Steve Palumbo: Sharks off to worst start since 1993

I learned last year, it's tough to tell when to panic. If you have enough talent on the team you have to trust in it and know that sometimes some bad bounces and goaltending can cause a team to get away from their game and spiral.

At some point the team figures it out, you just hope it's not too late. In the Pacific, I doubt any team is out of it until the last few months.

Ah....that's why I love this team....they like to build the suspense....



The defense's porousness is showing how much of a stabilizing force Braun was... as far as Donskoi & Nyquist, they had down years, so it was a 50-50 chance they'd rebound...

Methinks a 3 game roadie will help things gel a little better with the team, but dude....the past few games were definitely tough to watch.

Nobody should panic after a couple games. But the depth here has to be a concern.

Ah....that's why I love this team....they like to build the suspense....



The defense's porousness is showing how much of a stabilizing force Braun was... as far as Donskoi & Nyquist, they had down years, so it was a 50-50 chance they'd rebound...

Methinks a 3 game roadie will help things gel a little better with the team, but dude....the past few games were definitely tough to watch.
- Team_Teal

They also lost their captain. Which is a pretty big loss, even if he's aging.

A major understatement, sir....

In the first round, Pavs scored a goal off of his teeth in game 1, & then bounces his head off of the ice with blood dripping out of his helmet a few games later which the team rallies around...then comes back to score a goal in game 7 the Colorado series...& they can't find a way to bring him back?

I get the business side of things, but you can't underestimate or ignore the team chemistry factor sometimes.
Doug Wilson has to be regretting that decision.

A major understatement, sir....

In the first round, Pavs scored a goal off of his teeth in game 1, & then bounces his head off of the ice with blood dripping out of his helmet a few games later which the team rallies around...then comes back to score a goal in game 7 the Colorado series...& they can't find a way to bring him back?

I get the business side of things, but you can't underestimate or ignore the team chemistry factor sometimes.
Doug Wilson has to be regretting that decision.
- Team_Teal

Yep! All because he paid Karlsson 11 million dollars.

I know its early in the season but I think letting Karlsson sign elsewhere, and keeping the team intact would've been better for the organization.

That being said, no need to panic. SJ will start rolling soon enough and likely finish 2nd or 3rd in the division.

Sens hope sharks keep up this pace!!!!

Shall we start the "countdown to Erik Karlsson contract regret" yet?

how many Years is Karlsson signed for?

What's 5 + 5 + 3?

12, if you're a HB blogger.

Congrats.

how many Years is Karlsson signed for?
- glennjpawlak22

Eleventeen

A major understatement, sir....

In the first round, Pavs scored a goal off of his teeth in game 1, & then bounces his head off of the ice with blood dripping out of his helmet a few games later which the team rallies around...then comes back to score a goal in game 7 the Colorado series...& they can't find a way to bring him back?

I get the business side of things, but you can't underestimate or ignore the team chemistry factor sometimes.
Doug Wilson has to be regretting that decision.
- Team_Teal

Yeah you can't tell me that the guys in that locker room wouldn't prefer to have JOE PA back out there with them... The Sharks sold their soul for a broken Erik Karlsson.

At this point, they lost Braun, Joe Pa and Tierney for Erik Karlsson... All team guys that always brought it..

"Doug Wilson has to be regretting that decision."

If you go back and look at Doug's original plan during the summer of 2018, he was going to sign Tavares for $13mm per year. This would have given him a new #1C (younger as well) and 2 solid D men in Vlasic and Burns (well not s much D on his part). There would have been no Karlsson due to no cap space and no cap space for Pavs this year either. Even if we had had an $83mm salary cap, that would've been eaten up by Tavares' contract. Instead, we have 3 solid D Men....and no cap space left for now for this season.

Next year, the Sharks have $16.5million in projected cap space (up to 2.5mm more if the cap rises to $84mm) but that will be eaten by salaries for Dillon, Dell, LeBanc (more than $1mm) Melker, Jumbo , Heed and a couple of others spots too.

If you look at Marleau's contract, Doug was smart not to sign him for the 3rd year and he will look smart in 3 years time with Pavs. He has the ability to trade a #1D for a #1C and there are teams who will be up against the cap next year and the year after that.

Right now, this team is trying to assimilate a lot of new players into the system and they haven't had the same 6 D play yet. When Simek comes back, he plays with Burns, Dillion with EK65, and Vlasic should play with Heed. Ferraro has potential to be great but needs seasoning in the AHL to better his long term career prospects. We shall see how the other prospects settle in this year and in the AHL for next year..

"Doug Wilson has to be regretting that decision."

If you go back and look at Doug's original plan during the summer of 2018, he was going to sign Tavares for $13mm per year. This would have given him a new #1C (younger as well) and 2 solid D men in Vlasic and Burns (well not s much D on his part). There would have been no Karlsson due to no cap space and no cap space for Pavs this year either. Even if we had had an $83mm salary cap, that would've been eaten up by Tavares' contract. Instead, we have 3 solid D Men....and no cap space left for now for this season.

Next year, the Sharks have $16.5million in projected cap space (up to 2.5mm more if the cap rises to $84mm) but that will be eaten by salaries for Dillon, Dell, LeBanc (more than $1mm) Melker, Jumbo , Heed and a couple of others spots too.

If you look at Marleau's contract, Doug was smart not to sign him for the 3rd year and he will look smart in 3 years time with Pavs. He has the ability to trade a #1D for a #1C and there are teams who will be up against the cap next year and the year after that.

Right now, this team is trying to assimilate a lot of new players into the system and they haven't had the same 6 D play yet. When Simek comes back, he plays with Burns, Dillion with EK65, and Vlasic should play with Heed. Ferraro has potential to be great but needs seasoning in the AHL to better his long term career prospects. We shall see how the other prospects settle in this year and in the AHL for next year..
- hockeygm

7x3 definitely is a reach for sure. I would be very surprised if Joe Pa didnt offer a hometown discount.

Is the rivalry with VGK currently the best in the NHL? I think it is. This is outright hatred - and it is fun to watch.

They need to just start their next game by letting Kane and Reaves have a good go. No referee interference 60 seconds.

Is the rivalry with VGK currently the best in the NHL? I think it is. This is outright hatred - and it is fun to watch.

They need to just start their next game by letting Kane and Reaves have a good go. No referee interference 60 seconds.
- ItHossaGood

That's not going to end well for Kane or the Sharks.

What's 5 + 5 + 3?

12, if you're a HB blogger.

Congrats.
- DutchCanSaveUs

What?

4-1
5-1
3-1

Pretty sure 4+5+3 = 12

Watching game 1 and being at game 2......The sharks are just not looking good. Even after play stopped the Sharks would not be near Jones (or dell) but all the knights would be standing near by. I didn't get it at all never have I seen a team skate away from the goalie when a majority of the opposing team is in the goalies face.

Heard some interesting comments at game 2, the one that jumps out was a man screaming "WWWIILLLSSOOONNN!!! WHAT DID YOU DO!!??!?"

Oh Look...Patty is back......