Shallow Frozen Water

not your average Joes

last year the San Jose Sharks finished in 2nd place in the Pacific Division, 3 points behind the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks.  every hockey fan knows that Joe Thornton is the best option the Sharks put out there but there is a LOT more to the Sharks than just your average Joe.  don’t get me wrong, Joe isn’t average at all, he’s arguably a league MVP every year and depending on your league settings you have to consider drafting him in the top 3 picks in any fantasy league you enter.  i myself went into a 12 team keeper league this year and i had to decide between Joe and AO in the first round and i went with Joe even though he’s older.  i just think he’s the better player.  so anyway Joe Thornton is NOT average.  who else do the Sharks have though?  Gene Nabokov has been standing on his head and that always huge but i wouldn’t have pegged him to be a top 4 goalie this season as we started the season.  Jonathan Cheechoo has a Richard trophy to his credit but he has flopped so badly this season that some are even suggesting he should be on waiver wires in standard 12 team leagues.  i would’ve told you that Jeremy Roenick was done after his Phoenix debacle but there he is, contributing … when healthy.  Craig Rivet leads their defense in scoring and that’s on a team where Matt Carle sits on the bench and Sandis Ozolinsh no longer seems to struggle with the “other” stuff that has been in his life.  Milan Michalek has 10 goals and is tied with Patrick Marleau for 2nd in team scoring with 15 pts, both guys have to be considered disappointments so far this season.

so how are they doing it?  the Sharks lead the Pacific Division this season at pretty much the 1/3 mark of the season.  Joe has been great and Gene has been over his head but is that enough?  apparently.

the telling stat for the Sharks looks to be Road Record.  they’re 12-3-2 in unfriendly confines so far this season.  they’re only 6-7-2 at home.  they’re also 7-2-1 in their last 10, tied for 2nd best in the league over that span.

i think the Sharks success so far this season comes down to “responsible two way hockey” and an unsung hero for them could very well be … wait for it … Douglas Murray.  Murray has been doing everything for the Sharks this season.  he’s got a gritty (read PIMy) edge, his +/- leads the team and although he’s only provided 4 assists on the season he’s prevented a LOT more than that.

i still love Joe on that team, Gene will continue to do what he’s doing playing pretty much EVERY minute for them, Marleau is GOING to bounce back big (trade for him now) and Michalek, Cheechoo and Roenick are still going to be heard from.  they’ll continue to get nice contributions from young guys like Pavelski and Seto(kaiba)guchi, while Murray makes guys pay for standing in front of his net.

by the way, the Sharks are going to improve their home record over the rest of the season and challenge Detroit for the top seed in the West.  oh and Marleau is still going to get up close to 75 pts on the season, despite his putrid start.