Month: April 2015

2015 NHL Playoffs – Sharks rooting card, round 2

Round 1 recap: Winnipeg (Galiardi) swept by Anaheim. Rangers (Boyle, Moore, Sheppard) take the series in five games over Pittsburgh (Ehrhoff, Winnik, Greiss). Chicago (Desjardins) takes series in six games over Nashville. Calgary defeats Vancouver (Bonino) in six games. St Louis (Goc) loses to Minnesota (Coyle) in six games. Montreal (Mitchell, Malhotra) eliminate Ottawa (Michalek) in six games. Washington wins game 7 over Islanders (Kennedy). Tampa Bay (Carle) wins game 7 over Detroit (Granato).

Round 2 begins Thursday, April 30.

Montreal: Torrey Mitchell, Manny Malhotra
vs
Tampa Bay: Matt Carle

NY Rangers: Dan Boyle, Dominic Moore, James Sheppard
vs
Washington: None

Minnesota: Charlie Coyle
vs.
Chicago: Andrew Desjardins

Anaheim: None
vs.
Calgary: None

The Summer Knows – part 4 forwards

She sees the doubts
Within your eyes

If you want to summarize the Sharks reason for losing games, they scored less than the opposition.  And the forwards are those counted on for most of the offense.

(Note – depth chart position does NOT necessarily denote line combinations.)

Depth chart (of signed players):

Centers: Pavelski, Thornton, Couture, Hertl, Tierney, Marleau, Wingels, Jevpalovs, Burish

Left Wings: Nieto, Torres

Right Wings: Goldobin, Smith, Goodrow, Brown, Carpenter

Pending RFAs: Chris Crane, Petter Emanuelson, Eriah Hayes, Melker Karlsson, Rylan Schwartz, Daniil Tarasov; pending UFAs: Michael Haley, Bryan Lerg, John Scott, Travis Oleksuk; expiring AHL UFAs: Vincent Arseneau, Jimmy Bonneau, Daniel Ciampini, Willie Coetzee, Daniel Doremus, Brendan Ellis, Trevor Parkes, Evan Trupp.

Given the Sharks estimated cap space, the team MAY choose to buy out Burish (two years remaining).

Sharks News summary from the past week 150426

In the past week, Todd McLellan made a decision on his future, to move on from the San Jose Sharks.  And the Worcester Sharks began their first round playoff series with captain Bryan Lerg.

San Jose Sharks

San Jose Mercury News

San Francisco Chronicle

CSN California

 

Who will be the next NHL San Jose Sharks coach?

A list of SOME of the names that have been suggested as the next head coach of the San Jose Sharks with details of their coaching history can be found here.

(This post will be updated if news leaks that the Sharks have talked with a candidate)

  • Randy Carlyle – Sharks have been given permission to talk to him

Most candidates have head coaching experience (perhaps not at NHL level).  Many have coached a team to their league’s championship.

Note on some other names….

Larry Robinson — won’t be the next Sharks head coach.  He continues to step back from behind the bench; for the 2015-16 season, he’ll be taking on the “Player Development Coach” title, spending large part of each month in Florida and/or with family.

Roy Sommer — has been discussed in the past, but he seems to be quite comfortable to continue in the AHL, not seeking advancement to NHL.

David Cunniff — former AHL associate coach for the Worcester Sharks. Has no head coach experience, and only AHL experience.  Probably not at the top of the list.

Jim Montgomery – former Shark, current head coach of Denver University Pioneers. May not be interested in the NHL coaching career, or only in

The Summer Knows – part 3 defense

The summer knows
The summer’s wise

While the goalie may be the last line of defense, the defenders of the blue line are important to prevent the puck from getting too close to the net (and a helping hand in offense).

(Note – depth chart position does NOT necessarily denote pair combinations.)

Depth chart:

  • Vlasic
  • Braun
  • Burns
  • Tennyson
  • Mueller
  • DeMelo
  • Bergman
  • Ryan

Defensive pending RFAs: Abeltshauser, Dillon, Doherty; pending UFAs: Fedun, Hannan, Irwin, Stollery; pending AHL UFAs: Bigos, Jones, Taormina, Young

Still lots of options for expanding depth chart, including re-signing some key players (and/or upgrading AHLers to NHL deals), which have been on hold waiting for the future of the hockey operations of the Sharks to be solidified.

