San Jose Sharks: Antti Niemi to Flyers Trade Rumor Only Makes Matters Worse

As previously mentioned in a more recent article, the San Jose Sharks were not far off from adding goalie Antti Niemi to the list of possible movers on NHL Trade Deadline Day.

Early Monday morning, Niemi was mentioned in a trade that would send him to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for young left winger James Van Riemsdyk.  The Flyers rejected the trade on
the basis that they did not like Niemi's current contract.  The Sharks signed Niemi to a four-year, $15.2 million contract in March 2011 with a $3.8 million cap hit per season.

But what does that say about how the Sharks view their starting goalie right now?

Niemi has been slumping substantially as of late, losing seven of the last nine games he has started.  It has also placed the Sharks in a pivotable position just two points inside the Western Conference playoff picture and two points out of the top spot in the Pacific Division.  San Jose has won the Pacific Division the last four seasons.

Placing Niemi in the trade talks for Van Riemsdyk out of the blue should make Niemi a little disgruntled.  He was recently called out by his head coach Todd McLellan, then replaced in two games this past week by back-up Thomas Greiss.

The actions displayed by the Sharks' front office on Monday made it clear the franchise has faith in Greiss and no faith in Niemi at this point.

The presumed reason for the Niemi trade rumors was that the Sharks are stocked with goalies.  Niemi happens to be the starter now and Greiss would be the next in line, but the franchise also owns young goalies Alex Stalock, Tyson Sexsmith and Harry Sateri, any of which could start for the Sharks within the next 2-5 years.

Niemi's stock happens to be extraordinarily high at this time, if we can look past these last two weeks.  He won a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks and took San Jose to the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons.

Can you blame GM Doug Wilson for throwing his name out there to suitors?

However, it is doubtful Niemi sees it that way.

This last week has sucked the pride and confidence right out of the netminder, whether it was McLellan's public comments or being replaced in net twice in one week, and a trade rumor involving him is the last thing he needed to hear.  Whether Niemi is the man in goal for the Sharks for the remainder of the season or not, this trade deadline should be a turning point to this season.

The Sharks return back home to HP Pavilion against the team Niemi was rumored to be traded to -- the Philadelphia Flyers.

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San Jose Sharks: Emotions Aside, Galiardi and Winnik Make Team Stronger

It was quite an emotional day in San Jose on Monday.  The Sharks were still in the air flying home from one of the worst road stretches in recent memory not knowing what trade deadline deals were ongoing for the team, Rick Nash-related or not.

It turned out that Jamie McGinn was the odd man out, but not in a Nash deal.  McGinn had been traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for left wingers T.J. Galiardi and Daniel Winnik.


The initial reactions were that San Jose would be losing Logan Couture's best friend and a much-improved player this season.  McGinn was also developing as a winger, understanding his role as a part-time offensive player and full-time gritty worksman with the potential to become much more.

However, we all knew how long we had been waiting for some fire to appear under McGinn.  The fans had been waiting for it and the franchise had been waiting for it.  This season, his long-awaited play and potential finally came to fruition, and the front office took full advantage of it.

GM Doug Wilson pulled the rabbit out of the hat on this one.  Last offseason, if the Sharks had made this same trade, we would have wondered what in the world the Avs were thinking and how in the world Wilson pulled it off.  Now, it appears the Avs were the ones reaching for McGinn based on a down year Galiardi and a much-improved year for McGinn.

Those two occurrences led to this trade, and Wilson played the Avs like a fiddle.

McGinn is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, after the Sharks signed him to a one-year contract last offseason in one last desperate attempt to find out what kind of potential he really had.  The Sharks saw that potential in 12 goals, 12 assists and all-around gritty play on the ice this season, and he was getting to where the franchise expected him to be.

But was this three-fourths of the season the best we will ever see McGinn?  Was this season the peak of his career?

It is hard to see McGinn not blossoming into something more, but how much more productive will he really be five years down the road?

San Jose was not convinced of that, and they got the best possible players in return for a decent third line player they would have had to overpay next offseason to re-sign with the team based on his improved stat totals this season.

