Sharks 08-09 Review: Forwards Pt 1

UFA - Unrestricted Free Agent - Can sign with anyone

RFA - Restricted Free Agent - If signs contract with another team, Original team has right to match contract, or let player go for draft picks.

Forwards Pt 1 (the big guys)

Joe Thornton - Led the team in points, and assists... oh in the regular season.  Led the team in fights in the postseason (1).  The Superstar performed in the regular season, but can't in the post season.  There will be some major analysis whether he is on the team next year.  He's the leader, the superstar, and you can't have them disappear in the playoffs... again.  4 years in a row may mean he's gonna be looked at.

Patrick Marleau - Led the team in goals.  On the Penalty Kill, this year, led team in Shorthanded goals.  Rebound year from last year's disappointment.  However, this year he didn't appear in the playoffs, unlike last year.  Revealed to have an MCL injury which limited him in the playoffs.  But still, a leader and superstar, and you can't have them disappear in the playoffs (dejavu?).  Need to look at the leadership on this team.  He's the captain, and he couldn't lead the team this year.

Devin Setoguchi - Break out year for Seto.  Scored alot in the beginning of hte season, but tailed off with the rest of his linemates.  He may have suffered from the "I'm on Joe Thornton's line" syndrome (see Cheechoo, Jonathan).  Good young player should be here for awhile.  A cheaper Cheechoo.

Milan Michalek - locked up till 2014, shouldn't go anywheres.  Youth, Speed, power, getting fiesty around the net, pushing back.  Only going to get better.

Joe Pavelski - Smart player; reliable on Defense. reliable on offense.  Exceptional Penalty Kill.  I really can't see Pavelski moving.  He really played to a high level all year.  

Ryane Clowe (RFA) - Led team in Power Play goals.  strong in the corners.  didn't have to fight that much this year, but one of the best "light heavyweight" fighters on the team.  Good hands. Hard to beat up and push around.  I'd keep Clowe.  Move him into a bigger role next year. 

Jonathan Cheechoo - How the mighty have fallen.  From 56-goals to 10+ goals in 2 years. I think being on Joe Thornton's line helped balloon his value.  But now that he's crashed down we see what he really is, or that teams have adjusted and he hasn't.  Reduced to a role player on the 3rd line.  Has a big contract and really isn't living up to it.

Marcel Goc (RFA) - It's up and down with Goc.  a good defensive player.  This year he was good in Faceoffs, last year he wasn't, the year before that good.  So that means this upcoming year is a down year in faceoffs.  Suffered a back injury twice.  Might have value to trade.  

Mike Grier (UFA) - Its hard to say if Grier is going to be back next year.  It depends on what happens with Travis Moen.  Both are UFAs.  Both do the same thing.  Ferocious forecheck, and penalty kill.  Hard to think that both will be back.  My bet is that the Sharks will go after Moen more than Grier.  Grier 3 years ago was the unsung hero of the Sharks.  He deserved to be Team MVP, except there was a guy named Joe Thornton.  But injuries have started to occur.  And other players are now stepping into his position, such as Torrey Mitchell.

Be back for the rest of the forwards!