PUCKHEAD PUBLIC DIVISION

How to Get Over the Hump

OM= Andrew Luck — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:55:19 GMT

In the San Jose Sharks 18 year old history, they have never made it past the Western Conference Finals. No Stanley Cup appearances, let alone Stanley Cup wins. For a team that has always been very competitive (other than their first two seasons), this is disgraceful. I am going to theorize in this blog how the Sharks can get over "the hump".

1. Add a Pure Goal Scorer

The Sharks have plenty of playmakers on their roster, but no true goal scorers who have a natural instinct for how to score. They never have had a player like this. So, what they need to do is find a way to get a deal done with the Senators for Dany Heatley. I know recently the trade talks between those two teams have died, but I still believe that Doug Wilson can, and should get something done.

Possible Trade? The Sharks need to get rid of Patrick Marleau. Listen, I'm as big, if not a bigger Marleau fan than the next guy, but I learned something this year that really had never occurred to me like it has for a guy like Joe Thornton. No matter how good of a regular season Marleau has, he will never produce in the playoffs. He had 2 points in 6 games for the Sharks and did nothing in terms of making a big play at either end. He needs to go as the Sharks already have enough talent to get to the playoffs.

2. Find a Leader

Let's face it, as good of a player as Joe Thornton is, he's not a leader. Neither is Marleau, Blake, Roenick, or any of the older players on the Sharks roster. In fact, the only player on the roster who in my opinion deserves to wear the "C" on their sweater is Dan Boyle. However, why not find a guy that actually is a leader. In my opinion the ideal captain is a guy like Jarome Iginla. He's a guy that truly can do it all on the ice. He'll score, pass, check, fight, skate his hardest, lead his guys, and do pretty much anything you ask him to do. Obviously however the Sharks cannot get Jarome Iginla, but they do need to find a poor man's Jarome Iginla. Just somebody who can do a little bit of everything.

Honestly, these are the only two things I can think of that the Sharks need to improve on. There's just no way of knowing how they will screw up next time in the postseason. However there are ways of helping to make the odds of it happening slimmer.

The Lining is Still Silver After 25 Years

Baun-ded=PUCKHEAD — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:21:46 GMT

A recent subject today in Truth & Rumors on FanNation suggesting that there is speculation that the NHL post-season be shortened got me to thinking...

NO...I mean about the other thing... HOCKEY!

On this day, May 19, 1984...The Edmonton Oilers won their first Stanley Cup against one of the greatest dynasties ever by defeating the 4 time consecutive cup champions, New York Islanders in Edmonton by a 4-1 game series victory.

That was 25 years ago today, can you imagine?

A then, 23 year old kid named Wayne Gretzky had just completed what was his most productive season having played in only 74 games. He scored an unbelievable 87 goals coupled with 118 assists for a total of 205 points at a clip of 2.77 points per game!

In the mean time, the Edmonton Oilers set the NHL on fire by scoring an unprecedented 440 goals! A scoring output the likes of which has never been seen since nor is likely to be in the foreseeable future.

That year launched the careers of many other notable players to come with the likes of; Steve Yzerman-DRW, Chris Chelios-MC, Kelly Hrudy-NYI, Pat Lafontaine-NYI, Doug Gilmour-SLB, Dirk Graham-MNS, John McClean-NJD, Russ Courtnall-TML and Cam Neely-VC.

The year also saw the careers of Bobby Clarke, Billy Harris, Guy Lapointe, Dale McCourt, Rick Macleish and Tony Esposito come to a conclusion and exit the game.

So much hockey and great players have come and gone on this anniversary of the Oiler's, silver 25th year celebration since thier 1st lap around the rink while hoisting Lord Stanley's cup, it is impossible to imagine. Many fans now days never saw those players that left the game that year or even some of the ones that started their careers apart from clips and what they have read or looked up on a statistical charts somewhere. Neely's career ended in 1996 as an example.

How great was that year?

New records were set for goal scoring, others tied or broken, offence was the name of the game with the top 10 point leaders all surpassing the 100 point mark & the Cup was finally brought back to Canada where the largest parade in Edmonton was ever staged in the aftermath of the celebration. It also marked the torch being past from one incredible dynasty to what to date was the next and last.

Hockey has gone through enormous changes in those 25 years with new teams, new players, rules, salary caps, equipment and stadium designs etc.

25 years later I am still watching. It's still a great game in spite of the complaints and opinions we share on the league & its management.

But you know what?

25 years ago, we had similar issues to one degree or another.

However, on May 19th, 1984 we were able to close that season, while here we are just starting the 3rd round in 2009. That year gave us so much hockey and history, I'm personally glad that it finished when it did.

We don't need the NHL playoffs going into June & doing so will not ever make it any more entertaining or attractive. Shorten the pre-season if that's what it takes and call it a wrap in May.

Thanks for all those wonderful moments from that time until now.

Well, I guess if this were 25 years ago...we now could go back to thinking about other things since the season and cup would be decided.

Like this...

Well afterall, this is still Puck Bunnies gentlemen!

Happy St Patty's Day Puck Bunnies and Puck Heads

FoosBall — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:12:23 GMT

Happy St Patty's Day! Lets talk some McHockey...

Fourth Mailbag: On Hartsburg, Modano, and more...

Redwing19 — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:21:24 GMT

Welcome to the latest Mailbag!

As stated previously, this next edition is on InformativeSports.com. You can find it here: http://www.informativesports.com/Articles/Hockey/puckhead_mailbag_4.htm

If you have any questions, FanMail me!

When NHL Superstars Fight

FoosBall — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:31:23 GMT

Lecavalier vs Iginla

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_c5fj0r3uk[/youtube]

Phaneuf vs Doan

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZIvuttVBV4[/youtube]

Crosby vs McLean

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR4lmmBvhcA[/youtube]

Messier vs McSorley

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xT66-YmlRo[/youtube]

Clark vs McSorley (A Classic!)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heLgDptsyAk[/youtube]

Lindros vs McSorley

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t_d6Y6JKCU[/youtube]

Lemieux vs Berg

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zUWW2Lh32w[/youtube]

Iginla vs Avery

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MKavcCvDIU[/youtube]

Rick Nash vs Vandermeer

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N34VEjd8t1E[/youtube]

Who said Goalies Can't Fight

FoosBall — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:48:03 GMT

Ray Emery is up to his old tricks again.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L40cNKatKv8[/youtube]

Osgood vs Roy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOYaEIyR3-0[/youtube]

Vernon vs Roy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGtntqyMUXw[/youtube]

Lalime vs Esche

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vctQVwOn6rQ[/youtube]

Kiprusoff vs Vokoun

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwd3mNK01vU[/youtube]

Emery vs Biron

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSMuzYxukrc[/youtube]

Snow vs Sheilds

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwaHRE2Infc[/youtube]

Potvin vs Hextall

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmMX3XEeajg[/youtube]

The Top 5 as per TSN

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddXkpk_C7v4[/youtube]