Loveable Losers: The San Jose Sharks

There has been no greater season for the San Jose Sharks then this year. They came into the 2009 playoffs with the most points and were one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

Yet, the same issues keep creeping up. It's the issue that got Ron Wilson fired as well as Darryl Sutter. The Sharks could never get over that hump to get to the Stanley Cup.

The Sharks are now in a 3-1 hole to the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks are playing like the team that had the best record in the NHL and the Sharks are playing like the eigth seed after losing tonight 4-0.

The question for Sharks fans is when will this end? Even though I have been unable to watch most of the series during game one I saw the majority of it and it seemed like the Ducks had more energy and wanted the game more.

That's been the problem for the Sharks during the playoffs with the coaches they've had before and now with Todd McLellan.

Most disturbing though is the fact that the Sharks best players seem to have disappeared. Meaning that Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau haven't been a factor.

The Sharks remind me a lot of the Chicago Cubs. A team that has the ability to get to the playoffs maybe win a few series, but never get to the point where they win the title.

So the Sharks nickname should be that of the Cubs "the loveable losers" and it's a shame that this season is more than likely going to end in the first round.

All the positives from the season are now gone and it just becomes a wasted season. There's no excuse for the Sharks to be down 3-1 especially after having the best record in the NHL.

The question now still remains is how do the Sharks get over the proverbial hump to get to the Stanley Cup finals? Is it time to trade Joe Thornton? Is it time to trade Patrick Marleau?

There's something missing for the Sharks and it seems like neither Marleau or Thornton have the killer instinct. Maybe the Sharks should trade either player, but they need to bring somebody in to play that gives the Sharks that winning attitude.

Again until something changes the Sharks will be the loveable losers.