State of the Sharks: Five Questions I Did Not Get To Ask the Panel

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

In the first of my two pieces on the State of the Sharks event, I wrote about the two questions I did ask the panel, and included a link to the video of me asking the question.

In this edition, I will outline the five questions I did not ask. All subjects were at least touched upon later in the event, and some were directly asked and answered...

Q: For the third season in a row, the Sharks' power play was one of the league's best during the regular season and failed in the playoffs. Can we expect any changes that will turn this around?

One of the things I really liked about this event was the transparency. That really helped me to feel better about a team's future when its recent past has been such a disappointment. When this topic was broached, I expected "we'll look at the tape, get feedback from the entire staff and players..."

That was part of the answer, but coach Todd McLellan and General Manager Doug Wilson also were willing to get to the core problems. McLellan talked about the team needing to have the toughness to get that extra six inches closer to the goalie.

Wilson admitted that they would have to look at whether personnel changes might be necessary to get people to fill those roles. But he said it was important not to make decisions until emotions had subsided, a common theme throughout the evening.

Q: On a related matter, the one thing the Sharks seem to lack is a power forward to clog the goalie's view and get to rebounds. With the Sharks trying to pattern the team after the Detroit Red Wings, are there any plans to get a Tomas Holmstrom replica onto the roster?

The Sharks' best player at punching in rebound goals is "Little Joe." Pavelski is 5'11" and 195 lbs.; only two players on the current roster are smaller—Dan Boyle and Torrey Mitchell are both 5'11" and 190 lbs.

But while Joe Thornton is physically the best fit for that role, he plays more along the boards and behind the net because of his passing and puck-handling skills. Only Patrick Marleau (220 lbs.), Ryane Clowe and Milan Michalek (225 lbs.) are power forward size.

Michalek and Marleau are finesse players, and both are tied to the team for the near future. Patty's no-trade clause kicked in last July, and Michalek signed a big contract last summer.

So who do you move to get someone that can handle the job? Or do you look for someone smaller to step up, since Holmstrom is the model for this at just 202 lbs?

It is clear that the Sharks will be looking at this. McLellan talked about looking at professionals outside of the organization to help analyze the team, and there was a considerable discussion about the kinds of tests used successfully by the likes of Miracle on Ice coach Herb Brooks and Super Bowl champion Bill Walsh.

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