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Cry of the Fishmonger: Captain Overboard
We apologize for the scant hockey writing lately, but this Fishmonger has been stuck in the Bermuda Triangle that lurks in the background of San Jose's logo, on a futile quest to find Patrick Marleau's game. The Sharks captain's season of misery continues apace, and we're halfway through the
2007-2008 season.
It all started so positively, with Joe Thornton, Milan Michalek, Craig Rivet, and Marleau signing contract extensions, and the team eager to rectify their playoff collapse the previous spring. The team has played maddeningly inconsistent since then, though they have a good record, and currently sit atop the Pacific division standings. Much of Sharks fans frustration with this team springs from their atrocious home record this year, where they are 7-9-4 (or, to translate, where they have only won 7 of 20 games). On the road,
however, the Sharks are one of the top teams in the league, with a record of 16-3-2. That's why we can say that this team is "maddeningly inconsistent" while sporting a winning record and being in first place in their division.
Why call out Patty Marleau for the team's failings? Firstly, well, he's the captain, and therefore he, fairly or not, takes on the sins of the entire team. Secondly, he has, to put a fine point on it, sucked this season. At home. On the road. Night games, day games, games played on days that end in "y." Statistically, he's flirting with career lows in goals, points, plus/minus, and shooting percentage, and he's playing his tenth year in the NHL. His disinterested and distracted demeanor on the ice sure hasn't helped make the fans forget his lack of offensive production.
The third, and most important reason, for calling Patty out is simply this: his lack of production has directly hurt the Sharks, and bodes poorly for the second half of the season and playoffs. The goaltending, defense, and penalty kill has been great this year. The Sharks power-play is in the bottom third of the league, and their offense rests entirely on Joe Thornton's (gigantic) shoulders. If Marleau were scoring anywhere near his career average, the Sharks would be a dominant team, with a balanced offense. Instead, the other teams key in on Thornton's line, and dare the remaining forwards to score. That makes for a very vulnerable team come springtime.
By our hockey correspondant, Ian
Photo courtesy of Jon Swenson of Sharks Page