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Paging Hasso
Plattner Gut-wrenching, historic collapse sets up
Sharks soap opera
So where do I begin? The Sharks have taken their
tradition for playoff choking to a whole new depth, making their loyal fans
anxious, embarrassed and depressed. I thought Sharks hockey was supposed to be
fun?
Now we're all speculating - which heads will roll? GM Doug
Wilson? Coach Todd McLellan? Will players with no-trade clauses be asked to
waive them shortly? One voice that would be nice to hear from is Sharks owner
Hasso Plattner. What does he have to say about this? He is, after all, where
the buck stops. We just don't hear much, if anything, from him.
Does
he fire everyone and start all over? Does he let Doug Wilson continue to
maintain the course? After all, the Boston Bruins lost a series in 2010 after
going up three games to none and then won the Stanley Cup a year later.
(Somehow, I'm not optimistic that this will happen for the Sharks next year.)
FWIW, I think the only Sharks that should be exempt from any trade
consideration are Tomas Hertl and Alex Stalock. These young Sharks have
performed admirably this year and really haven't been around long enough to be
tainted with the Sharks' choking reputation.
As far as Logan Couture,
Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau - all of them should not be looking
for any new homes in the South Bay right now. All of them should expect to have
their job security with the Sharks questioned. Goalie Antti Niemi is likely as
good as gone. He's just not what the Sharks need when it comes to goaltending.
For me, I thought the Sharks were in trouble in the third period of
the first game, when the team, up 5-0, somehow let in three goals in 14
minutes. That's the amount of goals the team should allow in two games.
Gradually, the Kings took control of the series and I was pretty scared when
instead of clinching in Game 5, the Sharks got dominated and shut out - at
home.
I was so depressed Thursday evening I decided to put
all my Sharks t shirts - about 14 of them - in my garage because I don't really
want to advertise my association with this team anytime soon. Maybe the wounds
will heal over time; lamenting with other Sharks fans on Facebook after the
game was very therapeutic for me. Misery loves company. (Of course these kinds
of discussions always bring out the few folks who think anyone who criticizes
their own team is not a real fan. What a bunch of nonsense. This organization
needs to hear from its customers when it is failing.)
We'll move ahead
now, knowing the Sharks are the third-best NHL hockey team in California out of
three teams and have made history in choking like this. Can't help but wonder
how many Stanley Cup Finals appearances the Sharks would have had already if
they were situated in the weaker Eastern Conference. But that's all useless
speculation.
Now, we'll sit back and see what happens next for the
Sharks. Which players will be gone for good? And more importantly for the
Sharks, which fans have had enough and will also be gone for good?
Contact Paul at at paulkrill@letsgosharks.com
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