As these two Pacific Division rivals meet yet again, their respective fans are on the opposite sides of panic. San Jose would kill to beat the Ducks and preferably decisively in the short run. In the big picture, the Sharks want their way past the second round of the playoffs. This is also the first year where I have seen so many prognosticators choose San Jose to win it all. The weight of expectations has become quite the burden there.
On the flip side, the Kings would be happy if they could win
any team right now, much less decisively. The Buffalo win and the Royal Rebound seem like such distant memories. Fans of Los Angeles are getting pretty cranky and their perceived cure is Crawford’s head on a stick. I still doubt this team’s ultimate standings would change when the dust settles if he were let go. An emotional change would make fans feel better in the short term. In the long term, in lucid moments, King Fans would kill for a team who had the talent level and playoff participation that their northern California rival possesses.
The funny thing is that on a purely individual statistical basis, the Kings’ players are more successful as individuals than the Sharks. In direct contrast, San Jose puts the Kings to shame on a team win-loss, +/- and standings’ ratio. Despite these differences, the cure for both teams is pretty similar. Jeremy Roenick described it best in a recent article in the Mercury News:
“When this team gets in trouble," Roenick said, "we wait for somebody else to do the job; instead of taking initiative to do what you can do to help, we're waiting for somebody else to do it. . . . With the exception of maybe a couple guys, we have no grit in terms of our meanness to want to compete. And when we do that, we're an easy team to play against."
"Guys are doing their own thing, not supporting one another," Roenick said. "When you don't work away from the puck and help the guy you're playing with, you're just putting him in a bad situation. We get caught standing around, looking, more lackadaisical instead of stepping up the pace. . . . It comes down to how much you really want it. Are you here just to make the paycheck and pass the time away, or did you come here to win?"
"I think we have to come to the realization that you're not letting yourself down, you're letting 20 other guys down by not competing," Roenick said. "A lot of people are looking to you for bringing that leadership, and when it's not brought, it's easy for the other guy to say, 'Well, he didn't do it so why should I?' And that's a disease."
The full article can be found here:
http://www.mercurynews.com/sharksheadlines/ci_7776966
Let’s see if I can break this down:
• Not taking initiative
• No grit
• Easy to play against
• Weak play away from the puck
• How much players really want the win (hating to lose guys)
• Lack of Leadership
It is quite the reality check when Roenick’s critique of the Sharks sounds like a laundry list of complaints Kings’ fans have against their own team. Perspective is a killer. It turns out even with team success and playoff positioning, the work still isn’t done. This is the reality check that Kings’ players and fans have to come to grips with. Even once your beloved players get into that Holy Grail otherwise known as the playoffs; there is a whole different ladder to climb with its own requirements to surpass.
The interesting part is that Los Angeles does have something on the Sharks from an individual statistics standpoint alone. Here are the top 10 Kings’ point getters:
• Kopitar 36
• Cammalleri 29
• Brown 29
• Frolov 21
• Visnovsky 21
• O’Sullivan 18
• Blake 15
• Armstrong 15
• Nagy 15
• Preissing 11
In direct contrast, here are the top 10 Sharks’ offensively:
• Thornton 40
• Michalek 16
• Marleau 16
• Roenick 15
• Rivet 14
• Pavelski 13
• Mitchell 12
• Ehrhoff 12
• Bernier 11
• Setoguchi 10
• Grier 10
In fairness, the Sharks +/- are a step above the Kings where 8 of their top 11 are on the positive side of the equation. Only 1 King isn’t in the negative and believe it or not, that is Nagy who is an even player.
My point is that both teams aren’t always playing as a unit and a bunch of individuals, regardless of sport, will win exactly nothing. I cannot speak for the Sharks and wouldn’t pretend to understand how so many of their highly skilled players have struggled offensively this season. I will leave that to others who know far more than I.
The Sharks had their own players’ only meeting – partially initiated by GM Wilson – so perhaps not so much players only, for 2 hours before their latest defeat to the Ducks. So, apparently, these closed door meetings are not quite the panacea that has proved so effective for Phoenix and Nashville in their recent wins against the Kings.
What this does mean is that Kings’ fans are at the end of their ropes, convinced this year is like the 40 years of failure before it. As a result, this regime, management and coaching combined, are being scrutinized with a microscope. I submit perhaps things are becoming different. First, Los Angeles had to increase its skill level. The individual statistics would suggest they have indeed done just that. The team stuff comes next. Perhaps these players and this regime are onto something. Now, these individuals have to become one unit. That apparently doesn’t happen in nearly half a season.
Tossing out all of the players and the coaches is so not the answer. With the talent here, now everyone needs to consider a major chilling out. Panic is happening upstate and I don’t see it working for them there frankly.
If I am a Kings’ player, I might consider going with a quiet confidence. Here’s why… There is nowhere to go but up. Los Angeles is already in last place. Why hold your collective sticks so hard? Think about it, the entire league is supposed to beat you! That means the pressure is frankly always on the opponent and not you. This should be the calmest time for these players. Believe it or not, from my view, the pressure is everywhere
but here.
In direct contrast, are the Sharks who are trying to figure out if they are contenders, fenders or suspenders? This title was borrowed from the above linked article, where it said the following:
“Contenders want to win the Cup. Fenders don't mind being knocked around. And suspenders just want to hold up their talent to be admired.”
Right now, the Sharks are figuring out which of the above scenarios is their fate. The Kings need to start showing they at least belong in this league by being more competitive in games or they really are just pretenders. That potential is what drives the panic in Southern California Kings’ fans. Either way, I find it sobering that regardless of whether the cup is half full or half empty, everybody panics. Sometimes it just might be better to exhale and try another tack. I don’t see impatience working for either side of the spectrum.
Shameless Plug:
For those who missed it live, listen or download Hockey Chicks latest talkshoe cast here:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web...d=10532&cmd=tc
I also had the distinct honor of recording an interview in the Christmas episode 8 of Kingscast. Listen in here:
www.KingsCast.net Carla Muller carla.hockeygal@att.net 
Carla Muller
Contenders, Fenders, Suspenders or Pretenders 
I wouldn't pretend otherwise. Pressing and being uptight isn't working for this team. Another tack is in order and the players believing in their skills and being quietly confident of that, cannot hurt. The converse most definitely isn't working. 