Make no mistake, Galiardi and Winnik are no slouches, either.

Looking back at the first round of the 2010 Western Conference playoffs between the Avalanche and Sharks, it appeared that Matt Duchene and Galiardi were the two players Colorado could build a pretty strong franchise around.  Galiardi was pesky, very quick and could also add in some offense when called upon.  Eight goals and six assists through 55 games while getting heated with his head coach was enough to stop that discussion.

He was clearly at odds with Avs' head coach Joe Sacco this season and needed a fresh start.  San Jose is a nice place to do that in, and a coach like Todd McLellan can do wonders with a talent like Galiardi.

While Galiardi may be the biggest piece of this deal, at least in the long-term, Winnik can produce now and fills every need McGinn left behind, if not more.

Winnik vastly improves the constantly sour penalty kill, keeping players like Couture and Pavelski off the ice, and he provides grit on the third and fourth lines.  McGinn provided grit and a decent penalty kill, but Winnik does that consistently with a little more production behind it.

Winniking!?!?!

Winnik will make a strong third or fourth line centre, or even winger, and Galiardi will fill McGinn's role on the third line.  The trade has the potential to knock Torrey Mitchell down from the third line to fourth, as well.

So while the initial reaction was to wonder why Wilson would trade such an improved young player, the trade clearly makes this team so much more well-rounded, deeper and productive heading into the playoff push.  McGinn alone was not going to do that.

Wilson knew that McGinn was going to be a restricted free agent at season's end, so getting players relatively the same age with relatively the same projected talent was key in this deal, and debating whether he was worth another experimental contract was not worth it either.

In reality, Galiardi and Winnik's ceilings are so much more higher than McGinn's, and the Avs will find that out in the near future.

For now, Wilson came through in the clutch, despite not landing Nash, who would appear to be a large target of his this offseason.  So once again, another trade deadline has come and gone, and the Sharks are improved heading into their playoff push.

 

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San Jose Sharks Acquire Daniel Winnik and T.J. Galiardi From Colorado Avalanche

The San Jose Sharks have made a move with less than an hour left before the NHL Trade Deadline.  They have acquired left wingers Daniel Winnik and T.J. Galiardi and a 7th round pick from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for winger Jamie McGinn.

McGinn is in the midst of his best season as a professional, earning 12 goals and 12 assists this season.  He was due to become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2012 season.


Winnik has 5 goals and 13 assists on this season and Galiardi has 8 goals and 6 assists this season.  The Sharks also acquired a seventh round pick in the trade.

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Report: Flyers Reject Sharks' Antti Niemi for James Van Riemsdyk Trade

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger is reporting that the San Jose Sharks offereed goalie Antti Niemi in exchange for 22-year-old left winger James Van Riemsdyk early Monday morning.

The report by Dreger stated that the Flyers have rejected the trade, but are still fielding calls for Van Riemsdyk today.

Another report issued later said that Niemi was not the player the Sharks offered, but San Jose may have offered another player on their roster.

Read the rest of the story HERE

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NHL Trade Rumors: Predictions For the San Jose Sharks' Before the Trade Deadline

With so many rumors headed San Jose's way this past week, it is important to understand the logistics of the Sharks' trading situation and what the odds are that GM Doug Wilson comes through in the clutch and solidifies this team for a playoff push.

This weekend can go two ways for the San Jose Sharks.  Wilson can make a change on the top two lines
that will affect this team for years to come, or he can make minor moves and pray his team is good enough to not only make the playoffs, but try and surpass that dreaded Western Conference Final this franchise can never seem to overcome.

When it comes down to it, these last few days before Monday's NHL Trade Deadline could alter how this team fairs for the next several years, especially in the potential Rick Nash deal from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Wilson knows this team and the potential they have, which is why this weekend may hit a lower key than originally perceived.




Rick Nash Will Not Be Traded To the San Jose Sharks

They are simply asking for too much here.

The original reported offer the Blue Jackets made was for Logan Couture and a package of draft picks and minor players to be sent to Columbus for Rick Nash.  The ideal situation was for Nash to come into San Jose and play with his Team Canada running-mate Joe Thornton on the top line.

