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Doug Wilson's Big
Gamble It's Paying Off Big
So far
10/11/15 - By Paul Krill -
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When it became clear that Antti Niemi was not going
to be returning as the Sharks top netminder, Sharks fans wondered who would be
the new guy in the net. Would it be backup Alex Stalock? Some high-priced,
well-known free agent? Somebody in the Sharks farm system?
Wrong on
all counts. GM Doug Wilson swung a deal to bring in Kings backup Martin Jones,
who recently had been traded to the Bruins. The Sharks gave up prospect Sean
Kuraly and their first-round draft pick in next year's draft. Now to me, when a
team is on a downward trajectory like the Sharks have been, the last thing you
want to do is give up your first-round draft pick. If the Sharks continue on
this trajectory, that pick could happen mighty early in the first round,
leaving the Sharks out in the cold and probably jeopardizing Wilson's job.
But so, far it looks like Wilson knew what he was doing. Jones has
been sterling so far, only letting in one goal against his old team on opening
night and then coming home to San Jose to shut out the Ducks on Saturday. It's
very early, of course, but Jones looks like he could be the real deal. In six
months from now, he'll hopefully be leading us in a return to the playoffs
while that draft selection we gave up occurs very late in the first round next
June.
This Sharks team has the advantage of nobody expecting
anything from it. The pressure's off. And with Jones in the nets, we can only
be getting more optimistic about the Sharks' chances after the disappointing
end to the 2013-14 season and the absence from the playoffs last season. It
should be a fun ride.
.Penalty Shots
Does
the planned Joe Pavelski bobblehead giveaway on Fan Appreciation Day next April
effectively serve as a one-year no-trade clause for him? How could they trade
him when they have these thousands of bobbleheads to give away? (Maybe he
already has such a clause. I don't know the nuances of his contract.)
I'm
a bit at a loss to how the franchise, which began play in October 1991, can
begin celebrating a "25th anniversary season" this month in 2015, particularly
when the Sharks did not play a game at all during the canceled 2004-05
season
The league-ordered tightened security outside the arena,
which has had people standing on very long lines waiting to get in to the
building, is going to serve as another obstacle the Sharks have to overcome to
get fans back into the rink on a regular basis. It certainly has to have some
fans contemplating just staying home rather than dealing with this hassle.
Contact Paul at at
paulkrill@letsgosharks.com
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