Drew used to be cool when he had Drew’s Clues and the Sharks were a younger Franchise and were upstarts. But these sour grapes seem more foul from a play-off also-ran. He’s turned full homer and now calls games so much more slanted.

Posted by Puck from San Francisco, CA on 04/08/09 at 09:06 PM ET

I’m not sure who wants to play the Sharks in the first round, but I’m sure everybody wants them in the second…

I like Drew, but come on. Marleau has had higher point totals in other years. Detroit has a Boyle (Rafalski) as well as a Lidstrom. Vlasic has 29 assists, not 30+. I don’t think any team fears Nabokov (a swell .860 SV% in four games against DET), maybe Anaheim since he’s shut them out twice? The best second line, I might give him that one, but Detroit can certainly roll a better one out if they choose to, and the third and fourth lines of the Sharks are pretty much invisible.

Posted by shep on 04/08/09 at 11:30 PM ET

Um ... It’s generally a given that you don’t want to play a very good team in the first round.  Generally special mention is given to teams that are extremely hot and could upset a complacent higher seed, or teams that are known for being very physical and even if they don’t beat you in the first round, they will beat you up and it will take its toll in later rounds.

And I don’t think a lot of fans feel that San Jose has done enough to be scary in the playoffs yet.  I read a comment on another blog that “San Jose is everyone’s second favorite team” to the effect that everyone is happy for them that they are doing well, but they haven’t shown enough in the playoffs yet to really get respect.  Anaheim has delivered recently in the postseason, Detroit has, New Jersey has a history - San Jose is a very nice looking regular-season team with a recent history of (in the perceptions of many) folding like a cheap tent when they are down.  They don’t have a reputation for determination in the face of difficulty.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/09/09 at 04:34 AM ET

Just like when the Wings won the Presidents then Jersey swept them out of the finals.

Posted by DrW on 04/09/09 at 06:46 AM ET

Nobody fears Nabokov! LOL @ Remenda.

And best second line? Close, but not quite, pal. There’s this line of Zetterberg, Franzen, and Dan Cleary that produced just as much in the regular season as the Sharks’ second line, and has worlds more playoff experience to go with it in a couple weeks.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/09/09 at 07:46 AM ET

Oh, and this really sounds like he has a complex. Get over it, Remenda. Maybe if your team didn’t choke every season under the weight of mild expectations people would actually fear them in the playoffs.

People act like this is the first time the Sharks have been this good, and I have to disagree. They might be a little better this year, but for almost every season since they made the Thornton trade, they’ve been a serious force in the regular season, reeling off a number of insane unbeaten streaks that are in the record books, only to lose in the playoffs over and over again.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/09/09 at 07:49 AM ET

Pretty much everything I was going to say has been said.  Pavelski will be a superstar in this league (so will Krejci on Boston’s second line, by the way), but Zetterberg is a superstar right now.

And I’m going to have to apologise to any Sharks fans that read this, because this will upset you: Nabokov isn’t a great goalie.  He’s above average at best.  You don’t judge a goalie by the great saves he makes, because every goalie makes great saves sometimes.  You judge a goalie by how often he lets shots through, and by that measure, Nabokov hasn’t been great since 2004.

But on the whole, Drew’s exactly right.  The Sharks are a really friggin good team and nobody (rational) wants to play them in any round.

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 04/09/09 at 07:56 AM ET

And I don’t think a lot of fans feel that San Jose has done enough to be scary in the playoffs yet.

Ding ding ding!

Of course nobody wants to play the top seed.  Having said that, who in their right mind would be THAT scared of playing a team that has been near the top during the regular season for the last couple years yet has done NOTHING in the playoffs?

Until they actually do something in the playoffs, nobody’s going to be particularly scared of them.

Posted by Garth on 04/09/09 at 08:04 AM ET

Put it this way. Teams have a healthy respect for the talent of the Sharks. But they do not fear them yet, because they have been chokers in the post-season. Could that change? Absolutely. Nobody’s saying it can’t. But for Remenda to act like teams should be quivering at the thought of playing the NHLs current ultimate playoff choke artists in the playoffs is a little absurd.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/09/09 at 09:05 AM ET

You judge a goalie by how often he lets shots through, and by that measure, Nabokov hasn’t been great since 2004.

I like Uncle Mikes judgement of a goalie, simply W’s. Be them regular season, playoff games & series & Stanley Cups.
And if ya think the little bald knob is bad to listen to call a game, ya remember when he worked with McSorley in the booth? Jeebsus.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 04/09/09 at 10:40 AM ET