FanNation - The Republic of Sport

I've been saying for two months that the Sharks wouldn't get out of the first round because of the way they have been playing. Sorry to say, but it looks like I was right. New coach Todd McLellan changed the offensive style in training camp. A style in which forwards crashed the net, & the defense stepped up offensively. This new style was the reason they dominated the division the first three months, & why they were able to win the president's trophy despite a mediocre last month. The problem is that when the calendar changed, the players decided they didn't want to play that way anymore. The result was predictable. The last two months have been unbearable to watch. They have gone back to the Ron Wilson style of dumping & chasing, with no one crashing the net. The result is hardly any scoring. Gee, couldn't have predicted that.

Now it's the playoffs & they have forgotten how to play that uptempo agressive style that McLellan wanted them playing all season. So they get shutout at home in the first playoff game, thereby throwing away the home ice advantage they wanted. What should have happened back in February was anyone who didn't want to play the agressive style sat in the stands. But this league especially won't do that. Thornton has played every game since he came here. He's my favorite player, but are you telling me he has never deserved to sit one game because of bad play in a previous game or series of games? Nonsense. Who cares if Shelley or some other lesser player sits, but if Patty or Joe are healthy scratches, that tells players that everyone is accountable. But it will never happen. I guarantee you Sid has never been benched by the Pens either regardless of how he plays.

This team is very talented, but they will never win the cup, or make it to the finals if they continue to take April off every year. Eventually the "experts" will stop listing them as a cup favorite. What this team may need (I'm ready for the screams) is an overhaul of the lineup. Because no matter how talented this team is, if you continue to flame out in the first or second rounds, ownership will say "why spend all this money on guys who apparently would rather be playing golf?" Thornton dissapears every playoff season. He needs to man it up if he wants to be considered an alltime great. Reggie isn't famous for hitting a few dingers & a .260 average during the season. He's famous for being a one man wrecking crew in the World Series. This is what some of the Sharks need to figure out.