Clowe skates for first time since Oct. 27
The Sharks were back on the ice today after having Sunday off. But I had some other duties to deal with and my colleague Mark Emmons was at the practice.
He passes this along:
Ryane Clowe skated for the first time since his Oct. 27 injury to test out his surgically repaired knee. Don’t get too excited, though, because Coach Ron Wilson said it’s probably another month before Clowe — who skated on his own, not with his teammates — is back in the lineup.
Two defenseman, Kyle McLaren and Craig Rivet, didn’t skate. McLaren skipped practice one day last week, too, to have his knee examined, but he was in the building today. The Rivets are about to welcome a third child into the family and he was reportedly with his wife for the big event.
The line combinations were the same as those in the victory over Columbus on Saturday night:
Michalek-Thornton-Bernier
Goc-Marleau-Grier
Rissmiller-Mitchell-Cheechoo
Pavelski-Roenick-Brown-(Davison)
David,
What about this waiving Patzold stuff on the rumor sites? Are they making room for Cujo?
A Cujo signing makes absolutely no sense when they don’t even know what they have in Patzold… What’s the point of bringing in a vet with Cujo’s credentials to play 5+- games the rest of the season?
Even if Clowe is a month away, still GREAT to hear that he’s getting a bit closer to coming back.
Niall,
On the contrary, I think the Sharks know exactly what they have in Patzold. Which is why he hasn’t started a single game. There have been at least five no-brainer opportunites where Patzy should have started, and he didn’t start any of them. The message is clear- the organization does not trust him to win games.
And since this team is expected to win multiple playoff rounds (at least), having a capable backup is necessary, because the whole team will go down if Nabby does. I’ve heard rumors that Greiss will be called up to start within the week, or look for the Sharks to get a guy like Cujo. It’s just not acceptable for a team like the Sharks to have no plan B in goal.
I’m about to rewrite the post, but I’ll do this quickly. Yes, the Sharks have put Patzold on waivers and are prepared to lose him if he’s claimed. And Griess is expected to be in San Jose shortly.
I still don’t understand the Davison over Brown decision. Can someone please explain that one to me?
Mike, there is no evidence that they don’t have confidence in Patzold. Not playing him at those so-called “no-brainers” the Sharks needed to stay with experience to try and break out of the mediocre play.
I actually thought CuJo would have been a great signing and let Patzold and Greiss stay in Woosta the whole season. It was obvious that Nabakov was going to go as much as possible no matter what, even after both DP and TG did fine in pre-season. So, I think it was kind of a management thing at the beginning of the season. If the rumor I had was worth anything, they couldn’t get a deal done with Cujo.
If they almost have a deal now, they need to move somebody. Where ever these two are one the pecking order, TG has been playing the most and they have the most options with him. They can bring him up until Cujo is actually here, then send him back down without having to clear waivers. We’ll see what happens, but this is the only thing that makes any sense to me.
There is a benefit to Patzold not starting and getting any real time — he might have a better chance of clearing waivers, where then he could be sent down — and will probably stay there.
AF in WC…Davidson over Brown, is a little bit of a mystery. BTW: very surprised you made it through a sentance without bashing Marleau for all the wrong reasons or no good reason.
I can speculate…has a bunch to do with Ryan Clowe. The other, has to do with saving Brown for the playoffs. I’;m convinced Curtis had an injury during the first part of the season (more speculation). For the same reason, I’m surprised JR has played so much lately. We definitely need both healthy down the stretch and the playoffs. So, getting Davidson some playing time now and somebody that will mix it up for certain games is a plus.
Clowe skated, but did he try and touch his fingertips to his nose?
#5. I can explain it very easily. Davison is playing better. You may not agree, but remember that you are an amateur observer and Ron Wilson is a professional head coach with decades of NHL experience as a player and coach. I think he knows better.
#8, JTE:
“Put the bottle down and step away from the Zamboni…”
I think Davison goes out and HITS people. he shows the energy that the crowd likes.
but on the flipside, I think he hurt himself throwing so many checks. hence “out because of bumps and bruises”
“…And he checks himself into the boards…”
I don’t quite understand that second line. Why not flank Marleau with Pavelski and Cheecho? Drop Grier back down with Mitchell which is a great combination and put Goc back on the 4th line.
We all know line combos on this team are fluid. “Speculation is Futile!”