NHL draft cybercast live from Ottawa, Sharks trade up to pick RW Devin Setoguchi 8th overall

SHARKS 1ST ROUND PICK DEVIN SETOGUCHI - TSN

The NHL draft will be streamed online live from Ottawa at 9AM [PT] on NHL.com.

The San Jose Sharks moved up to the #8 overall pick, trading their 12th, 49th, and 207th picks to the Atlanta Thrashers. The Sharks selected RW Devin Setoguchi [5-11, 186pds] from the Saskatoon Blades. Setoguchi scored 33 goals, 31 assists, 64 points last season for the Sakskatoon Blades [WHL].

San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson commented on the selection "We identify the guys we want, and we go get them".

Sharks Trade Up For Setoguchi - SJsharks.com.


DEVIN SETOGUCHI - SASKATOONBLADES.COM

Sharkspage 1st round draft wire:

1. SIDNEY CROSBY [C] Pittsburgh Penguins
2. BOBBY RYAN [RW] Anaheim Mighty Ducks
3. JACK JOHNSON [D] Carolina Hurricanes
4. BENOIT POULIOT [LW] Minnesota Wild
5. CAREY PRICE [G] Montreal Canadiens
6. GILBERT BRULE [C] Vancouver Canucks
7. JACK SKILLE [RW] Chicago Blackhawks
8. DEVIN SETOGUCHI [RW] San Jose Sharks (ATL)
9. BRIAN LEE [D] Ottawa Senators
10. LUC BOURDON [D] Vancouver Canucks
11. ANZE KOPITAR [C] Los Angeles Kings
12. MARC STAAL [D] New York Rangers (SJ)
13. MAREK ZAGRAPAN [C] Buffalo Sabres
14. SASHA POKULOK [D] Washington Capitals
15. RYAN O'MARRA [C] New York Islanders
16. ALEX BOURRET [RW] Atlanta Thrashers (NYR)
17. MARTIN HANZAL [C] Phoenix Coyotes
18. RYAN PARENT [D] Nashville Predators
19. JAKUB KINDL [D] Detroit Red Wings
20. KENNDAL MCARDLE [LW] Florida Panthers (PHI)
21. TUUKKA RASK [G] Toronto Maple Leafs
22. MATT LASHOFF [D] Boston Bruins
23. NICKLAS BERGFORS [W] New Jersey Devils
24. T.J. OSHIE [C] St Louis Blues
25. ANDREW COGLIANO [C] Edmonton Oilers
26. MATT PELECH [D] Calgary Flames
27. JOE FINLEY [D] Washington Capitals (COL)
28. MATT NISKANEN [D] Dallas Stars
29. STEVE DOWNIE [RW] Philadelphia Flyers (FLA)
30. VLADIMIR MIHALIK [D] Tampa Bay Lightning

San Jose Sharks draft selections:

1st - Devin Setoguchi, RW, 8th overall
2nd - Marc-Edouard Vlasic, D, 35th overall
4th - Alex Stalock, G, 112th overall
5th - Taylor Dakers , G, 140th overall
5th - Derek Joslin, D, 149th overall
5th - P.J. Fenton, F, 162th overall
6th - William Colbert, D, 183rd overall
7th - Tony Luchia, LW, 193rd overall

Sharks draft day transactions [SJsharks.com]:

San Jose acquired Atlanta's 1st round pick (8th overall) in exchange for their 1st round (12th overall), 2nd round (49th overall) and 7th round pick (207th overall), San Jose acquired a 5th round pick (162nd) this year and a 4th round pick in 2006 from Tampa Bay in exchange for the third round pick (73rd overall) this year, Sharks trade 5th rounder (141st overall) to Anaheim for a 6th rounder (193rd overall) and a 7th rounder in 2006.

Interesting fact: At the 2005 CHL/NHL Top Prospects skills competition in Vancouver, Devin Setoguchi recorded the fastest shot of all the competitors [96.4 mph]. Former Sharks defenseman Sean Heins recorded the fastest ever slapshot during a 1999 UHL allstar competition [106 mph] according to NHLPA.com. Another former Sharks defenseman, Al "the Planet" Iafrate, recorded the fastest ever slapshot in an NHL skills competition [105.2 mph].