After that offer was scoffed at, I'm sure, by Wilson, the obvious alternative to Couture was Joe Pavelski.  However, his career year would be dearly missed, as would the growing chemistry between Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Pavelski.

What's left?

Nothing.

The Blue Jackets can find a better deal somewhere else if they are that adamant about trading Nash.  Preferably to the Eastern Conference.




The San Jose Sharks Will Make Smaller Deals

With Nash off the market by Sunday, the Sharks will look for smaller moves with just as much significance to this team.  They already picked up Dominic Moore from the Lightning, and adding a hard-nosed defensive winger to help solidify the third and fourth lines would be the knowledgable thing to do.

Enter Travis Moen or Ales Hemsky, who may not carry the same star power that Nash does, but they are exactly what San Jose needs at this point in the season.

The idea is simple.  The Sharks are beat up with Martin Havlat recovering, Douglas Murray due to return next week and a whole bunch of other minor injuries I cannot keep track of anymore.

The Sharks will get healthy.  It will just take until late-March to accomplish that.  Adding Moen or Hemsky could play-out very nicely once everyone returns.



Torrey Mitchell Will Be Traded

If the Sharks are to make a significant move this weekend before Monday's trade deadline, it will take some good draft picks and a few players to make it work.  Mitchell's name would seem obvious to throw out there since his trade market value would likely be higher than the value he adds to the Sharks right now.

Mitchell has five goals and nine assists this season.

We may have gotten some insight into Wilson's mindset for the trade deadline with his acquisition of Dominic Moore.  Moore will play anywhere from centre on the fourth line to winger on the third line.  Also, expect him to take some stabs at the penalty kill once in awhile.

With Moore, Wilson has a third or fourth line winger potentially to play with, and Mitchell or Jamie McGinn seem to fit that mold.  McGinn has played terrific this season and Mitchell continues to stand pat.

If there is one starter we could see switching teams, it could be Mitchell.

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NFL Free Agency 2012: Mike Wallace Interested In 49ers, Patriots

Current Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and restricted free agent Mike Wallace told Sirius NFL Radio Wednesday that he is interested in joining either the New England Patriots or San Francisco 49ers.


"Most definitely. Those are two playoff-caliber teams. Super Bowl-caliber teams," Wallace said. "I think that the right person or the right piece for those guys could put them over the top. All they need is one more piece ... most definitely, those are Super Bowl-contending teams."


The Steelers are currently over the salary cap and it will be tough to franchise tag him, let alone keep him with the team next season.


Read the rest of this story HERE

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With the San Jose Sharks Struggling, Is Trading Antti Niemi a Possibility?

The San Jose Sharks' nine-game road trip has taken a turn for the worst with the loss to the last place Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night, and it brings up a strong argument that maybe trading goalie Antti Niemi would benefit this team.


San Jose is stocked with goalies, from Alex Stalock to Tyson Sexsmith.  They even have been forced to all but exclude Antero Niittymaki from the ice this season thanks to great play from back-up Thomas Greiss in relief of Niemi.

It is for that reason that goalies are expendable in San Jose.  The future of this franchise could have a number of net-minders between the pipes in the next few years and they do not include Niemi.

So why not trade him?

Niemi has some good trade value, and the Sharks could package him with either Torrey Mitchell or Jason Demers and get a really good player in return, if GM Doug Wilson chooses to go that route.

Settling with Greiss in net for the remainder of the season would not be half bad anyways, as any goalie can get hot in the playoffs.  Why not Greiss?

Both have about the same winning percentage and save percentage this season, and it seems we may be seeing a whole lot more of Greiss during these last few months of the season.

The truth is trading Niemi has less than a possibility of happening, as Niemi is who historically shoulders the load when things go awry for this team.  It happens to be that the rest of the team is currently shouldering the load for Niemi during an extremely tough stretch of games for him.  He has let up 17 goals in his last five games played.

Greiss is sure to see more time in net for the remainder of this season thanks to this tough stretch of games. But make no doubt about it, Niemi will be between the pipes in the first round of the playoffs -- whatever seed the Sharks end up drawing.

