Sharks Gameday: All About The Mojo

by Mike Chen on Nov 6, 2009 10:03 PM PST

Pittsburgh Penguins (12-4-0) at San Jose Sharks(11-4-2), 7:30 PM PST

Update: Joe Pavelski is in, playing with Marleau and Malhotra to start the game.

So, I missed Thursday's Gameday against the Red Wings -- and the Sharks lose, the Ducks lose, and Patrick Marleau doesn't put up a point. Obviously, this BoC mojo thing has something going for it, though I'd tell Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe that if they got in a shootout, it's probably best not to try the same moves they used in the shootout the previous night. Just a thought.

(On a good note, BoC mojo must be working for our dog because not only did her surgery go really smoothly, our vet said she's ahead of schedule for her recovery. Thanks for all your well wishes!)

That leads us to tonight's game against the Penguins -- a game that I was thinking of attending, but I sold my tickets just to play it safe with the pooch. Right now, all signs are pointing to a letdown tonight: first game back after a road trip, first game after ending a long winning streak, injuries on defense, a big home game against the defending Stanley Cup champions. The thing is, you could say the same thing about the Penguins: riddled with injuries, playing a "contender" team after losing to the upstart Kings, on a difficult West Coast swing for a team accustomed to northeast US travel. So mojo's going against both teams, and I guess we'll just have to see which one plays out tonight.

By the way, I hope this is more entertaining than last season's visit by the Pens. That was one of the worst games I saw all season.

One thing going against the Penguins is their surprisingly week special teams play. Well, I suppose not so surprising as of late due to the injuries to Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin, but still -- with Alex Goligoski's strong play on the blueline (13 points in 16 games, +14), it's kind of surprising to see the Penguins struggle with the man-advantage. Both the Sharks and the Penguins have power plays hovering around 83-84%, so it comes down to the Sharks having a more effective power play.

No news so far about any return of injured forwards, but I gotta think that we'll see Joe Pavelski sooner rather than later. Todd McLellan mentioned that Pavelski was the closest to returning, and when everything returns to normal, I'd prefer to keep Joe Thornton with Dany Heatley and Ryane Clowe while Patrick Marleau plays with Joe Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi. While Seto's a shooter like Heatley, I think he just works well with Marleau's pure speed. In the mantime, if Pavelski is a surprise addition against the Penguins, I think it makes sense to return Manny Malhotra down to the third line.

And just to bait for a topic down the road...I think it's easy to say that Marleau's been the most consistent Shark so far this season, and he was the team MVP last year. Considering the cap is currently projected to either stay the same or go up slightly...do you attempt to re-sign Marleau, and if so, how long do you do it (since the longer the term, the lower the cap hit)? You guys discuss and I'll chime in with my thoughts next week. I don't think it's any secret that I've been an advocate of Marleau's for a long, long time, but I'm torn on this one.

Prediction: Sharks 4, Penguins 2. Goals by Marleau (2), Boyle, and Nichol.

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Comments

If I’m Marleau, I tell the Sharks to fuck off because I’m tired of being the scapegoat for a lot of problems with the team, especially considering that Marleau actually hasn’t been that bad in the playoffs over his career, just in a couple of series.

If I’m the Sharks, I’m telling Nabokov to fuck off because he’s been so inconsistent (he’s doing well this year because its a contract year, next year he’ll be back to normal), and I’m trying to convince Marleau that I really do love him and I was just confused and I was drunk and Dany Heatley looked good under a strobe light. Marleau, in my mind, is a 6M/yr player, and he will turn 31 right before the start of his next contract. That means you’ve got to give him a 12 year deal or so to give him a 5M cap hit. I’d give him that deal. If you can get Pavelski and Setoguchi for 4M a piece, that leaves you about 6M to work with to fill out the rest of the team, if the cap is static.

That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if both Nabby and Marleau walk.

http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.

by IAmJoe on Nov 6, 2009 11:31 PM PST reply actions

I think you need to do the 12 year deal with Marleau and try to get him in at under 5. Maybe something like Franzen’s contract.

Let the guy retire a Shark, he’s earned it.

by Evilducks on Nov 7, 2009 11:43 PM PST up reply actions

So, I missed Thursday’s Gameday against the Red Wings — and the Sharks lose, the Ducks lose

Ha, sucker — that’s what you get for writing this post early — in an unexpected turn of events, Ducks actually won!

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Nov 7, 2009 7:18 AM PST reply actions

Oh, and as for Marleau, I’m a bit torn, too — he is one of the Sharks’ consistently best players, so on one hand, I’d say re-sign the guy ASAP and make everyone else’s contracts work around Marleau’s next year. On the other hand, Marleau is definitely peaking right now — not sure if it’s wise to do contract negotiations while a guy is near the top of the scoring leaders — maybe it’s better to let a slump happen first.

I guess I’d wait a few months to negotiate — hard to imagine that Marleau’s price goes up over that span — but I do think re-signing him should be a priority for the Sharks. But then again, maybe it’s just because I keep reading Mike Chen.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Nov 7, 2009 7:30 AM PST up reply actions

Well, geez, that’s not good. “Not good” in a way that has nothing to do with whether or not I want the Ducks to win…but this faulty proclamation has probably tipped the axis of mojo, and who knows what the hell will happen now. It might be like that 2012 movie, except with George Parros and Jody Shelley somehow involved.

by Mike Chen on Nov 7, 2009 8:14 AM PST up reply actions

I should add — I did see some of that Sharks-Wings game, and the Sharks definitely got hosed on that Zetterberg tying goal. Kudos to the Drew Remenda team for highlighting the referee with the whistle going up to his mouth before Henrik scooped the puck from under Nabby’s pad.

Of course it’s ridiculous trying to get a decent call in Detroit, but I thought that was extremely lame.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Nov 7, 2009 10:42 AM PST reply actions

Rationally, the Sharks should try to sign Marleau for a 3-4 year deal and hope he takes one for under 6mil, as his biggest strength is his speed which slowly deteriorate soon after that. That said, my man-love for Marleau says sign him for 12 years and then replace SJ Sharkie with him when he retires (they both talk about the same amount, right?).

Get well soon, Sleek!

by ruben398 on Nov 9, 2009 10:49 AM PST reply actions