I think I’m out of patience.

I think if I were Doug Wilson, I’d be out of patience.

Last night’s game against Dallas was disappointing. The ice wasn’t great, but the Sharks should understand how to play that ice by now, and it seems to bother them a lot more than the other teams. Dallas deserves credit for playing hard and skating hard, and the Sharks just didn’t step up the game to match.

I don’t know why Ron Wilson insists on playing Marleau on the point on the power play. Well, yes, I do, none of our defensemen can really QB the power play, but Marleau’s not really doing much better. And five on five? Marleau keeps really disappointing me. -1 last night, -3 against Phoenix, -1 against Anaheim, even against Toronto, -1 against Vancouver. For those counting, that’s -6 with 1 goal and 3 assists in the last five games, averaging 15-16 minutes a night and first power play.

It doesn’t get any better with Marleau — his last plus game was LA on 12/26, and that’s almost a month ago. In the last 15 games, he was plus ONCE, even three times, and minus 11 times. In those 15 games, he had one multi-point game, and has 2 goals and 5 assists. 7 points and a combined -14 in ten games?

(sounds of hair being torn off my head. both of them)

I’m not sure why Ron Wilson is unwilling to SIT HIS FREAKING BUTT in the pressbox. Bring up Kaspar if you must. Move Mitchell to the 2nd line and sit Marleau on the 4th line if you want. Do something. Send a message here, Ron.

(it’s funny, but the guys on the XM morning show were on the "I don’t know why they aren’t playing marleau on the top line…" thing again. You know, I have a similar question. I don’t know why the Sharks are bothering with him on the second line at this point — putting him on the first line? Please… I want SOME chance of winning)

If I’m Doug Wilson, I’m listening to suggestions. Unfortunately, I also know I’ve waited long enough that those suggestions are going to be insulting, but it’s time to consider moving Patty. See what you can get. Start with a defenseman with some offensive ability on the PP.

Ozolinsh — god, I love the kid (Laurie and I helped him buy his first mac, god knows how many years ago) — but at the end of the day, he’s Sandis. Crazy in the offensive zone, dangerous in the defensive zone. he tries, but he just isn’t the best defensive defenseman out there. He makes a nice 7th D, but no more now.

Semenov is trying, but he’s too slow; took three pylon penalties last night and watched the first 18 minutes of the third — I knew when Wilson put him out with 1:30 to play that Wilson was sending the team a message, and that message was "I don’t believe you can pull this sucker out, and I want you to know that…"

You can look at the losses in the last 15 games, and in almost ever case, you can say that it Marleau’s minuses were even zeros — many of those games would have been victories. it seems Marleau’s line is minute no matter who is playing on that line; there’s only one common factor here.

And last night he fell asleep at center ice and got undressed for a breakaway. gah.

I’ve been patient with Marleau. I’ve been supportive of Marleau. I’ve been a fan of Marleau.

And now, as virtual GM of the Sharks, I’m trading Marleau for a bag of pucks if I have to. At this point, I see it as addition by subtraction. I don’t know what’s going on with marleau; it doesn’t seem to be an injury, unless it’s a permanent braincramp — but it’s time for the Sharks to solve it, since Marleau seems unable or unwilling to fix himself. A few games in the pressbox (hell, I’d rather see Davison in the roster right now than marleau playing forward. Put HIM on the point; it can’t be any worse) would be a start, but I think it’s time for Marleau to try on a new uniform.

I considered suggesting removing the C (and giving it to Grier), but Marleau just seems to be the kind of person who would go in the wrong direction there. not motivation, but further into the shell. you can’t turn it into a "focus on your hockey" moment, which is too bad.

But it’s painfully obvious this team is improving — in fits and starts — but needs some changes to talent and chemistry. And you look at who’s not getting the job done, and night after night, game after game, there’s only one name in common.

Time to do something, Doug and Ron.

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