[Update] The TSN announcer said Tuukka Rask is the latest goaltender to come out of the goaltending factory that is Finland? Sorry, but the goaltending factory is in San Jose. Goaltenders still on the table: North America | Europe. Both of those links are PDF files.

[Update2] Sign up for the free race director real-time SJ Grand Prix promotion, log-in with the name and password in the confirmation email, and you will have access to stunning in-car camera feeds from the Champ Car qualifying sessions today. Word from the track is that the second pedestrian bridge is now up [this caused a delay yesterday], the light rail tracks have been re-surfaced, and the chicane surrounding it has been widened.

The Wave Magazine is sponsoring a car for the Trans-Am series, and they have the definitive party listing for the weekend's festivities.

[Update3] The ECHL Stockton Thunder launched a new website over the weekend. More on Stockton next week. Stockton Thunder set to open inaugural season against in-state rival Fresno Falcons - Stocktonthunder.com.

Breaking News, NHLcbanews.com is no more

NHLcbanews.com is no more. It now points to NHL.com. Other blogs might say that with a Goodenow resignation, there is no longer a need for the website. Their words, not mine.

San Jose Grand Prix update

INAUGURAL SAN JOSE GRAND PRIX - TRANS AM SERIES


CHAMP CAR SERIES


TOYOTA ATLANTIC SERIES


VESPA GIRLS

The Champ Car, Toyota Atlantic, and Trans-Am practice started after a few minor delays today at the 2005 Taylor Woodrow Grand Prix of San Jose. Photos, links and updates will be posted in a few hours.

Initial thoughts: Only a handful of drivers took the light rail tracks at full speed. The Trans-Am's got a little more of a bounce, but later the Toyota-Atlantic and Champ cars created a loud double boom as they hit the tracks and then landed. Attendance was estimated at 40,000 for the first day, the stands at Almaden have a great view of turn 11, the start/finish line, and the light rail tracks, 3 of the most contentious parts of the course.

NBC11.com aired most of their evening broadcast from trackside. There was a mention of streaming the race online Sunday. More on that later. Historic stock cars entering the track now. Dale Earnhardt's old black #3 is taking practice laps.

Sebastien Bourdais leads Friday practice, qualifying takes place on Saturday - Champcarworldseries.com.

San José Milestone for Newman/Haas, 375th event for Newman/Haas Racing - Racing One.

Champ Car working with Intel to provide free access to race director application for Taylor Woodrow Grand Prix of San Jose - Champcarworldseries.com.

[Update] Here is a small gallery of SJ Grand Prix photos from the first day of practice and qualifying.

[Update2] A party down the street at the Fairmont opens the weekend with the B-52's, Paul Newman in the audience, and an auction for the Canary Fund cancer research. The Fairmont looks nice, but the Hilton and the Crowne Plaza are the most lively options inside the cordon. There is a race exhibition at the convention center accessible from the Hilton, and the patio at the Plaza is one of the few non/semi obstructed views of the road course.

[Update3] Scanner frequencies for individual drivers, pit crews, and general race control. If these specific frequencies do not work, try auto-scan. Paul Tracy compared the SJ Grand Prix track to skiing moguls.

[Update4] Top 3 Champ Car practice times from Friday:

1. Sebastien Bourdais - 52.615 (99.074MPH)
2. Oriel Servia - 52.655 (98.999MPH)
3. Timo Glock - 52.835 (98.662MPH)

[Update5] My brother, Chris Swenson, Director of Software Industry Analysis at NPD, was recently quoted in a News.com article about Macromedia Flash: Flash 8 poised to take on Web video.

10 Qualifying offers sent, 3 prospects signed

- According to SJsharks.com, 2003 draft picks Steve Bernier, Joshua Hennessy & Patrick Ehelechner were all to contracts by the 2PM deadline today. If they were not signed, the three would have re-entered the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

The NHL rookie tournament will also take place a week before training camp [Sep 12th]. This year Anaheim, Los Angeles, Phoenix will each bring their top prospects to San Jose for the rotating tournament.

- An interesting stat from Ross McKeon in today's SF Chronicle: no team in the Pacific Division has ever won the Stanley Cup.

