SoCalSharksGirl

"I'm a Shark out of Water in San Bernardino"

Alta Loma, CA • United States • 32 Years Old • Female

Finally!! Some News from the Tank!

When the man works, he works! Yesterday, David Pollack gave us some detailed information on what Vlasic will be receiving over the duration of his four year extension, and today he feeds us hungry fans with even more information on some of the lingering questions we all have. Since all we've had to read over the past couple of weeks are stories by Staff Writers that rally don't disclose any of the juicy details we really want to know, here is a little deeper look into what has been happening with the guys in teal.

First up, the terms of Vlasic's contract are such, "will pay him $12.4 million between the 2009-10 and 2012-13 seasons. That's an annual $3.1 million salary cap hit, even though the money isn't spread equally over each of the four seasons. In Year One, for example, Vlasic is expected to earn $2.4 million."

This seems fairly reasonable when you look at the other defencemen in the league and the types of "excessive" contracts that players have received this off-season. If Vlasic continues to show improvement over the course of his contract, he will look like a steal down the road. Hopefully, the addition of new coaches and new mentors with SC experience will help him reach his full potential sooner, rather than later.

The other interesting bit of information in this article was the mention of a possible trade to be expected within the next week. There is no secret that the Sharks are just over the cap and in need of freeing up room to be able to fill the holes still in the roster. Although Wilson didn't say that it would be a cap related move specifically, there really isn't another option at this point.

http://blogs.mercurynews....t-with-fan-base-and-more/

The article Pollack released today, was written after he received some information from a colleague of his, Mark Emmons, who is working on a story about the fitness regiment Blake puts himself through to prepare for another season at the age of 38, but also spoke to him about the possiblility of a leadership role on the team. This is what Blake had to say:

"You just find a way to fit in. You know when the time is to speak or show something on the ice. This team has good leaders in Patty, Joe (Thornton), (Evgeni) Nabokov, JR (Jeremy Roenick). I'll try to find my role as the season goes on. There's no reason for me to think that I'm going to run things coming in. But if you take the time, you eventually fit in."

Yet Pollack points out that Wilson has full intention to leave the decision of who becomes Captain up to the new coach. And in a previous interview with McLellan on the day he was hired, this is what he had to say:

"Patrick Marleau is the captain of this hockey club," McLellan said at the time. "He has done nothing in my opinion to change that to this point. But in fairness to everybody involved, I would like to have the opportunity to sit down with him and talk about leadership and the responsibilities that go with it. My experience with Patty, my knowledge of him, would indicate he would be a very good captain, But I'd like to know what his thoughts are on it. We'll see what happens when camp comes around."

Apparently, since then, the two have met on a number of occasions and things appear that, unless something drastic happens, we should expect to see Patty with the "C" once again. Yet, with the exit of Rivet, there is an opening for someone to wear the "A" and he isn't counting out the possibility of Blake or Boyle earning the position. Personally, I would lean towards Boyle given that he is going to be around a bit longer then Blake, as far as we can tell.

Lastly, Pollack hints at the idea that McLellan may try something that RW did before, but never really gave a chance to work. The deadly, yet inconsistent due to constant shifting, line of Thornton and Marleau. He's not guaranteeing it, but definitely suggesting to look out for it.

http://blogs.mercurynews....s-evolving/#comment-14843

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