At the end of the 2008-2009 NHL regular season, the San Jose Sharks find themselves atop not just the Pacific Division, not just the Western Conference, but the entire NHL. With franchise records in wins (53), points (117), and Wins at home (32). One would think this would be enough to at least get a team out of the first round of the playoffs, right? Wrong.
The furthest the Sharks have ever been in the NHL playoffs is the Conference Finals in 2004. They lost to the Calgary Flames in 7 games. Since then, they have made the playoffs 4 times, yet never past the 2nd round. For an 18 year old franchise, this is not a very impressive track record. No season however was anywhere near as dissapointing as this most recent.
Entering the playoffs, it was a pretty safe bet for most fans that the Western Conference Finals would consist of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings, and the Presidents Trophy Winner San Jose Sharks. It wouldn't be til the Conference Finals that we saw a truly competitive series. Wrong again.
When the Sharks received the No.1 overall seed in the West, they were to play one of 4 teams, the Blue Jackets, the Wild, the Blues, or the Ducks. None of those teams were suspected to be much of a challenge for the Sharks, rather a good warm up series. When it was determined that the Sharks would play the Ducks, nobody thought too much of it as the Sharks had a 4-1-1 record vs. Anaheim on the season. Once again, we were wrong.
With all the matchups set in place, the playoffs commenced. Detroit and Vancouver handled the Jackets and Blues respectively. The Blackhawks won their series against the Flames in 6. The Sharks however, were a different story.
Who would've thought, that of all the favorites to struggle in the playoffs, the Presidents Trophy Winner would be the team that found themselves on the brink of elimination. After a terrible homestand, the Sharks found themselves down 2-0 heading back to Anaheim. This would prove to be too much for the Sharks to comeback from. After bringing the series to 3-2, the Sharks were crushed in Anaheim 5-2. I watched in disbelief.
As I sat on my sofa, Sharks jersey on, Sharks towel in hand, with my dad at my side on his usual chair the two of us watched as our beloved Sharks were dismantled in front of us. The team that had been put together over the past 4 seasons, the team that had been built to win NOW was thwarted, by a division rival to make things worse. We just couldn't understand what happened. I sat in front of my TV for over an hour after the game had ended, wondering what the hell I just saw. Had it really just ended? Had the joyride that I had witnessed over the past 4 months just ended? It had, and I didn't understand how. And the scary part is, I don't think anyone understands how.
Doug Wilson, the Sharks GM did similar to myself, sat and watched not understanding what had happened. He had assembled a team that had all the pieces to win, a playmaker (Joe Thornton), a quarterback/puckhandler (Dan Boyle), goal scorers (Patrick Marleau, Devin Setoguchi), veteran leadership, (Rob Blake, Jeremy Roenick), a great goaltender (Evgeni Nabokov), young talent (Joe Pavelski, Milan Michalek), and even fighters (Jody Shelley, Brad Staubitz). Yet, it wasn't enough, what were they missing?
This leads me to my point, are the Sharks a cursed franchise? What will it take for them to win? They bring together great mixes of talent year in, year out yet no combination ever seems to work. When you lose to a division rival who you dominated all season long, are you simply unlucky, or cursed? The Sharks will need to produce if they ever want to rid their name as the NHL's, and possibly all of sports as the biggest choker.
Melissa Haro
Anne V
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The Sharks need real leadership. I thought that they had found somebody to show them the way in the Playoffs last year when Lemieux signed, but you can only do so much getting 5 minutes a game.
It seems that the team is made up of great regular season players, but none of them have ever done much in the Playoffs. Nabokov is a superstar, but he's just good in the postseason. Thornton has always disappeared after April 15. Roenick has never won anything, which is sad, because I'd love to see him get one. Even Blake isn't a dominant Playoff d-man. He got his Cup in a half-season in Denver playing with the likes of Bourque, Foote, Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Tanguay, and Roy.
It really is sad. It's just one of those things you can't explain. I was pulling hard for the Sharks this year in the Playoffs, as the Avs weren't there. I'd like to see Roenick get one. Lemieux will always be one of my favorites. Here's hoping they can get theirs while the Avs rebuild.
By the way, don't worry - nobody is as cursed as the Senators. None of their players can ever win anything. Look at Hossa - he played for the Sens, and he's been on the losing side in each of the last two Cup Finals.
Good blog, man.
wtnelson = Big Chief
Fort Collins , CO
Total Comments (3649)
i agree they need leadership. joe thornton is a choker. the ducks were a nightmare match-up for the sharks. marleau is overrated. the ducks had 2 big defensemen to control the sharks big forwards. whitney and pronger are big guys that dont get pushed around.
PatsFan21
Yorba Linda , CA
Total Comments (383)
Cursed is a label people used until the person\team overcomes adversity. Unfortunately for the Sharks it's pretty accurate. Let's face it, the Sharks are an overrated team. They dominated the Pacific West - wow! Between the West and the brownies weekend league they racked up enough points to show nice on paper. When the pressure came (playoffs) they were a no show. Short on leadership and even shorter on heart. The leadership roles fall on Thornton and Marleau - enough said. Defense was good and Naby can contend with any team but what they lack is passionate leaders. Truth is that won't change until Coach McLellan and Wilson do some fancy trades. Not that anyone would take Big Jo(k)e or Marleau. The monkey is on their back and there to stay until they change that team. I like the management team and the coaching but they've got another long season coming.
Hielo
Livermore , CA
Total Comments (43)
I completely disagree with calling them an overrated team. The Pacific Division was supposed to be the best division in hockey last season and the year before that, it was. The Stars and Ducks both are great teams, who were plagued by injuries last year. Either way, the Sharks are not overrated. Also, I know for a fact there are teams out there that would love to have Big Joe. And also teams that would love to have Marleau, at least as a role player.
And finally, how can you say it will be a long season? The season doesn't suck for the Sharks til the last two weeks. Other than that, the regular season goes by TOO fast for us Sharks fans.
OM= Andrew Luck
San Jose, CA
Total Comments (2459)
i say they got the wrong team in the 1st round
Army of Adam
Total Comments (7222)
As a Red Wing fan, I can say that the Ducks gave us all we wanted (at least until we hit the Cup finals). The Sharks just hit the wrong team in the second round (thanks Army of Adam).
But - again seeing things as a Wings fan - it does take experience to win the Cup. Talent alone is not sufficient. Keep plugging to get that experience, and the post season victories will start coming.
Appleseed
Detroit, MI
Total Comments (947)
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