- David Pollak in the SJ Mercury News reports that San Jose will not be hiring a "capologist", and that negotiations have begun with Mike Rathje's agent Art Breeze.

San Jose has 11 players under contract for $13.5 million. Wilson has sent qualifying offers to retain 10 others from the 2003-04 roster.

- Breeze popped up on the Sharkspage radar during a Rathje holdout in November of 2001. After a "marathon" negotiating session, Rathje ended his extended holdout and signed a 4-year 8.25$ million deal.

San Jose Sharks 2004-05 season preview

Here is my season preview prior to the 2004-05 non-season. Over the weekend I will detail how the situation has changed for the Sharks this year, recap the draft, and discuss a few free agent options. [Wireless access at the San Jose Grand Prix permitting.]


A SOLD OUT HP PAVILION IN SAN JOSE

[Originally posted 08/31/04] Shark Roster News: Vincent Damphousse signed with the Colorado Avalanche. Mike Ricci signed with Phoenix. Curtis Brown signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. Free agent defenseman Jason Marshall signed with the New York Rangers. Free agent forward Todd Harvey, and restricted free agent forward Wayne Primeau are now the only unsigned San Jose players.

My lines for next year are:

1st line: Sturm - Marleau - Cheechoo
2nd line: Ekman - McCauley - Korolyuk
3rd line: Thornton - Goc - Zalesak - Michalek
4th line: Primeau - Smith - Parker - Dimitrakos

Jonathan Cheechoo should start on the first line. Thornton and Ricci struggled last year, but they made an extraordinary effort to get the puck to Jonathan Cheechoo, who scored from almost every area on the ice. Marleau and Sturm will create scoring chances with their speed, and Cheechoo will lead the team in goals as a result.

Ekman, McCauley, and Korolyuk will try to build on an impressive year. McCauley was injured in the postseason, and Korolyuk was mixed and matched to try to spark other lines. Nils Ekman did make an effort to raise his game defensively. The World Cup will wipe the slate clean and give him another chance to display his talent.

San Jose has been able to rely on a solid third line for a number of years. With the departure of Ricci, the line will bring something different to the ice. Sharks 2003 1st round pick Milan Michalek was injured 2 games into the season, but he wowed fans with his stick-handling and passing ability in the pre-season. He re-injured his knee during a short stint with the Cleveland Barons, but a lot of eyes will be on him to see how well he recoverd.

Sharks coach Ron Wilson referred to Marcel Goc as his closer in the playoffs. Goc had a game winning goal and an assist in under 10 minutes of total ice time in two playoff games. Not a bad way to start your NHL career.

Miroslav Zalesak has had a brief look in San Jose on more than one occasion. Last year he led the AHL in scoring for most of the year, until prospect Brad Boyes was traded. Zalesak ended up tied for third with 35 goals and 40 assists in 72 games. He is gifted with the puck and a smooth skater, but my people in Cleveland and Slovakia tell me he needs to work more on his defense to play in the NHL full-time. Zalesak will have to clear waivers before he can be sent down to the Cleveland Barons again, so he should expect a long look with the Sharks next season. If there is a season of course.

When it comes to the fourth line, I always think about the Darryl Sutter line of Matteau-Sutter-Stern. They were not the largest, the fastest, or the youngest players in the league, but they were more than capable of shutting down an opposing teams top players. They played hard, but more importantly, they played simple. No end to end rushes, no cross-ice, rink-wide passes. 9 times out of 10 they would bounce the puck off the glass to get the puck out of the zone. But they got the job done.

Wayne Primeau is still negotiating with the Sharks mgmt, but San Jose will try to sign this key player for their fourth line. I expected a lot from Wayne Primeau and Chris Brown [now with Chicago] in the playoffs. I had both slotted in the role of defensive forward who could add some energy. To be honest, both underwhelmed. Primeau has size [6,4 - 230], and is one of the fastest players on the team. He deserves another year to see where he fits with the club. And unlike other coaches in the league, San Jose coach Ron Wilson gives ice time based on performance. Sign him for a year and give him the Korolyuk treatment.

Scott Parker had an injured wrist/hand for a lar