Day 6: Sharks win and GM joins the journey
PHILADELPHIA — Finally, the Sharks found a team in more dire straits than they were.
Which isn’t to diminish the importance of their 3-1 victory over the Flyers. No, this was a game San Jose needed to win and that hasn’t always been enough to get it done in the past. The win also was significant because the game started to go down the wrong path, but didn’t.
But back to the Flyers. Losers of nine in a row, missing one of their top stars for the rest of the season and locked in a bad relationship with Daniel Briere. Oh, the scoring stats aren’t horrible by any means — 53 points in 64 games — though the -24 isn’t winning any friends in the fan base. In fact, the Philly fans were living up to their reputation all night, giving Briere the Chris Pronger treatment that Sharks fans reserve for the opposition. Touch the puck, get booed. No kidding.
It didn’t help, of course, that Douglas Murray’s first goal of his NHL career bounced off Briere’s shoulder and into the net.
Anyway, GM Doug Wilson joined the team in Philadelphia, having spent the last few days at league meetings in Florida. We talked between periods and much of the conversation shows up in tomorrow’s print edition.
As I’ve written several times already, Wilson won’t discuss specific players — his own included — that may be part of the actual trade talk going on. Jokinen? Hossa? Marleau? Carle? You’re not getting anything from him — other than the sense that obtaining a defenseman, not a forward, is still his top priority. And he also was definitely hedging as to whether or not some major deal was in the works — probably because he knows he’s competing with 15-20 teams for the same handful of players.
But feel free to read between the lines. And here are a couple things that came up that didn’t make the print edition:
On the planning involved: “We look at everything six months in advance. I’d be very surprised that there’s anything we do at the deadline that we haven’t had on the radar for six months. If it becomes available, you do it.”
On the pressure to make changes: “If you do something just for the sake of saying, ‘Look what I did,’ that’s not the right way to go. If you have to do something because you think the group needs something, then you do it.’”
***********Before we leave the Atlantic Seaboard for Pittsburgh (assuming the predicted snow there doesn’t keep my flight from taking off), a couple belated thoughts on Newark’s Prudential Center, which opened earlier this season and is the NHL’s newest facility.
The good news: It has wide open concourses that provide ample display space for all things hockey. Like the Excel Center in St. Paul, it has high school jerseys on display in the main public area. And the various items available in a silent auction were set in a gallery-like setting. Very classy.
The bad news: Attendance remains a problem. The announced crowd for the Sharks game was 13,855 but the building looked half empty. “People just don’t want to go to downtown Newark,” one local reporter told me.
The video board: All year I’ve waited until the New Jersey trip before passing judgment on the new video boards at HP Pavilion, figuring the league’s newest building would be the competition. Now I can say that, when it comes to size and clarity, the new video screens at HP Pavilion are the best I’ve seen anywhere. Now if only those in charge can make better use of it as far as showing to more replays and less of the tedious barrage of sponsorship-driven gimmicry that it’s used for most of the time.
I agree on the video board - great point. I get amazed at quality of picture every time I go to the game. But then a game begins and I wonder why on earth did they spent all that money if they can’t show a good replay of a big hit or a fight or even a scoring chance (why are replays are so random and so infrequent? do we really need to see where the hell Sharkie is at the given moment?), or show proper replays of goals (more than once, that is). It is all so inconsistent and frustrating.
When owners invests money like this, you would think they’re smart enough to also hire a crew that would make it worthwhile, but it’s probably operated by the same old Joe who was operating the original TV board when arena was first built. We’re in Silicon Valley after all, where technology is not only valued, but also properly applied.
Yes, I thought the ones in Vancouver were nice, but the system in San Jose is much better. I like that it runs in HD mode all the time … in Vancouver they shrink the picture during play to show the score and clock. Then they expand it during the down time to show replays and promos.
Thanks again David for providing great insight and information.
I tried to read between the lines but I could not see where Dean Wilson’s six month plan included consulting this blog to find out what to do.
The video board in Philly is almost as nice as the one in San Jose. I wish they would display the penalty time on it rather than in the corners. In Philly they displayed a close-up of the fight between Shelley and Cote and when it was over they showed it again blow by blow. That just wouldn’t happen in San Jose.
