http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/5202 Recent articles about Patrick Marleau en-us If Doug Wilson isn't able to work some trade magic in the next few hours, he'd better wear some warm clothing because the Sharks are going to be iced until the middle of the second day of the draft. The Sharks have 7 picks in the 7 round draft, but they won't make their first until pick #117 of the fourth round. With all of the published reports about Marleau being traded, it's possible that the Sharks will move into the first round after the draft has started. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:30:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280480 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280480 The 2008 entry draft is two days away. At this point too many things are happening to believe no trades will take place. Here are some final rumours. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:49:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279618 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279618 To be successful, an NHL team needs at least six scoring forwards. The Chicago Blackhawks have at least four: Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd. The current roster is rounded out by Martin Havlat and Robert Lang, both of which are under contract for another season. The question is whether its in the Hawks' best interest to have both Lang and Havlat on the roster opening night. With Lang approaching 38 years of age, Havlat having played in just 55% of games in his two years with the Hawks, and the Hawks spending $10 million between the two of them, the Hawks should at least explore trade options for Lang and Havlat. Its no secret the Hawks want to add a puck moving defenseman and a top six forward, so why wait until free agency starts? With the draft less than a week away and several moves involving picks appearing to develop, why not see what they can get in exchange for these two? With reports of Olli Jokinen, Patrick Marleau and Vincent Lecavalier on the trading block, the Hawks have an opportunity to add a player making as much as Havlat without having to worry about the uncertainty of free agency. Whether the Hawks will pursue this opportunity, however, is also an uncertainty. Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:05:47 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/277999 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/277999 To be successful, an NHL team needs at least six scoring forwards. The Chicago Blackhawks have at least four: Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd. The current roster is rounded out by Martin Havlat and Robert Lang, both of which are under contract for another season. The question is whether its in the Hawks' best interest to have both Lang and Havlat on the roster opening night. With Lang approaching 38 years of age, Havlat having played in just 55% of games in his two years with the Hawks, and the Hawks spending $10 million between the two of them, the Hawks should at least explore trade options for Lang and Havlat. Its no secret the Hawks want to add a puck moving defenseman and a top six forward, so why wait until free agency starts? With the draft less than a week away and several moves involving picks appearing to develop, why not see what they can get in exchange for these two? With reports of Olli Jokinen, Patrick Marleau and Vincent Lecavalier on the trading block, the Hawks have an opportunity to add a player making as much as Havlat without having to worry about the uncertainty of free agency. Whether the Hawks will pursue this opportunity, however, is also an uncertainty. Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:05:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/277998 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/277998 Since David Pollack of the San Jose Mercury news brought up the possibility of Marleau being traded to the Blue Jackets, the story has been decried not true by sources within both organizations involved. That hasn't stopped Pollack from suggesting that the trade could still be in the works, but not possible until the Blue Jackets turn to draft comes up. If the Sharks were to pull off a trade, their track record suggests that they would benefit from it, but in a couple of years. Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:12:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275315 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275315 Since my colleagues are unable to write to you this week, I decided to move up my installment of the Sharks Report Card. You can expect the last two to post over the first two weekends in June. In this installment of the team grades, I analyze the skaters with the most responsibility, centers. Just like in baseball, in hockey you need to be strong up the middle, and (on paper at least) the Sharks have depth at this position—two of these players spent most of the season on the wing, as noted parenthetically. Fri, 30 May 2008 11:14:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272458 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272458 This is the first in a four-part weekly series in which I will be grading the Sharks 2007-8 season. Players with over 20 total games played are listed with both their regular season and post-season stats along with a short analysis. Like the grading at any good academic institution, the final exam (in this case, the playoffs) is plurality but not majority of the overall mark. Tue, 27 May 2008 14:57:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/271457 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/271457 First off, let me apologize for the lack of coverage that you've been given over the past week. We are still getting off the ground here at TCS. It hasn't been an easy week for the Sharks or their fans. Losing in quad overtime after thoroughly dominating the Stars in the extra time. So what now? It's time to move forward and start thinking of how the Sharks can win the Stanley Cup next season.There are a few things the Sharks should do and hopefully not do. Fri, 09 May 2008 01:46:31 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265094 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265094 On Sunday evening, the Sharks and the Stars will do battle in Dallas. One this is for certain, the Stars are in trouble! Some might find this statement a little strange concidering the Sharks are the team facing elimination, but that has been the reality for some time now. On the other hand, the Stars have been in the drivers seat all series, and for the first time on Sunday we will get to see how they play with a little pressure and the realization that a loss means their season could well be over. For certain, the Stars need to finish this series in Big D, cause going back to San Jose for game 7 is not a good idea. Sun, 04 May 2008 14:59:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/263340 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/263340 Dallas, do you like apples? The Sharks defeated the Stars 3-2 in OT to force game 6 back in Dallas, and in the process made a little history too! Sometimes you have this eerie feeling that something special is going to happen, and this was true on Friday night in the Shark Tank. Just 1:05 into the extra period Joe Pavelski refused to give up ......... keep reading at MVN. Sat, 03 May 2008 01:27:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/263028 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/263028 In the middle of the NHL Playoffs, FIO staff writer Rob Edwards has already started to look ahead to the hockey offseaon and next year. Creating somewhat of a wish list, Edwards lays the foundation of some of the things he'd like to see happen in the NHL. From more TV time to Rick Nash playing with a real center, "I'd like to see..." Thu, 01 May 2008 22:10:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262510 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262510 The Sharks were able to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Stars on Wednesday evening with a 2-1 victory in Dallas. The series now shifts back to San Jose for game 5, and the Sharks are still swimming uphill for the foreseeable future. The one comfort that Sharks fans can take from this game (and yesterday!) is that the Captain, Patrick Marleau is not about to just give in and go home. Nabokov has also played great in the crease, and with out these two players the Sharks are coming home losers. At least now the Sharks can take a little respect with them in the off-season. Thu, 01 May 2008 01:58:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262038 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262038 I am going to make this short and sweet! Both hockey teams come into this series on a high note. The Sharks were able to stave off elimination and kill off their playoff demons against a physical and tenacious hockey team in the Calgary Flames. The Stars just eliminated the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks. While I do give them credit and respect for that accomplishment, Anaheim is not the same team with the same drive and hunger as it was last season, and are a perfect example of why it is so hard to repeat a run to the cup in the NHL. Nevertheless, the are the Champs, so Dallas deserves credit. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:56:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/257830 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/257830 The San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames will play Game 6 tonight in the Saddledome. The Sharks lead the series 3-2, and for Calgary the word of the day is 'elimination'. Yes folks, this is when the playoffs get fun. This is the time when hockey fans get to see the measure of their teams with their back is against the wall. There can be no doubt that the Calgary faithful will come out in full force in support of their Flames, and some of the most raucous fans in the league will fill the Sea of Red. Truly, the Flames fans will do their job, but will the Flames themselves do theirs? Sun, 20 Apr 2008 05:22:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/246447 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/246447 One question, who's leading the sharks in points through five games? Joe Thornton? No. Patty Marleau? Nope. Ok, ok, Cheech? Wrong again! The answer, if you have paid any attention the last five games, is Ryane (yes, that's Ryan with an 'e' on the end) "Big Boi" Clowe. Indeed, it's true! The man is hungry, and came to play. After missing virtually the entire season while toiling in rehab with a busted knee, who can blame him? Heck, in his first game back from injury he had an assist on the first shift 14 seconds into the game, and another one the following night. Hungry? Yea, I think so! Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:36:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/243226 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/243226