I would not put it past Wilson, though.  If the Blue Jackets want Niemi packaged among others in a deal for Rick Nash, there would be a tough call on the end of Wilson and the Sharks.  Columbus could use a definitive goaltender and Niemi fits that mold.

Judging by how the Sharks' lengthy road trip has gone and the position they are in the Pacific Division, we can expect some rather large changes near the trade deadline.  Whether those changes include restructuring the entire first and second lines is unknown, but no trades or acquisitions will surprise many with the way San Jose has played as of late.

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San Francisco Giants Smart to Tell Buster Posey Not to Block Home Plate

Bruce Bochy told catcher Buster Posey today not to block home plate if he has the chance, and that could not be a smarter move for the team's season and the franchise as a whole heading forward.

The collision involving Posey and Miami Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins at home plate last year ended Posey's season and pretty much ended the Giants' hopes of defending their World Series title.  That is exactly what

Bochy does not want that to happen this season, and he told
Posey
that just to reiterate and emphasize his thoughts on the matter.

Posey means that much to the Giants' season and near future.  The season-ending collision at the plate was what what ultimately ended the Giants' 2011 season.  If San Francisco has Posey in the line-up down the stretch of a close race in the NL West with the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, the Giants would have been a lot closer than eight games back, maybe even won it.

It was not just the absence of Posey from the line-up, but it took a toll on San Francisco's mentality for the rest of that season.  Posey was the phenom talent that the franchise's hopes would rest on for years to come, and he was the biggest bat in the middle of that line-up.

The Giants had no shot the rest of the way, no matter how close they kept it with the Diamondbacks the last couple months of the season.

Posey staying away from a collision at home plate this season is better than giving up one run.  Of course, the Giants' offense cannot afford to have runs scored against their pitching, but that is not the point here.

Having Posey for an entire season with his bat and potential is much more beneficial to the team in the longrun than blocking the plate and risk getting hurt again.  The team cannot afford it this season or in seasons to come.

This also brings up another point as to what position Posey will be playing in the longrun for this ball club.  Bochy's recent actions may have told us more than we think on that subject.  It will make for great conversation the first time Posey steps out of the way and swipe-tags the runner at home plate.  It think it is pretty obvious where the team is leaning with their young player.

However, Bochy and the franchise were right to tell Posey to avoid injury at any cost.  He means that much to this team and future of this franchise.

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NHL Trade Deadline: San Jose Sharks Acquire Dominic Moore; What It Means

The pubic received updates all day via Twitter, Facebook, etc. on San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson's interaction with Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman before the game on Thursday night.

Evidently, the two GM's had been in touch throughout the day, and even a picture of them sitting together in the stands well ahead of the game sparked some rumors.

Was it going to be Teddy Purcell, Dominic Moore or someone else?

Sure enough, it was Moore, and the Sharks sent a second round pick to Tampa Bay in return.

Moore, who has four goals and 15 assists so far this season on the Lightning's third line, has been rumored to be a potential interest to the Sharks ever since Andrew Murray was waived a few weeks ago. Moore should fill Murray's role on the fourth line with a mix that includes Brad Winchester, Andrew Desjardins, Tommy Wingels and Benn Ferriero.

Moore is just 31-years old and provides the Sharks with veteran experience, as well as versatility, speed and grit to match what the San Jose fourth line has been doing all season. He should fit in well with Winchester and Desjardins.

This was a decent trade for the Sharks, who continue to add forward depth to their roster. Although Moore is a rental and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, it is players like him that bolster a team in the playoffs. It also solidifies the starting line-ups for the Sharks, who now have a reliable fourth line center that can play many other ways on this team.

What it means for other possible trades before the trade deadline for the Sharks has yet to be decided. Moore is very capable of playing many other roles on the Sharks because of his versatility, making it very likely Wilson has another plan in mind.

The move makes a player like Torrey Mitchell very expendable at this point.

