease where he seemed to do much of his damage? Heck, I know Shelley would have loved the chance to get some more postseason action after his New York Rangers fell short on the last day of the regular season. Now it seems the Sharks are left without much of a physical presence, and only make themselves that much more one-dimensional. I normally haven’t been puzzled by a Doug Wilson move, but this one really has me wondering.

Out with the old... (AP Photo)

Now to the big move of the day, the ending of the Russian tragedy…I mean, the Nabokov era. Honestly, I couldn’t be more relieved that this little soap opera has finally ended. I could also say I am happy that he will no longer be in goal for the Sharks, but the fact that the news came before the draft is a good move on management’s part. I do think relieved is a better word because it better captures the fan base’s feelings towards Nabokov. Any fan I talked to said something similar to this: “He can be a great goalie, but he can let in some really easy ones.” Nabokov did have some great years with the club, but being paid close to $6 million last year, I think everyone expected a bit more than they got for the price. Besides, as I previously stated, I don’t believe many will be sold on the idea of paying a 38-year-old goalie close to $6 million again.

...In with the new? (Getty Images)

This perhaps will also clear the way for Thomas Greiss to at least earn the starting spot. He has the clear edge given his experience last season, but he will also have some competition from Alex Stalock who was in Worcester last season and is perceived to be the goalie of the future. The only question remains how close the future is. That can only be answered by the off-season activity. If the Sharks invest in a veteran backup, like the soon-to-be-leaving Chris Mason for instance, then there is effectively a hold put on for the ushering in of that era. At this early stage, I would like to see Greiss given the first crack at it and see what kind of body of work he puts together. Before you throw in his olympic experience with Germany, I just ask you to ponder who exactly has won with that team…I’ll give you more time if you need it.

The positive to this news is that it all but assures that Patrick Marleau will be re-signed and could even account for the raise that he could command. Marleau perhaps salvaged his own chances with his performance in the WCF, and he will be around to be part of the solution to bring a Cup to West Santa Clara street. I am just wondering who they will bring in to be that physical presence, but that is for another time.

With the dominoes that have just fallen, it may actually dictate how the Sharks go about their draft process this weekend. I would anticipate them going for some blue-line help in the first round given how thin they are, though speculation is only fun for a while. Stay tuned, it should be a good one.

Tags: Off-Season