Sharks lack bite on home ice
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 | 04:36 PM ET
The San Jose Sharks reached the halfway point of the NHL season last week with a real sense of accomplishment.
Only the red-hot Detroit Red Wings and the Ottawa Senators had more points than the 52 the Sharks had earned after 41 games. While the Sharks have for the most part lived up to their own expectations, the way they have been winning games has left a lot to be desired for their 17,000 plus faithful fans.
Despite having the offensive firepower of former Art Ross Trophy winner Joe Thornton and former Rocket Richard Trophy winner Jonathan Cheechoo, the Sharks are not a run-and-gun, exciting team to watch. Instead, coach Ron Wilson has his team playing stifling defence, and even on home ice, playing a very passive trapping system.
If ever there were a team that represents what critics despise about today’s defence-first mentality, it has to be the Sharks at home. Sure they are a successful team in the standings, but if you had to shell out $150 US a ticket to watch them 41 times a year, I’m not sure you would be a happy fan.
Defence might win championships, but boring defensive hockey on home ice does not sell tickets.
On the road, most teams in the league will play a more passive and cautious defensive game. After all, the road team doesn’t feel the responsibility to entertain the fans as much as they are trying to find a way to survive the onslaught of offensive pressure by the home team.
This season, the San Jose Sharks have played that defensive style to near perfection. They are by far the "Road Warriors" of the NHL. They have the NHL’s best road record at 16-3-2, and have allowed just 41 goals against in 21 road games. Offensively they are pretty solid on the road as well. As home teams get frustrated with the Sharks' trapping style, they take chances, and the Sharks have taken advantage, scoring at almost a three-goal a game pace. Not surprisingly, the other top teams in the standings, Detroit and Ottawa, own the second and third best road records behind them.
On home ice, however, most teams try to open up the game a bit, force the play offensively and create some excitement for their paying customers. Head coach Ron Wilson however, doesn’t seem to be concerned with his team’s entertainment quality, but rather is committed to his defensive scheme.
On most nights, fans in the Shark Tank are treated to only one man in on the attack, and four others waiting in the neutral zone to trap. Teams that are used to trying to “survive the onslaught of the first 10 minutes” on the road, find themselves trying to weave their way through five players in the neutral zone. Not much of a way to energize the home crowd, let alone entertain them.
For general manager Doug Wilson (no relation) the lack of entertainment bang for his season ticket holder’s buck may start to be a concern. Despite the relative success of his team in the standings, in the southern U.S. market, success is as much about entertainment value and selling tickets as it is wins and losses, and Shark fans haven’t been getting their fair shake.
For all their success on the road, the Sharks have been dismal at home. Their 7-9-4 record is a far cry from their road prowess. While Detroit and Ottawa are No. 1 and No. 5 in the NHL on home ice, the Sharks are a distant 28th. Red Wings and Senators fans are treated to almost four goals a game from their home team. In San Jose, fans are brought to their feet only twice a game.
In the end, it’s all about winning the Stanley Cup and Shark fans have that expectation of this team, and both Wilsons - Ron and Doug - know that all too well.
You have to wonder whether a team with the offensive talent the Sharks possess, who are currently struggling to score and win at home, can survive the long journey to winning the Cup. If they are going to win, the Shark Tank has to once again be a tough place for teams to come to play in. For that to happen, Ron Wilson needs to find a way to tweak San Jose’s style of play and get the offensive game going.
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About the Author
Former NHL player, coach and broadcaster Craig Simpson brings over 18 years of expertise to his analyst role on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. Craig played 10 years in the NHL with Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Edmonton, capturing two Stanley Cups with the Oilers in 1988 and 1990. He continues to hold the distinction of being the last Oiler to score 50 goals in one season (56 goals in 1987-88).
Injuries cut his playing career short in 1995, but the native of London, Ont., didn’t stray far from the game. Simpson worked for eight seasons as a hockey commentator with TSN, FoxSportsNet and Rogers Sportsnet and was an assistant coach with the Oilers organization for the past four years (2003-07) before joining CBC.
Simpson lives in Edmonton with his wife and three children. Viewers can catch Craig on Saturday nights providing analysis and commentary during the second game on HNIC. His blog appears every Tuesday on CBCSports.ca.
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Comments
Marcus
Phoenix
The Sharks are not fired up with Ron Wilson behind the bench.Should never have given Sutter his release. You will never win with Ron Wilson.Check out his past records.
