The first half is in the books, giving us more twists and turns than a game of snakes and ladders. We've shared a few laughs, a few tears, and I know more than one Sharks fan has kicked a couple holes in the wall next to the television set. However, through it all the Sharks are in great shape after 41 games, riding the recent 6-game stretch to first in the division, second in the conference, and third in the league. Time for some midseason grades, taking a look at the forwards.
Joe Thornton - A+
41: 13-33-46, +13
Quarter-season grade - A
Joe might be a little off his expected 100-point pace, but try and imagine the Sharks without him this season. It wouldn't quite be a disaster, but it would be much scarier than either of the Gremlins movies. Thornton has been the team's most consistent forward, and you never have to drum up excuses for poor play or wonder what's wrong with him. That alone makes him stand out on a team where every other forward has struggled at times.
This is Thornton's team, and you almost get the sense he's saving something for the playoffs. I still wish he'd sport the mustache that made a brief but notable appearance at practice one day, but we won't get too picky with the former NHL MVP. Plus, he gets bonus marks for being the only Sharks player who doesn't make me feel the need to run home and do some sit-ups.
I don't know where it comes from, that unnatural, head-turning, awe-inducing speed, but Mitchell has it and he's finally starting to harness it. Crafted in the mold of Todd Marchant, the rookie has developed into an incredible penalty killer who can turn the puck up ice in an instant and put opposing defenders on their heels.
We've seen him control the puck much better lately, and he's going to the net with a purpose. The hands are starting to come around, and it's exciting to see a young player grow and improve each game. Mitchell is this year's version of Marc-Edouard Vlasic, not only proving he can play in the NHL, but gradually becoming the Sharks' most complete forward with tenacity and work ethic that puts some veterans to shame.
Mike Grier - B+
39: 5-5-10, 0
Quarter-season grade - B
Shutdown winger and penalty-kill specialist, it's hard for the casual fan to fully appreciate Grier's importance to the team. It's huge. He's spent most of his time on the third line, matched up against the opposition's top unit, and he's incredibly steady defending in the neutral zone and creating turnovers.
You'd like to see Grier bury some of the shorthanded breakaways he gets, and you'd like to see more physical play from him, but he's been playing the puck a lot more than the man this season, sitting back and forcing people into mistakes. He might not get the most recognition, but Stanley Cups are won on the backs of guys like Grier. If the Sharks do contend for a Cup this season he'll be a major reason for it.
Jeremy Roenick - B
34: 7-8-15, -4
Quarter-season grade - A+
Carrying the physical toll that comes with nearly two decades of NHL service, Roenick has been an inspirational story for the Sharks this season, reviving a career that many thought to be over. He's battled knee problems from the start of training camp and had a great run in early November, scoring eight points over a nine-game stretch.
However, the bumps and bruises are catching up with JR, who has only two points in his last 15 games. One of hockey's ultimate warriors, it's incredible to see Roenick leading the Sharks in physical play most nights. His leadership alone is worth the $500K it took to bring him to San Jose, and nobody could forget the night of his 500th goal, but there's little doubt we've seen the best hockey Roenick has to offer.
It's really hard to tell how much Clowe's absence has affected the Sharks' power play, but the team has missed having a player who will take punishment in front of the net. It's obviously been a difficult year for Clowe after last season's breakout, but he should be back on the ice by the end of February and ready to compete once the playoffs begin.
Looking at the talent, the ice-time, and the linemates (or linemate), you'd expect Michalek to be a point-per-game player, not an underachieving winger on pace for a 26-goal season. Notoriously streaky, Michalek has nine points in his last seven games after recording only one point in his previous seven games.
Maybe it's the adjustment to Thornton's deliberate style, or maybe it's the new defensive approach, but we're always left wanting more from Michalek. This isn't a terrible thing, but it's almost as if Michalek is a puppet, with Thornton pulling the strings. He needs to start carrying the puck more, rather than deferring to Thornton all the time and taking whatever the big center gives him.
Patrick Rissmiller - B-
38: 4-5-9, -1
Quarter-season grade - D
He had a horrible start, but Rissmiller has turned it around and he's been a big part of the San Jose penalty kill. He's gone 13 games without recording a negative plus-minus number, and he's chipped in some points while picking up his physical play. Nobody's every going to lose their mind over Rissmiller, but you have to give him credit for his steady play and consistent effort.