Who the hell is Dean Wilson?
OK I’m just going to be like everyone else and use DW. Whew that was easy.
I think “Dean Wilson” is the guy who is starting to look and act more and more like the old Dean Lombardi….
I agree with Ivano - and a vast amount of others. It would be great if the awesome new jumbo-tron at HP could show some replays. You always see the Sharks on away games and how players will look up to see how they did something or look up and watch a bad call - you never see that at HP cause the players know there are no replays!
Ivano, is the video board situation at San Jose similar to the add from Comcast voice?
The technology is much better but your calls won’t change? (same old stuff being shown)…
I like your sense of humor Andy, we need more of that on this board. Nice game Sharks, but more to the point GREAT game Nabby as he did not exactly steal the game, but covered up a couple of Shark miscues.
So, according to DW’s logic, the Sharks have been planning for ~4 months to be ousted in the first round of the playoffs? Nothing like good planning. The players and coaches can line up their tee times now.
Call me crazy but I actually don’t like the new screens at HP Pavilion. The problem is they are just too big and over shadows the game itself (literally). Great for replays but a distraction during play.
I like the new scoreboard and the wraparound board. The only thing I miss is the constant out of town soreboard. It would be nice to see scores when I want to see them.
Note to DW:::::>>>>> Please do NOT trade away our young talent and/or high draft picks for rental players this year!!! To me, it is very clear that the Sharks are not ready to make a Cup run. I think they will make the playoffs, and may win a round, depending on who they face. In the second round, they would likely get Detroit or Anaheim and I think both of those teams are too strong for us right now. Don’t get me wrong…I’m a die hard Sharks fan, but I am a realist and this team is not going to win the Cup this year, no matter who they add. Let’s not trade away possible future Stanley Cups for a futile attempt this year. Yes, the Rivet deal last year worked out, but it was only because we were able to sign him. We may have been able to do that without trading for him. And as for Bill Guerin…we only gave up a 1st rounder and a long shot prospect for him, but it was a waste. Hind sight is 20/20, but I thought we were closer last year than we are this year.
No droog, you’ve got it all wrong. He’s been planning on winning the cup. Do you have to be such a downer all the time?
#9 & #10 - I agree with both of you… those screens are ginormous! They’re not too bad if you’re in the upper deck or at the ends, but I had seats at one game center ice in the lower bowl and you feel like your in the front row at a Drive-In… a little distracting.
I miss the out-of-town scores too… what was the point of the new facia if they don’t use it for anything other than advertising? Duh… just answered my own question!
Also, wondered why (like #5) they didn’t show very many replays when i was at the last Calgary game… a couple of questionable goals, one that went to review, no replay (even after they called it a goal)… maybe they don’t want the crowd to boo the refs on a bad call?
#11. I agree with Will Thomas. My questions to the board:
1. Do the Sharks have the goods to get to the Cup Finals with the “right trade?”.
2. What could Scotty Bowman at his best get out of this team?
3. What would Bowman do to turn this ship around?
“we ONLY gave up a first rounder”
what?
1st round draft picks are gold in today’s NHL. giving up a first round pick for a washed up piece of garbage like Guerin or anyone else similar rental is STUPID.
you made perfect sense and your overall post #11 I agree with. but saying we only gave up a first rounder contradicts the rest of your post which is right on the money.
That big dumbo-tron should make fans feel like they made the right choice getting out of their living rooms and going down to the arena.
If I wanted to swallow a load of Madison Ave advertising hype for 3 hours, I’d drive up to a tanning salon in Hayward.
And how about a giant high-tech beer dispenser with brews that cost less than a six-pack?
there were reports that the sharks were considering offering kids like Couture and Petrecki in trade.
that is INSANE. they are the future of this team. what good does it do to draft well, develop kids, and then deal them away in an idiotic impulse deal that destroys the future of the team.
trading vets for younger players should be the goal, not the opposite.
