H maybe got a tad lucky that Mason missed the pokecheck but you’ve got to be good to be lucky.

Glad to see him lighting it up this year under McLellan.

I was talking with some friends this morning about it. Whats the major difference this season for San Jose? New coach right? Let’s the skilled guys skate maybe?

Ron always seems like a great coach to take a struggling, non-playoff team to the playoffs, but not much further.

What do you think Mike, was it the coaching change?

You didn’t ask me, but here’s the different between last year and this year:

• Better offensive D and breakout due to Rob Blake and Dan Boyle. As many, many others have said, Campbell showed what a game-breaking D-man could do for the Sharks last year, but he’s not as well suited to the rough-and-tumble as Boyle.
• Related to the above, Ehrhoff has continued his improvement from the second half of last year.
• The kids are better: Setoguchi, Pavelski, Clowe, and Vlasic have improved since last year.
• Marleau bounced back from a horrible year. ’nuff said.

How much of that is McLellan? A lot, but not all, I think. He’s better able to use his assets for this type of team, compared to Wilson.

For instance, the youngsters improved why? Wilson didn’t like mistakes, McLellan tolerates them as long as they are the result of plays that are within the team philosophy. This translates to everyone using their skill, speed, and size more effectively, and less predictably than last year’s team.