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Around SBN: Ohio State And Florida Target 2013 Receiver Recruits

Sharks Gameday: Sneak Preview

San Jose Sharks (36-11-9) at St. Louis Blues (25-22-9), 5 PM EST

Barring any sort of insane Ilya Kovalchuk theories, it looks like the Sharks are going to be getting stay-at-home defenseman Niclas Wallin. I pinged my FTR mates Bob and Cory (both Hurricanes fans at Canes Country) and they both agreed that he's steady and reliable without being flashy, though he scored some big goals during the Carolina Cup run.

Steady, reliable. That's exactly what the Sharks need right now. Assuming no defensemen are let go, the future pairings could look like this:

Boyle, Murray
Blake, Vlasic
Huskins/Demers, Wallin

I'd prefer to put Demers out there with a steady veteran like Wallin, as it provides a safety net for Demers as he grows into his offensive role. Huskins can be steady but his brain farts usually are those of the monumental fashion, and I'd rather see Demers out there with someone less error-prone.

Does McLellan trust Demers? As a 5/6 guy with upside and a good outlet pass, I'd hope so, and hopefully Wallin could show the kid some good defensive habits.

Update: Here's what Bob from Canes Country said about Wallin:

Wallin has been with the Canes for quite some time (2000) and has never played for another NHL team.  He's a good sized, stay at home defenseman who can play with a physical edge.  That's not to say that he will line up guys at the blueline for huge hits, but he can clear the crease and hold players up along the boards with the best of them.

He has scored some huge goals during the playoffs, (hence the nickname, "the secret weapon"), but he's pretty offensively challenged for the most part. You won't see him on the point of the powerplay for sure.  He's not necessarily a great skater, so he won't be skating the puck out of his zone with ease, but his first pass out is usually pretty good and he's not overly prone to making dumb mistakes.  (although he does make them from time to time, but don't we all?).

As long as you don't expect too much, you won't be disappointed.  Like I said, he's a good stay at home guy who will use his muscle when needed.


The Blue I'd Like On My Team: Paul Kariya, cause he's Asian and that'd be cool to put him on a line with Devin Setoguchi (Japanese) and Manny Malhotra (Indian). That'd be a first, right?

Prediction: Sharks 3, Blues 1. I don't care who scores because a free pizza isn't involved.

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As much as you’d like to quit Kent Huskins, it’s damn hard to do — may have to trade the guy to properly move on.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Feb 4, 2010 11:43 AM PST reply actions  

I’d put Walin with Vlassic, Blake with Huskins. If anyone should see a reduction in icetime it’s the captain

by pelonshark on Feb 4, 2010 11:56 AM PST reply actions  

Agree with the Blake thought, but you can’t play him with Huskins. Imagine how many bad turnovers you’d see each shift.

by Mike Chen on Feb 4, 2010 1:28 PM PST up reply actions  

*Shudders*

Limiting Blake’s ice time would be nice, though.

"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott

by ZeroIndulgence on Feb 4, 2010 2:46 PM PST up reply actions  

I don’t think I could sleep ever again.

"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after an 87 second hockey fight against Cam Janssen

by idunno723 on Feb 4, 2010 3:57 PM PST up reply actions  

The novelty of that asian line would be cool, but payin Kariya 7 million to score 10 goals in 50 games is insane.

And I am the other Kariya fan, and I feel that way, imagine the haters.

by Mike in OC on Feb 4, 2010 12:54 PM PST reply actions  

That pick was purely for racial oddity purposes. ;)

by Mike Chen on Feb 4, 2010 1:25 PM PST up reply actions  

true enough about Blake-Huskins. Blake needs to see less ice time, espescially in crucial situations. Pair him with Demers or Better yet Leach, who has played well since we got him from montreal.

by pelonshark on Feb 4, 2010 2:12 PM PST reply actions  

Um not to be picky, but isn’t Setoguchi half Japanese / half white? Okay you guys know how mixed my family is already. It’s a slight pet peeve of mine that us mutts don’t get recognized for all that we are, but instead some try to put us into a nice neat little box. :)

Maybe he’s not half / half, but could have sworn that he was. (should really stop letting this bother me)

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin

by ang6666 on Feb 4, 2010 2:26 PM PST reply actions  

Kariya’s half-Japanese, too. BoC hates facts, though.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Feb 4, 2010 2:29 PM PST up reply actions  

i only like them when they explain why one of our players sucks…those are some of the best posts

Ghost Faced Hilla gonna regulate in a hockey arena near you!!

GO DUCKS!!!

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Feb 4, 2010 2:40 PM PST up reply actions  

Malhotra is half-Indian, half-white too.

So if you put them on a line together, you’d have one Japanese guy, one and a half white guys, and half an Indian guy. Maybe a priest and a rabbi too, and they all go to a bar together.

by Mike Chen on Feb 4, 2010 3:17 PM PST up reply actions  

Hey, I just thought of the start of a good joke:

“A priest, a rabbi, and Patrick Marleau walk into a bar together…”

Anyone want to come up with the punchline?

by Mike Chen on Feb 4, 2010 3:18 PM PST up reply actions  

Can the defensemen be a priest and a rabbi?

Space Weed Says (Insert Generic quote about blog here)
"DO NOT get stuck behind Kyle Wellwood in the buffet line. This isn't really etiquette, but it will prevent you from starving to death"- Down Goes Brown on Etiquette for Jason Spezza's wedding

by Kevin Sellathamby on Feb 4, 2010 3:35 PM PST up reply actions  

So if you put them on a line together, you’d have one Japanese guy, one and a half white guys, and half an Indian guy

Damn, I laughed pretty hard at that Mike.

thank you

by Mike in OC on Feb 4, 2010 3:56 PM PST up reply actions  

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