Toronto, a city that hasn’t been represented in the Stanley Cup Finals in 41 years. That means 82 different teams have been since the Leafs have. 27 North American cities including 5 other Canadian ccities have experienced the enthralling nature of the Stanley Cup Finals since the Maple Leafs last did.
The only cities which haven’t: Columbus, Atlanta, Nashville, Phoenix, San Jose. That’s it. That’s the list.
Combined - the Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, and New Jersey Devils have won EIGHT Stanley Cups and made ELEVEN Finals appearances in the last SIXTEEN seasons. None of the five cites had NHL hockey before then. Colorado did briefly with the Rockies, but you get my point. This alone should demonstrate the lack of hope Maple Leafs fans based in reality should feel.
The last three champions won in cities that didn’t have ANY NHL TEAM before 1992.
——————————
the Sharks, one of only five teams that have not hosted a stanley cup finals game since 1967.
be patient, my arse.
In answer to your questions Rob Taylor:
1) Defense wins Stanley cups. The Sharks have one of the best in the NHL. However, as to whether they have the goods, they need to score more goals. In that vein, the “right trade” would be to get Marian Hossa from Atlanta without giving up Marleau or Cheechoo which has been rumoured. As that is not likely to happen, the next best thing to hope for would be Brian Campbell or Tomas Kaberle, two defensemen who have been rumoured to be on the Sharks radar. Either would help the power play a lot, and Campbell especially is a great puck mover.
2) Scotty Bowman is a consultant with the Red Wings and would not be interested in coaching the Sharks. The only “decent” coach who is out of a job at the moment is Bob Hartley but his abrasive style would not suit the Sharks. If Wilson must go at some point I’d hope for Ken Hitchcock but that’s probably a pipe dream.
3) Scotty Bowman was probably the best ever with getting teams with a lot of superstars to play as a team. He was never a great teaching coach and in that light probably wouldn’t be a good fit for the Sharks. While I think Bowman was one of the greatest coaches in NHL history, he also had some tremendous talent in front of him.
1. Do the Sharks have the goods to get to the Cup Finals with the “right trade?”.
2. What could Scotty Bowman at his best get out of this team?
3. What would Bowman do to turn this ship around?
4. Why do we care what Scotty Bowman would do, since he isn’t now and won’t ever be the coach of the Sharks, and since though he’s a HoF coach he’s hardly the sine qua non against which all other coaches must be measured?
sine qua non - Is someone trying to impress us with Latin legal terms? Is this a compensation for something else? You know what they say about guys who use Latin to try to impress on hockey boards.
SacBen, the OOT scores, is now a promo/advetising opp.
“the OOT scores brought to you by…”
Yes, I miss the out-of-town scores as well, although I often use my cell phone to check online these days. This will be even more important as we enter the final stretch and want to scoreboard watch for playoff positioning.
Better replays would be a big help. I think the Sharks are cautious about showing anything possibly controversial like a missed call.
GoaliePuke,
I thought they always had the “out of town scores brought to you by…..” at intermissions. I miss the constants scores scrolling in the arena.
I always remember the scores being posted for the whole game on the OLD LED boards along the ring of second deck. But I do remember the scores announced by Danny Miller over the last 3 seasons — maybe the since the lockout season? Definitely not before Danny Miller.
So the thing now is — you’re correct, unless you have a radio in your ear, we only see them, sponsored by….at 2nd intermission.
Davey: Uh. No, I’m not trying to impress you. Relax.
“Sine qua non” means, simply, “an indispensable element”. Scotty Bowman was a great coach, but is he really so indispensable to the coaching conversation that we should care what he’d do with the Sharks, at this point? He’s not, after all, going to walk through the door.
And i think BC, I don’t think Scotty Bowman will get behind the bench again. I believe he is still consultant for the Wings, but was recently being wooed for help on a another team — but I can’t remember the team. maybe someone else saw that interview with him or s story about that?
Are you talking about the interview during the All Star game? Wasn’t he supposedly talking to Toronto?
He turned them down… here’s the link…
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=327252&page=NewsPage&service=page
Yep, that’s the one. Thanks.
Shows me how memorable the All Star game really was, eh?