Let's Get To Work!

Ok, so some of us are still hanging our head about Dan Ellis stealing away our pizza goal last night. But sometimes, you just gotta put the past behind you, especially when there's work to be done. Work like putting Devin Setoguchi in the All-Star game. If this was a presidential campaign, I'd nominate Ryane Clowe as his running mate, but the balloting doesn't work that way.

Voting has started NOW, so go here and start stuffing those ballot boxes. Remember, Vote Seto/Gooch/Whatever nickname you want to call him in 2009!

The Real Election

Well, now that that whole Presidential Something-or-Other is over with, we should get to the election that really matters: the 2009 NHL All-Star Game. And yes, while Patrick Marleau, Evgeni Nabokov, and Joe Thornton are on the ballot, there's one fellow who I think is showing All-Star chops early on.

Did you have an Obama 08 or McCain Country First sticker on your car? It's time to throw those out because here's the official start of Vote Setoguchi 09. It's going to have to be a write-in vote, but thanks to the magic of the inter-tubes and text messaging, we can manipulate, erm, boost the results to give us all the Chomp We Need. After all, it's Sharks Territory First.

Voting begins November 12th.

[image courtesy of commenter Jonny W]

[image modified courtesy of commenter Will]

Kings Gameday: That Seemed Pointless

LA Kings (Oof!) @ New York Islanders (24-21-6, 8th in Eastern Conference)

4:00 PST, FSN West

Last year the New York Islanders were fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. In order to secure that spot, they traded Robert Nilsson, Ryan O'Marra, and their first round draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers for Ryan Smyth. Smyth did help them get into the playoffs, scoring 15 points in his 18 games. The Islanders were defeated in the first round by the top-ranked Buffalo Sabres and then watched as Smyth signed a long-term deal with the Colorado Avalanche. This season, 22-year old Robert Nilsson has tallied 22 points with the Oilers, 20-year old Ryan O'Marra is playing in the AHL, and their first round draft pick (defenseman Alex Plante) is playing significant minutes for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. The Islanders? They're currently in 8th place, fighting for a playoff spot.

Whoops.

Now, my question to you is: what the fuck was the point of trading for Ryan Smyth? Did he promise to sign with the Islanders, only to renege? Because otherwise I honestly can't understand why they'd mortgage a good part of their future for the right to get their asses kicked by Buffalo. Anyone?


***



Of course, I should point out that the Kings did the exact same thing in 2006, trading Jeff Tambellini and Denis Grebeshkov to the Islanders for Mark Parrish and Brent Sopel in an attempt to make the playoffs. Parrish scored 8 points in 19 games for the Kings before signing with Minnesota in the off-season, while Sopel played admirably with the Kings for 2 seasons and then was traded last season for the draft pick that would eventually become Wayne Simmonds. Tambellini looks like a bust (he hasn't caught on in New York at the age of 23), while Grebeshkov is currently playing in Edmonton.

Whoops, Part II

The trade ended up not hurting the Kings (Simmonds could end up being the best player out of everyone), but that doesn't mean it was a good idea. I see the merits of a team like Detroit or Dallas making a deadline deal, but what's the point of making these deals just to get into the playoffs? Sure, they work occasionally (Edmonton in 2006), but most of the time it just ends up closing a team's window of opportunity too early.


(Wait, does me saying this reduce the number of suitors for Blake and Nagy? Umm, nevermind, the Rangers should definitely try to get Blake.)

***


I can't find the link now (someone want to help me out?) [SLEEK EDIT: Here ya go, pal.], but yesterday there was a Canadian columnist that proposed a bunch of trades he thinks should happen. Among them: Devin Setoguchi and a 1st round pick for Rob Blake and Ladislav Nagy. I would just like to say that I wholeheartedly support this trade. Make it happen, Doug!


Prediction: Have the Kings been playing good hockey lately? I actually think so. Kings win, 4-2. Goals by Frolov, Handzus, Blake and Brown.

Welcome to the NHL

I'm guessing rookie Devin Setoguchi is enjoying a nice flight back to California with the rest of his Shark teammates. His day began preparing for his 1st ever NHL game. He started on a 3rd line but by the 3rd period he found himself on a line with Joe Thornton and Milan Michalek. To top off his night, he scored two 3rd period goals within 3 mins of each other including the game winner in San Jose's 4-2 win in Dallas. He was smart and did what any Thornton linemate should do when Joe has the puck, go to the net and have your stick on the ice. Both of his goals were carbon copies with Joe camping behind the net and looking out front for a streaking Seto who one-timed it both times past Marty Turco. Seto looked like a young...well shall I say... Jonathan Cheechoo. Speaking of which, what has happened to the guy who scored 56 goals just 2 years ago. Tonight we started on the 4th line and played only 9:48. He did have one assist and cancelled out an icing late in the game with his hustle, but he just doesn't look like the same player. Could it be he is still not over his injury he suffered in the 1st round of the playoffs last year? He does have 2 goals and 3 assists this season which is decent, but he is not getting his normal scoring chances even when playing with Thornton.

3 days off and a home and home series with the LA Kings this weekend.

Hello Pacific Division

After playing their first 11 games versus non-division opponents, the Sharks will play their next 12 within the Pacific Division. The month of November could be very important to this team. Will another inconsistent month put coach Ron Wilson on the hot seat? Everyone knows there is a certain shelf-life for coaches. Have the Sharks started to tune out their coach? Their last 2 performances seemed to be lifeless with many of the players blaming themselves but could there be rumblings in the locker room?

With injuries to Rob Davison (finger) and Ryane Clowe (leg), the Sharks have decided to bring up highly touted former 1st round draft picks Devin Setoguchi and Lukas Kaspar. Setoguchi appeared to make the team out of training camp but a nagging ankle injury forced him to start the season in Worcester. Hopefully these 2 youngsters bring some energy and life to the lineup. Look for both of them to be in the lineup versus Dallas on Monday. This will be the Sharks 3rd game in 4 nights and the last game of a 4 game road trip so we shall see what kind of energy they bring to the game after 2 horrible performances. This game will end their month of October where they saw themselves playing only 3 home games compared to 10 road games (which is not necessarily a bad thing considering the Sharks strong road record and mediocre home record).