Holy Cheechoo batman!

[zer0dotcom]

so yeah, jsut checking hte highlights...3rd Hat Trick this season against the Ducks, plus he passes Jagr for teh goals lead, and Thorton leads for Points...

I mean, hot damn, just looking at the turn around the Sharks have had...it's insane. I doubt that any player has had such a solid case for NHL MVP in a long time, Thorton has turned this team right around

[Eye]

I don't know who the MVP should be right now, it's way too close, but Cheechoo and Thornton are both monsters. I hope Thornton can get at least 100 assists. Maybe if he wasn't wallowing around in Boston at the start of the season, he'd be a lock for the MVP. But Jagr has also turned the Rangers franchise around. People around here are really excited about the team for the first time in a long time. All 3 are having MVP type seasons, and it could go to any of them.

[NJTank]

I think Chechoo and Thornton will cancell each other out and it will go to Jagr, who also has the East Coast Media Advantage.

[zer0dotcom]

Jagr has had a good year no doubt, but remember, the award is worded as such

The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team.

I would say that Joe Thorton was far more valuable to the Sharks than Jagr is the the Rangers. Without Joe, the Sharks were nothing. They've made it to 5th in the conference after aquiring him. jagr has had a record year for a Rangers player, but Thorton was single handedly turned a mediocre team into a playoff and potentially Stanely Cup contender

[BCBoy]

Jagr has had a good year no doubt, but remember, the award is worded as such

The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team.

I would say that Joe Thorton was far more valuable to the Sharks than Jagr is the the Rangers. Without Joe, the Sharks were nothing. They've made it to 5th in the conference after aquiring him. jagr has had a record year for a Rangers player, but Thorton was single handedly turned a mediocre team into a playoff and potentially Stanely Cup contender

But the argument is, Thornton turned an average team into a great team and Jagr turned a TERRIBLE team into a great team.

[NJTank]

But what about Chechoo hes had a great year too? Sometimnes when you have two players that can win the MVP you hurt each other I still remember in 1988 NL MVP voting Darryl Strawberry finsihed 2nd to Kirk Gibson by 36 votes as teammate Kevin McReynolds finished 3rd bascially cancelling each other out.

Also keep in mind in 2004 the Sharks did go to the Conefernce Finals and it was surpising they had a bad start.

[zer0dotcom]

But what about Chechoo hes had a great year too? Sometimnes when you have two players that can win the MVP you hurt each other I still remember in 1988 NL MVP voting Darryl Strawberry finsihed 2nd to Kirk Gibson by 36 votes as teammate Kevin McReynolds finished 3rd bascially cancelling each other out.

Also keep in mind in 2004 the Sharks did go to the Conefernce Finals and it was surpising they had a bad start.

That is a good point. My angle is Thornton jumped started the team so to speak. Yes, Cheechoo has had a great year, no doubt, but he's also benefitted greatly from having Throton to play with. It's advanced his game at least a few years ahead of what he'd be able to do on his own without the benefit of a set-up man.

it will be interesting, if Cheechoo, Thortona nd Jagr are the three nominies this year then there really won't be an undeserving winner

[Stampman]

One word-

KIPPER!

[BCBoy]

Other nominees...

Kiprusoff (the reason Calgary is the best defensive team in the league)

Scott Niedermayer (he HAS to be the Norris trophy winner, but a lot of east coaters didn't get to see how great a season he had, maybe his best year yet so Hart Trophy shouldn't be out of the question)

Who else?

Eric Staal maybe, although the whole team really played well as a team and that's the reason they're doing so well

Martin Brodeur

[NJTank]

Kipper is a lock for Vezina but he wont get Hart too many other good candiates.

[Stampman]

Kipper is a lock for Vezina but he wont get Hart too many other good candiates.

Not saying he will win it, saying he should.

Although he should be a lock for the Vezina, and will probably get the Jennings as well.

[FiddySicks]

Yeah i watched this game today and ICS was there. Cheechoo and Thornton have been on fire lately. Hopefully it continues into the playoffs and they make it to the Cup Finals.

[IronChefShark]

I would say that Joe Thorton was far more valuable to the Sharks than Jagr is the the Rangers. Without Joe, the Sharks were nothing. They've made it to 5th in the conference after aquiring him. jagr has had a record year for a Rangers player, but Thorton was single handedly turned a mediocre team into a playoff and potentially Stanely Cup contender

To say the Sharks were mediocre prior to Thornton's arrival is a bit of a discredit to the rest of team around Thornton and Cheechoo. Remember this is still pretty much the same core group that finished with the third highest point total in the NHL two years ago prior to the lockout. November was a tough month when we lost ten games in a row until the trade. However before that stretch the Sharks had a stretch of last minute and overtime victories that went about five games.