Posted January 11, 2008 06:43 AM
Clayton
Whitehorse
I agree the Sharks need an element of toughness and stronger leadership to take their game to the next level. Sundin is definitely not the answer if you consider his string of injuries at playoff time when the Leafs need him the most and the fact that the Leaf record has been mostly dismal over the last number of years. He might be talented and he might be flashy, but he's no Doug Gilmour or Daryl Sittler.
Posted January 10, 2008 10:46 PM
sjsharkie
I'm a Canadian ex-pat and Shark season ticket holder. Doug Wilson brought Jeremy Roenick out of retirement to demonstrate the mental & physical toughness this team has lacked since Raffey Torres ran Michalek in the playoffs two seasons ago. No one, not even Thorton, retaliated. Marleau is the team Captain but defers the leadership role, both physical and mental, to veteran players. On home ice, the Sharks give up far too many odd man rushes caused by the defensemen jumping into the play in the offensive zone. Their power play has been under achieving all season, with four Sharks passively waiting for Thornton to make to perfect pass. Cheechoo will re-bound, he is hampered by on off-season sports hernia operation, missed his usual work outs and does not appear be at 100%. Jonathan Cheechoo never takes a shift off, unlike Marleau and Michalek. I agree a trade needs to be made so add some more "grit". The Leafs are welcome to Patty Marleau.
Posted January 10, 2008 05:19 PM
Lindsay
Calgary
Sundin may be a fit for San Jose . Could take
some load off Thornton . Marleau is just not
bringing it . A change of scenery may help him.
Martin St.Louis ?? Tampa may be moving some
players very soon.
Posted January 10, 2008 02:21 AM
Dan
Calgary
Maybe Wilson is training his team to play the boring defensive style they'll need to finally win in the playoffs. The run-and-gun hasn't worked so well for them in the past.
Posted January 9, 2008 10:06 PM
Mark
Sharks fans should be thankful they're not watching the Bruins 41 games a year. The Bruins play the same type of game, but with not near the same amount of success as of late.
I have a feeling Marleau + prospects/picks will be going to Toronto for Sundin. I think San Jose is one player away from a Stanley Cup this season, and of all the available players at the trade deadline, I can't think of any other player that would have more of an impact both scoring-wise and leadership-wise than Mats. He is their ticket to a championship.
Posted January 9, 2008 03:21 PM
Gary Crawford
From the fan in the stands point of view: The article was well written and tells the meat of the story. But let’s face it the Sharks aren't firing on all cylinders. Look at the Team and the firepower they have Marleau, Thornton, Cheechoo, Bernier, Grier, Michalek, and the list goes on. Even Thornton is feeling the funk the last couple of games. Why make Joe have to carry the games on his back. The character players that the team has have to play every game, who cares if you win if you suck at doing that. It’s that “A” student living up to the expectations of a “C’ student just to pass the class. And luckily the rest of the students (other teams) are just lower on the curve. It feels like playoff time when Ron can't rally the guys and always says they will play through it. That’s the disappointment that we feel.
Ron is playing the lets see attitude. No one knows what goes on in the locker room except for the players. But it appears like Ron needs to fine tune his approach get his own mean streak and instill this in his players. We can’t wait until the playoffs to try something else it hasn’t worked the last two years and bowing out and watching teams skate over you doesn’t bring in fan dollars. So before it feels like the same old Sharks,
Doug and Ron Wilson better figure out the right motivation for their team. Designing new uniforms to look meaner or tougher on the ice is ridiculous. Put away the clown gear and get back to basics…Play hard, Play for the game, and remember it’s thousands of dollars you get to show up to do a job you say you love. Be that “A” student you a capable of being….
Posted January 8, 2008 08:33 PM
Timmay
"tweak...the offensive game"? How about Marleau and Cheechoo showing up on the score sheet once in a while! Both are on track for career-worst years. Marleau projects to 36 points vs 78 last year AND he is a MINUS 12. Cheechoo is on track for 24 points vs 69 last year, with a plus 3.
Has there ever been a case where two proven offensive talents on the same team have seen their scoring fall off so precipitously? Maybe we should start calling them Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. "Oooohhh shhhhhiii..."
Posted January 8, 2008 07:28 PM
Bill
NL
hockey is a sport first and entertainment second the wilsons job is to win not to entertain and if playing the trap wins games then the wilsons are doing their jobs.plus its not their jobs to worry about entertaining the fans.the wilsons need to worry about on-ice issues and leave the entertainment to the PR's.cudos to the sharks
Posted January 8, 2008 06:35 PM