Mackinnon here we come ya'll! The Sharks need to decide which way to go now. Go for it all this year(and fail) or just tank(preferable choice). Don't pull a Flames and finish 9th and miss the playoffs and get a mediocre pick.
As easy as it would be to hit the panic/shake-up button, I wouldn't do it. Shaking it up only works if you have a clear vision in mind for what you want to accomplish with your trade or line shuffle. The problem is essentially the same as it has been throughout DW's tenure. No clear vision of what their depth lines are going to be. They got lucky a couple seasons when they went offensive with their 3rd line. Other years, it has been just throwing some parts together and hoping for the best. The fact that they had commented on the fact that T.J. Galiardi doesn't have a clear role on this team when they just traded for him speaks to that.
Since they don't have that clear vision, it's pointless to try to do something when you're just hoping something works. They won't dump players and sell off. They won't spread the offensive talent as much as they need to really fix the lines. They will continue to sputter until they get lucky and then it might turn around.
This is true.
After the series loss to Chicago, it seemed that DW wanted to build a shutdown-third line line...then after the Vancouver loss, a third scoring line.....
The personnel do not match. Why go after Wellwood, Shepard, Winnik, and Galiardi and then Handzus, Moen, etc. Moreover, if Handzus was signed to bring about a "true shutdown line), why continue to give the bottom lines sheltered minutes while going power-vs-power with the top lines.
On the player side, the only bottom-six player we can count on is Desjardins. Everyone else is way too up-and-down.
I'd say nothing. This team is just a jumble right now, so if anything it needs to be put together correctly and run for a while. If we're going to lose then we damn well better be getting something out of it, so we should put the team together as it needs to be to compete (e.g Havlat in the top 6) and let it gel.
I'd say the shakeup only happens if we get home and things still look like crap.
After the series loss to Chicago, it seemed that DW wanted to build a shutdown-third line line...then after the Vancouver loss, a third scoring line.....
The personnel do not match. Why go after Wellwood, Shepard, Winnik, and Galiardi and then Handzus, Moen, etc. Moreover, if Handzus was signed to bring about a "true shutdown line), why continue to give the bottom lines sheltered minutes while going power-vs-power with the top lines.
On the player side, the only bottom-six player we can count on is Desjardins. Everyone else is way too up-and-down.
But why does our 3rd and 4th lines not contribute anything? Are Wingels or Galiardi really worse players than Kyle Clifford, Marcus Kruger, etc other teams bottom 6 players?
Fire McLellan and Woodcroft and make Larry Robinson head coach.
Then hopefully the Sharks win the Cup.
Then hopefully in a bold move Doug Wilson gets canned in the offseason.
FIFY
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2011: Outcoached by Vigneault. 2012: Outcoached all season and postseason by Hitch.
2013: Outcoached by most coaches in the NHL. Who's left? 12 year olds on Xbox Live? SACK T-MAC NOW
Everybody likes to say "trade everyone" sarcastically but it needs to happen sooner or later or they're gonna be in for a very painful rebuild.
Bingo. Very old Team. Stubborn GM with a big ego. Empty cupboard. We are eff'd as fans for many years to come.
Again I go back to trading thornton Marleau Boyle and all the senior citizens while they have value to a team which is one piece away and loaded with youth.
I think both. Tmac can not get the players going. He's lead the team to a lot of wins but this team had been having problems like this sense last year. I think if Robinson is up for it DW should send tmac on his way.
As for trades, I'm still hoping Clowe and Murry get shipped out.
Moreover, while I know that the hockey analytic-lovers will take about regression to the mean, Corsi, etc....there are definitely games where teams out chance, but don't outscore the other team. With San Jose, despite the fact that corsi would point to them outchancing the other teams, I'm not seeing it...I am especially not seeing quality offensive production.
Don't worry, we've been outchanced the past three games. You're not seeing it because it doesn't exist.
I really wish DW had the guts to fire TMac, but of course he won't since it's an admission that his plan to create the West Coast Red Wings failed.
Mind you I didn't say "Complete failure," because they came pretty close to being the West Coast Red Wings. But it's hard to do the Red Wings model when you have a GM who hates Euro players (especially Russians) and overvalues size, and, thus, necessarily undervalues skill and speed (Yes I know there can be large skilled speedy players, but DW puts too much of a premium on size).
I honestly think a new coach is it. McLellan has done nothing good for this team and as far as I'm concerned, he is not winning head coach material any more.
Washington gets 3 coaches in 2 years due to a lack of success and we get one in 4 years with no success.
Come on, Robinson has to say he doesn't want the job.
He would certainly accept the interim job and who knows after that.
This.
Plus with the experience that Robinson has, TMac would have to be extremely naive (or an idiot) if he thinks that having Robinson does NOT make the decision easier for DW to fire him.
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What?! Look, he thinks he's people!
I honestly think a new coach is it. McLellan has done nothing good for this team and as far as I'm concerned, he is not winning head coach material any more.
Washington gets 3 coaches in 2 years due to a lack of success and we get one in 4 years with no success.
I'm ready for Led Zappa to coach this team just to get these lines
I suppose you can slip in Clowe until Desjardins is back, but this is how you spread out the talent across four lines. AND utilize Pavelski properly. Not that these line combos means they will score 10 goals a game, but these lines are a good example of getting the most out of the 12 forwards you ice (and then seeing where the chips fall)
I really wish DW had the guts to fire TMac, but of course he won't since it's an admission that his plan to create the West Coast Red Wings failed.
Mind you I didn't say "Complete failure," because they came pretty close to being the West Coast Red Wings. But it's hard to do the Red Wings model when you have a GM who hates Euro players (especially Russians) and overvalues size, and, thus, necessarily undervalues skill and speed (Yes I know there can be large skilled speedy players, but DW puts too much of a premium on size).
(In before someone uses my own joke).