It was clear that in November the loss of key veteran leaders in the long offseason (Ricci, Damphousse, and to a much lesser extent, Rathje) hurt them. However what is often overlooked after the trade because of what Thornton has done since he came here and Cheechoo's monster year as a result of it, is the career years being turned in by Patrick Marleau and Nils Ekman. Granted, Ekman plays on the same line as Cheech and Joe and of course has benefited from it. Patrick however, has basically centered two rookies all year, Milan Michalek and Steve Bernier. Both Marleau and Cheechoo have surpassed Owen Nolan's franchise record for points in a season this year, in fact, Marleau surpassed Nolan this year before Cheechoo did. (Thornton had 33 points with Boston prior to the trade and only his totals with the Sharks were counted when comparing them to other franchise records)

Also, what many dont realize, is that we have a team here that can, with a victory over the Queens tomorrow, finish with 101 points. Not to mention that this team is the youngest in the league as far as average player age goes. We have SIX rookies that are in the lineup on a regular basis. How many NHL teams can push for a 100 point season with that many rookies on thier regular roster? Also its not as if these guys are just along for the ride, they are contributing to the cause. Bernier reminds me a lot of Owen Nolan, he has scored some big goals this year and his breakaway goal yesterday against the Ducks was a thing of beauty. Matt Carle so far has looked like the real deal, and its about time the Sharks have a pimp US-born player , and Josh Gorges has played very consistent on the blueline all year long.

However, all the talk about Thornton and Cheechoo has also overshadowed someone who has a strong case for being the team MVP for at least the past nine games. Im talking about Vesa Toskala in goal. He has for the time being supplanted Nabokov as the number one guy. In fact, there are quite a few Sharks fans calling for Nabby to be traded once the season is over. I think theyre jumping the gun, after all the one thing Nabby has right now that Vesa doesnt is playoff experience, and there is no doubt in my mind that the minute Vesa has a bad game in the playoffs that Ron Wilson will not hesitate to go back to the more battle tested Nabokov. Still, you gotta go with the hot hand.

point being, the San Jose Sharks were a DAMN GOOD team before Joe Thornton arrived, and they are that much better with Joe Thornton. Can we win the cup this year? Oh hell yes. However if it doesnt happen this year this squad will be kept intact for several seasons in the future, and as young as they are, will indeed get more chances and perhaps even win multiple Stanley Cups

[FiddySicks]

point being, the San Jose Sharks were a DAMN GOOD team before Joe Thornton arrived, and they are that much better with Joe Thornton. Can we win the cup this year? Oh hell yes. However if it doesnt happen this year this squad will be kept intact for several seasons in the future, and as young as they are, will indeed get more chances and perhaps even win multiple Stanley Cups 

Yeah i think that Mike nailed it, but maybee DAMN GOOD is a bit over the top. i dont think this team was quite that good before the trade. They seemed to be missing just one last piece and it hurt them quite a bit for awhile there. But i will say this. Now that the sharks have Thornton they are definately a DAMN GOOD team. And i will also say this, if the Sharks keep this momentum up in the playoffs, watchout EVERYONE.

[CC97]

But what about Chechoo hes had a great year too? Sometimnes when you have two players that can win the MVP you hurt each other

Look at Cheechoo pre-Thornton.

Look at Cheechoo post-Thornton.

Look at San Jose pre-Thornton.

Look at San Jose post-Thornton.

The guy didn't just make the team great, he made his teammates great... hell, he's got 94 assists!

I think the choice is clear.

[oz615]

and if the playoffs start today they would have to face Nashville,and after reading this plus (with all due respect to Chris Mason) no Thomas Vokun at goal,key players still banged up.honestly i would rather face the Red Wings than the Sharks right now.

[lopernv]

Something that may not get him the MVP award over Jagr is because Thornton is on the West Coast. Most eastern sports reporters don't stay up to watch the games, and will only focus on the eastern teams.

[Camden Crazy]

Too bad Forsberg got hurt 2938209372932793792 times...

[zer0dotcom]

To say the Sharks were mediocre prior to Thornton's arrival is a bit of a discredit to the rest of team around Thornton and Cheechoo. Remember this is still pretty much the same core group that finished with the third highest point total in the NHL two years ago prior to the lockout. November was a tough month when we lost ten games in a row until the trade. However before that stretch the Sharks had a stretch of last minute and overtime victories that went about five games.

point being, the San Jose Sharks were a DAMN GOOD team before Joe Thornton arrived, and they are that much better with Joe Thornton. Can we win the cup this year? Oh hell yes. However if it doesnt happen this year this squad will be kept intact for several seasons in the future, and as young as they are, will indeed get more chances and perhaps even win multiple Stanley Cups

Ture, it is pretty much the same core, but the way they were playing was mediocre when you look at teh talent.

As of november 30th, when Thorton was traded, the Sharks where 8-16 with 7 OT loses. 8 wins in 24 games is pretty poor for a team that made the Semis the season before and still has most of the players that got them there. I won't argue that they didn't have the talent, they did, they just weren't playing to their potential.

After Thorton, they are 36-18. They have played 30 more games with Thorton than without, and only have 2 more losses than they did without him. Thats pretty big. Wether it is his contribution directly, or just confidence that the team has regained, his impact is undeniable

[CC97]

Something that may not get him the MVP award over Jagr is because Thornton is on the West Coast. Most eastern sports reporters don't stay up to watch the games, and will only focus on the eastern teams.

Unfortunately this is true... so I say if that's the case then they shouldn't be allowed to vote... if you're a sports reporter, given a vote for the league MVP you better be bright enough to recognise a decent player regardless of the time zone he plays in