The Summer Knows – part 1 take three (GM staying)

In a letter to fans, majority owner Hasso Plattner talks about the “good job” that GM Wilson and COO Tortora are doing.

So, there won’t be any change coming there.

And some news stories on the letter:

Merc: Sharks owner Hasso Plattner acknowledges disappointment, reaffirms commitment to rebuild

Chronicle: Source: Wilson’s job is “100-percent safe”

CSN: Source: Wilson safe as Sharks GM after Plattner statement

AP: Sharks owner: GM Doug Wilson did a good job

The Summer Knows – part 2 goaltending

And lovingly
She warms the sand
On which you lie

One of, if not THE, key elements of good defensive in hockey is the goal tending.  (Not excusing the defensive play and breakdowns in the defensive zone and neutral zone which lie outside the nominal responsibility of a goalie.)

And the Sharks did not get good (enough) goal tending this past season.

Last summer, all the Sharks did to “improve” their goal tending was re-sign pending UFA Stalock.  (Pending RFA Sateri defected to Europe; Sharks still hold his rights.)

So, the 2014-15 season starting goal tenders, and coaches, were the same as the previous season.

Niemi and Stalock platooned the first month or so of the season, but then Niemi was given the lion’s share of the work load.

Over the course of the season, they signed Aaron Dell to an AHL contract, later upgrading to a NHL contract. And they signed undrafted free agent Joel Rumpel (currently in the playoffs with ECHL Allen on an ATO).

Depth chart as of today:

  • Stalock
  • Rumpel

Note that Anderson, Dell, Grosenick are pending RFAs and Niemi is pending UFA.  (And Sharks hold rights to Sateri.)

GM Wilson has stated that the organization would be adding 4+ goalies (so Rumpel is the first).

Obviously there will be deeper depth chart and more names on that list when the season starts.  More than five months of speculation and change to come.

As for the goalie coach(es): Wayne Thomas is 67; Corey Schwab lives on the east coast. With the AHL team moving to California, Schwab may look for emplyment elsewhere.  And Thomas may finally be ready to retire.

Changes are coming.

I expect a different pair of goalies in the NHL by October and different coaching.

The Summer knows – part 1 addendum: McLellan leaves; staff relieved

The summer smoothes
The restless sky

Today, the Sharks announced that the team and head coach Todd McLellan have mutually agreed to part ways.  All the assistants (Woodcroft, Johnson, video coordinator Hemlich) have been relieved of their duties.  (No word on goalie “coaches” Wayne Thomas and Corey Schwab.)

McLellan thanks owners, coaches, players and fans for his time in San Jose. (Full Q&A from presser)

Possible coaching replacements via Pashelka

Sharks prospects CHL playoffs round 3

Recapping round 2:  In the OHL, Labanc (Barrie) and Bergman (London) both were eliminated. In the WHL, Chartier (Kelowna) and Schooenborn (Portland) advanced and will face each other in the WHL Western Conference Finals.

WHL | schedule/results

WCF. Kelowna (Chartier) vs Portland (Schoenborn)

Kelowna wins series 4-2.  On to the WHL Finals: Brandon vs Kelowna (starts Friday).

 

150418 – Entry Draft lottery

Saturday, about 5pm, the lottery winner will be revealed.

Based on their record, finishing 22nd, the Sharks have a 5% (1 in 20) chance of winning the lottery.  (83% to stay at 9th; 12% to step back to 10th)

Update: Edmonton wins the lottery.  Sharks retain #9 pick.

Sharks/NHL introduction

San Jose Mercury News

 Puck Daddy chirpin’

Why We Should Pray They Win Lottery: Because San Jose missing the playoffs for only the second time since 1997, and after getting reserve-swept last season by their arch rivals, would make winning the lottery the Sharkiest thing that ever Sharked.

Why We Should Pray They Don’t Win Lottery: We’d eventually like to see him hoist the Cup.

NHL draft lottery drawing (video)

Sharks: Sharks Slotted as Ninth Selection in 2015 Draft