Puck Ponderings

Game 1, road game 1. (NHL game 0004)

TV: NBCSN with Dave Strader, Brian Engblom
Radio:  Sharks Radio Network; Sirius 211 XM 218 (LAK feed)

UPDATE: Niemi vs Quick expected matchup in net.  Irwin scratched on blueline.  Mueller and Tierney to make NHL debuts.

Sharks can’t escape the national spot light after their historic disappointment in the opening round. They didn’t even get to play in May.  And it’s no mistake that the Sharks are facing the Kings watching the Stanley Cup banner raised as one of four games on opening night.

The hype this off season has focused on the collapse and the (apparent lack of) reaction to said collapse. There were no changes in coaching or general manager (NHL) while many pundits were calling for one or both. And the leadership is changing with the captaincy stripped from Joe Thornton (and assistancy from Marleau); again pundits wonder why they are still on the roster (rather than having their hand forced to waive their NTCs and find greener pastures).

My take on these changes are the following:

First, if you fire the coach and/or GM, are there internal candidates ready to step into those positions that will be better?  (No)  Second, are there equivalent or better available people out there to take the positions? (No at the time, and highly unlikely most of those that did come available over the course of the summer could do a better job.)

Next, while a disappointing situation for Thornton and Marleau, it has motivated them for the upcoming season. They are not getting any younger, so perhaps it’s just “time” to change over the leadership.  Even if the two players were willing to waive their NTCs (and they weren’t), it’s highly unlikely the Sharks would be able to trade these guys for same/better offensive production (without having to “over pay” and under value these two players). Who are my candidates for leadership?  Pavelski (first American captain of Sharks?), Couture, and Vlasic.

The Sharks shipped out Boyle, Havlat, Stuart. Burish returns to health.  And it looks like Mirco Mueller and Barclay Goodrow will start the season on the NHL roster (maybe more rookies; waiting for the final movement(s) to be announced). Update:  rookies Tierney, Hayes and near-rookie Tye McGinn are on the roster as well; Goodrow is nursing sore hand and will start the season as a non-roster player.  That leaves 2 G, 7 D, 13 F (plus Goodrow non-roster; Kennedy, Sheppard on IR; Torres on LTIR).

While Nikolay Goldobin had some great moves at training camp, he is heading off to Finland for the season. (And it may be IIHF transfers that helped with that decision.)

Now on to the game.  It’s the season opener for both teams.  Kings will raise their Stanley Cup banner (will the team wait in the dressing room after warmups or will they come out and be on the bench to watch the raising? — Sharks will stay in the dressing room).

Starters:  Have to think that Quick will start for the Kings.  But will it be Stalock or Niemi for the Sharks?  Wait and see (morning skate should be over ~noon ish).

Kings want to put a stamp on their season and potential dynasty.  Sharks want to come out sell and meek out a small measure of revenge for the playoffs.

Let’s show the rest of the league how rivalries play out.

Sharks Centric News

Sharks twitter list

Sharks news

• Stanley’s Bar (@ Sharks Ice in San Jose) is hosting Coolest Game viewing party 10/8
• 10/7 post practice videos
  • McLellan
  • Pavelski
  • Couture
  • Demers
  • McGinn
• Hockey Hot Stove (10/7)
• Pregame videos
  • Hockey is Back
  • Pavelski
  • Vlasic
  • Mueller
  • Tierney
  • Niemi
  • McLellan
• KFOX Pregame report (got the link and then the video disappeared; <shrug>)

San Jose Mercury News

• Sharks keep rookie Micro Mueller as one of seven defenseman
• Sharks assign Nikolay Goldobin to Finnish league
• San Jose Sharks Captains (history/sidebar)
• Sharks notebook: Rookie infusion on San Jose roster
• WTC: Three rookies stick with Sharks, does taking away that ‘C’ change the locker room culture — and Owen Nolan’s thoughts on leadership
• 2014-15 NHL Preview: Odds to win the Stanley Cup
• 2014-15 NHL Preview: Rule changes for upcoming season
• Sharks captaincy up in the air entering season opener
• 2014-15 NHL Preview: A look at the Western Conference
• 2014-15 NHL Preview: A look at the Eastern Conference
• 2014-15 NHL Preview: Several ex-Sharks switched teams in offseason
• 2014-15 NHL Preview: Six teams hope new coaches can turn fortunes around
• 2014-15 NHL Preview: Familiar faces in new places
• San Jose Sharks starting with a mystery: Who’s No. 1 in goal?
• WTC: Sharks’ third line faces stern test vs. Kings
• What might the San Jose Sharks’ lines look like in 2014-15?
• WTC: How the Sharks are likely to be lining up in opener against the Kings, a world-class quote from Vlasic — and more
• Sharks not surprised they are opening against Stanley Cup champs
• Sharks GM Wilson says rookies have earned their spot on roster
• Antti Niemi will start in goal for Sharks
• Sharks’ captaincy still undetermined