Steve Bernier - C+
40: 11-6-17, +3
Quarter-season grade - C
After a couple months of strong effort with minimal returns, Bernier's finally seeing some time where he belongs, on the first line with Thornton and Michalek. It's been a tough year for the big winger, splitting time between Marleau's wing and the fourth line, but he's fifth on the team in scoring despite limited power play time.
Holding a wealth of untapped potential, it should be interesting to see how Bernier performs in the second half. He gives the team a physical presence, almost effortlessly sending bodies toppling when he finishes his checks, and he's one of the team's best forecheckers when he gets his feet moving. However, he won't produce from the fourth line.
Steady, solid and unspectacular, Brown has split time between the bench and the press box this season. After some resistance early on, I think Shark fans are fine with the decision to sit Brown every now and then. He's not really physical and doesn't create any offense. Nobody started up any petitions to get him back into the lineup, for the same reason children don't demand larger servings of potatoes. While they're nutritious, they don't do anything to light the taste buds on fire.
He received an A+ when the quarter-season report card came out on Nov. 21, but it's been all downhill for Setoguchi since that point, producing two points over his next 14 games before a demotion to Worcester. Suddenly, my decision to draft Vancouver's Mason Raymond isn't such a bad one, since he's playing alongside the Sedins while Setoguchi is still looking for his first AHL goal.
They say you have to crawl before you can walk. Well, Setoguchi entered the NHL on a dead sprint. Now he's back to the difficult process of proving he belongs in the league. If he can return to the intensity and effort we saw over his first 10 games he should play a vital role for the Sharks once the playoffs arrive. Still, if I had to choose a Sharks jersey it would be Setoguchi's, but it would be the black one from last season.
I don't know if he's a second, third or fourth-liner, but Pavelski hasn't produced consistently on any line, in any situation. His slow scoring pace has hit a rut recently, with only two points in his last 11 games. Obviously it's tough to get fourth-liners going with limited minutes, but Pavelski hasn't been the catalyst we expected him to be entering the season and he's been a disaster on the power play.
While he's improved defensively, the team needs more offense from Pavelski and he's shown flashes this season. He's still great around the net and has a knack for finding linemates, but needs to do it more consistently.
A defensive liability who can't be counted on to produce and doesn't play physically, it's hard to imagine Goc returning after he becomes an RFA this summer. He's fallen a long way since a 22-point rookie season, and he's the first choice if I'm looking at players to sit as a healthy scratch.
Say what you want about effort or injury, but Cheechoo has totally come off the rails this season. He came into the season as the Sharks' top goal-scoring threat and he's currently ninth on the team in goals. If past injuries are bothering him to the point where he can't perform he shouldn't be on the ice. You wouldn't keep playing a goaltender coming off double-hernia surgery who allows four goals a night, so how is Cheechoo's situation any different?
Rather than turning his fortunes around after a rough start, Cheechoo has fallen deeper into his slump, recording four points in his last 16 games. While we'll take the physical play and some defensive effort, Cheechoo's job is to score goals. It's clear he can't do that, and it's definitely time to entertain trade proposals for a player who is still immensely popular (7th in Western Conference ASG voting?) and could bring in some big returns.
Everyone expected Marleau to improve his play after a slow start, but he's actually regressed, scoring only seven points in his last 21 games after 11 over the first 20. He's made his linemates worse this season, showing a lack of effort to go along with a lack of production, and has a team-worst -12 plus-minus. And that doesn't even take into account the strain it puts on the rest of the team having their captain struggle.
Something has to change. The time for patience has come and gone, and the Sharks face the very real possibility he might never be the same player in San Jose. Looking ahead to next season, Marleau is due to earn $6.3 million and his no-trade clause kicks in on July 1st. If I'm Doug Wilson I'm looking to trade Marleau for below market value, simply to take his contract off the books and clear some cap space for players like Clowe, Bernier and Ehrhoff who will be RFAs this summer. A complete disaster all the way around.
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Join us tonight at 10pm for SharksBuzz. David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News will be our guest, so call in with your questions for the Sharks beat writer. Call (724) 444-7444 and enter talkcast ID# 74909. Thanks everybody and enjoy the Ducks-Leafs game tonight!
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