Roto Exclusive : Guest Contributions and Featured Articles

y Tim Graveline
Murky Waters and Feeding Grounds
The San Jose Sharks are in a very weird place. This is a complete understatement considering
the lack of activity that has taken place this off-season. The owners and Doug Wilson spoke about
change in the air. So far, they have signed Brad Stuart, which was rumored and expected for quite some
time and they signed Adam Burish for grit and depth. Nothing big has happened like the fans expected
after the owners vowed to be aggressive. The fans are confused and left wanting so much more. Murky
waters, indeed.
Fans have been clamoring for the trade of Patrick Marleau. He has been the scapegoat and I
admit that I am in that camp. He is an excellent player, but there really isn’t a great place for him. He
doesn’t fit well with Thornton, and he has had chemistry with Pavelski and Clowe, but those two have
better chemistry with Martin Havlat (when he’s healthy). So it makes sense to many that he’d be traded
for depth, draft picks (which the team sorely needs), or a different top 6 forward who would mesh
better with the rest of the team or bring more grit to the top six. Marleau and the rest of the Sharks are
entering feeding grounds this season. How this team starts and enters December will dictate the fate of
the core.
So what to expect this year then as long as there is not a
full lockout? A couple things. The Sharks are probably a better
team than they were. They have more depth behind the
blueline. They have some more flexibility to make some trades
due to that. Do not be surprised to see this team start off with a
bang. Everyone is healthy at the start this season and guys like
Couture and Pavelski want to win. This team will either start a
fire sale in February or be on the hunt for another playoff berth.
The top players to watch this season are Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau, and Dan Boyle. I think
Couture will take another step in the right direction. Expect him to hit 70 points this season. Marleau is
either going to have the quietest 75 point season or is going to be traded. Dan Boyle has been in trade
rumors this summer and I even feel like he is the most lucrative piece they have that they might be
willing to trade. He is getting old, but the guy can lead and still is a number one defenseman. They have
Burns to take over and if he does this year, expect Boyle’s names to circulate the rumourmonger blogs
all season long. This truly is a pivotal year for the Sharks as their core contracts are ending soon. Will
the Sharks begin an overhaul this season or make one last push for that elusive Cup and be the third and
final Californian team to win the cup in the last decade?
80