CSN Bay Area/California

• Five thoughts as Sharks preseason concludes
• Mueller likely to make final roster after more cuts
• Sharks’ potential third line could feature two rookies
• Roenick: Sharks ‘didn’t do anything to improve’ in offseason
• Sharks prospect Goldobin departs, will play in Finland
• Sharks notes: Mueller makes cut, goalie decision looms, etc.
• Sharks GM Wilson discusses young, opening-night roster
• Sharks using opener to distance from playoff collapse
• Season of questions starts for directionless Sharks
• Ratto’s season starting rant
• In the Crease: Sharks open in LA after awkward offseason
• Niemi gets the call in net for season opener vs. Kings
• Hours before Sharks open season, still no captain
• Sharks rookies got a taste of Kings in preseason

The Gackle Report

• Vlasic Sees Himself In Mueller
• Hayes Lands Final Spot On Sharks Opening-Night Roster
• What Do Advanced Stats Tell Us About The Sharks and Kings?

San Francisco Chronicle

• Playoff collapse prompts Sharks to shift toward younger team

The Hockey Writers

• Could Mueller Be Sharks’ Final Puzzle Piece?
  Putting a lot of pressure on a 19 year old. I think he’ll be an important piece, but not necessarily the “final” piece, not not necessarily this season. He’s got a lot of learning to do.
• Thornton and Hertl Will Miss Brent Burns on First Line
  And I wish I had a winning lottery #. Pavelski isn’t exactly chopped liver. I think those three will be just fine.

Neutral Centric News

NHL

• Preview
• Sharks haven’t decided on starter in goal: report
• Five things to watch in Sharks-Kings opener
• Fourteen questions entering 2014-15 season

AP

• Preview
• 2014 NHL preview: How the West will win
• Sharks hope to spoil Kings’ celebration at opener

SportsXchange preview

Sports Network: Preview

Reuters

• League set for smooth-as-ice start to 2014-15 season
• Profiles of Western Conference teams

NBC/PHT

• Risk Factors: San Jose Sharks edition
• Sharks could have two rookies on the third line
• ‘Not our party’ – Sharks plan to skip Kings’ banner ceremony
• NHL on NBCSN: Sharks seek revenge vs. Kings that put them through hell
• PHT’s Season Preview: 30 questions, 180 answers

USA Today

• Kings open season by reminding Sharks who runs the West

Opponent Centric News

Twitter list of opponent news

Los Angeles Kings

• October 6 practice quotes: Darryl Sutter
• McNabb, Andreoff’s progress explained by Sutter
• On The Air
• October 7 practice quotes: Darryl Sutter
• Familiar up-tempo practice precedes opener
• How a “short” summer affects team planning
• Kings Set Opening Night Roster
• Stanley Cup march part of pre-game festivities
• Players prefer a shorter ceremony
• Quick And A Sidekick
• Here And Now
• Audio: LAKI joins All the Kings Men Podcast
• Video: Alec Martinez talks season opener
• October 8 morning skate quotes: Tyler Toffoli
• October 8 morning skate quotes: Darryl Sutter
• October 8 morning skate quotes: San Jose

Los Angeles Times

• What would it take for the Kings to become a dynasty?
• Kings forward Justin Williams on Stanley Cup motivation
• Kings have acquired a taste for winning, are eager to begin new quest

Inside SoCal

• Marian Gaborik update and catch-up on weekend Kings news
• TV analyst Jeremy Roenick: ‘The Kings have to be the favorites again’
• Kings coach Darryl Sutter talks about goalie Jonathan Quick’s status
• Los Angeles Kings trying to make history by repeating as Stanley Cup champions
• Los Angeles Kings: Questions ahead for Stanley Cup champions
• The Stanley Cup: List of teams who have repeated as NHL champions
• Kings coach Darryl Sutter’s not-so-nutty quote of the day
• Kings questions and answers (part 1, expanded version)
• Kings questions and answers (part 2, expanded version)
• Kings questions and answers (part 3, expanded version)
• Kings questions and answers (part 4, expanded version)
• Kings questions and answers (part 5, expanded version)

SBN: Jewels in the Crown

• Jewelcast Sixteen: Season’s Eve’s Eve
• Kings Links – Opening Night
• Game Day #1: Kings-Sharks

Orange County Register

• Kings prepared for Sharks’ bite in opener