CapWatch '09 - Day 1

Coincidence these came in Sharks colors? I think not.

Things that made me laugh from Day 1 of NHL Free Agency:

• Marian Hossa's new contract, obviously.
• The New York Islanders showing immediately thereafter why you don't give out 10+ year contracts.
• Really, Chicago? I mean this barely makes sense from a personnel and fiscal perspective, but think about the karma! He went from falling short with the Pens to jinxing the rival Wings, and now he's jumping ship to another archrival, and you're locking that karma in for 12 years??? This, from the city cursed by the Billy Goat?
• Dwayne Roloson's unbridled joy at signing with the Islanders (You really need to click that link). Whoooa there buddy! Reign in that excitement a little bit! The Isles should roll out a new marketing campaign - Where playing for us is as fun as a trip to the dentist! Feel the excitement of signing a contract, performing your required duties, and receiving a paycheck in accordance with the written agreement! Tune in this Sunday for the CBA on NBC! I'm getting way too much enjoyment out of this. Fuck Dwayne Roloson.

Things that made me cry on Day 1:

• Boosh and Griersy almost definitely having played their last games in teal. Boosh was one of the most quotable and hilarious sports players I've ever witnessed, not to mention an absolute beast as the #2 goaltender. Griersy was one of the best 2-way forwards in Sharks history. Both should be commended for their service and work ethic while in San Jose, and I'm terribly saddened to see such talented and likable players leave.
• Kent Huskins getting 2 years at $1.7M per. I understand rising player salaries and the difficulty in finding top 6 defensemen, but what the fuck? For a guy with 169 games of NHL service, who missed all but 33 games last season due to injury? Dougie must have a hard on for something with this guy. I honestly don't remember shit about his tenure with Anaheim so maybe this is reasonable, but injured, inexperienced D-Men getting hefty contracts when there's little cap space to spare makes me unhappy.
• Speaking of cap space - FUCK. I don't do CBA crunching but was aware our situation wasn't pretty, but HOLY SHIT WE ARE FUCKED. $0.5M in cap space to sign 4 wingers?!? If you don't like Cheechoo, Ehrhoff, or Michalek, today is a good day because at least 2 of them are G-O-N-E GONE. The Great Shakeup has gone from blogger hyperbole to fiscal necessity.
  

Good News, Buddy!

It's Canada Day, guy!

I'm pretty sure that's the only thing happening today.

Auf Weidersehen

Goc is gone, and so are Plihal and Kaspar.

Here's Goc's career in graph form:



Plihal and Kaspar can hit the bricks too for all I care. Bring on the new blood!

Finally The Offseason

How does the NBA's season end after the NHL's, but they already have crazy shit going down? Shaq to Cleveland, Stephen Curry to the Warriors, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

Regardless, the fun for us starts tomorrow with the 2009 NHL Draft. San Jose has no picks in the 1st round but owns the 43rd and 57th overall picks.

The rumor mill churns in overdrive concerning Ryane Clowe. David Pollak reported earlier this week that talks were amicable between Clowe's agent and Doug Wilson. Almost immediately thereafter, Sharks Hockey Analysis picked up some surprisingly solid chatter that San Jose was shopping Clowe to Philly for possibly Scott Hartnell or Claude Giroux.

Scotty Hartnell seems like a great fit for San Jose - a hard-nosed, gritty forward that isn't afraid to mix it up. He played all 82 games for the Flyers, accruing 30 goals, 30 assists, and a tidy 143 penalty minutes.

There's just one problem - we already have a hard-nosed gritty forward, and his name is Ryane Clowe. This feels like replacing the mast on a sinking ship. That's not really the immediate problem, Doug.

Still, In Wilson We Trust. I'm sure he'll be working his magic tomorrow. Check back soon for full draft day results.

Finally

The 2008-2009 NHL Season concludes tonight with the Team That Puts Me To Sleep visiting the Team I Will Hate For Eternity in the Finals Series that will completely blur in my memory with last year's finals.

That said, Game 7 of the NHL Finals is undeniably awesome. Except for the part where it's not in San Jose and I'm not in the front row, shitfaced drunk. I'll have to settle for me in the front row of the bar at Coach's, shitfaced drunk.

A little housekeeping:

1. Here's a little reminder of when the Sharks still had a twinkle of tonight's game in their eye. Submitted by reader Emily a few months back, The Stanley Cup is in You:

2. I forgot to submit my professional blogger's prediction on this series. Detroit in 7. You heard it here first.

That about does it. Fuck the 2008-2009 Season. I never liked it anyways.

Free Agency in 19 days!

AHL Report Card

Great article over at Sharkspage on San Jose's AHL prospects. Be sure to read the sections on Kyle McLaren and Coach Roy Sommers for feel-good and comedic value, respectively.

Some teams you don't like and don't care about are playing hockey these days. I've concluded that ten years from now, I'll remember these years of Red Wing dominance as one big blur of misery and apathy. No specific moment of their glory will resonate throughout time. So take that, talented and successful franchises.

WTF Is This?

Jesus Christ, this was produced by an actual NHL team that's still alive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There is no justice in the world.

Spotted on Puck Daddy.