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San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings: Who Will Win the Pacific Division and Why

For years we have heard of how special the Los Angeles Kings were going to be once they matured and grew as a unit. That maturation and a few trades have the Kings finally in contention to win the Pacific Division and clinch a top-3 seed in the Western Conference. But the San Jose Sharks continue to stand in their way, which is going to make it one thrilling second half of the season in California.

The Sharks have been through injuries, inconsistent play and have showed clear weaknesses in their play this season, something we have not seen in years past. Incredibly, San Jose still holds on to a three-point lead in the Pacific Division, showing that it will take more than an up-and-down first half of the season to slow down this team. They are poised to contend for the Stanley Cup year after year, making them a tough team to take down, even for as talented a team as the Kings.

However, as skilled as they are, the Sharks will be winning the Pacific Division for another year this season.

Despite the low profile, San Jose is as good a team as there is in the NHL -- their success against top-notch teams this season proves that. It is the playoffs that get them when they are not looking, not the regular season.

The Kings are too inconsistent for a title in the Western Conference, and judging by the play of the Phoenix Coyotes recently, there may be another team more deserving to win this division than the Kings.

As terrific a top-5 defense as the Kings have, their offense has been equally terrible and inconsistent. They average 2.1 goals per game this season. That kind of generated offense will not win many games down the stretch, nor will it knock anyone out in the playoffs. With this much talent on that team, those numbers simply do not add up.

Losing four of their last six games during as big a stretch of games as ever is not going to cut it either. The Sharks are currently on a nine-game road-trip in which anything can happen. If there was a time to win games and overtake the Pacific Division lead, it would be now for the Kings.

In the end, the Sharks have yet to make their annual second half run up the Western Conference. That could be because of the Martin Havlat injury, but it will happen sooner or later. It always does.

We might have to wait until March to see it, though. Havlat will be returning in mid-March and GM Doug Wilson is sure to make a significant move at the trade deadline to bolster this team.

When all is said and done, the Sharks should win the Pacific Division by 10 points and claim a top-3 seeding in the Western Conference playoffs.

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What to Watch For: Sharks Tested on the Road and Dwight Howard Interested in the Warriors?

What a weekend we had in the Bay Area. Even without the most popular San Francisco Giants and 49ers in full-season stride, the area can still manage to entertain a sports fan and keep them on the edge of their seat in the meantime.

Bay Area Sports Talk did that covering the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am throughout the entire week, most notably Sunday when Phil Mickelson bullied Tiger Woods to a final round 64 and the victory.

In other Bay Area news......

-The San Jose Sharks will continue their nine-game road-trip tonight against the Washington Capitals after being virtually out-played by a recently impressive St. Louis Blues team. The Sharks were shut-out 3-0 with two of those goals coming in a 5-on-3 power play for the Blues. they will hope to rebound against Alex Ovechkin and the Caps tonight in a back-to-back game on the road.

This is a huge stretch of game for the Sharks, if you haven't noticed. The SAP Open has taken over the HP Pavilion, which forced the Sharks on the road for a substantial amount of time. This year, the time is nine games just as the team was getting into a bit of a stride.

The stretch of games is their biggest test of the season, and it is also their final run of games before a possible Martin Havlat recuperation and pending comeback to the team. The road-trip will also run right up to the February 27 trade deadline, where GM Doug Wilson is rumored to be very active.

-Dwight Howard has said that he is not interested in the Golden State Warriors one bit, but that did not stop ESPN's "salary-cap analyst" Tom Penn from making a bold prediction sending Monta Ellis, David Lee and Ekpe Udoh to the Magic for Howard.

Penn's argument was that the Magic are hopeless, and Howard knows that and wants out. However, Orlando will not want to trade him to the list of teams Howard has set before his GM. That may move Howard to broaden that list just a bit, including the Warriors in it.

Sorry to Penn, but Howard won't agree to it and the Warriors won't accept it. The only part that would agree to it is the Magic's front office. A dream at best.

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2012 NBA All-Star Game: Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis Snubbed, Again

Golden State Warriors' guard Monta Ellis was not selected to the 2012 All-Star Game yet again this season. The 26-year-old is averaging 22.6 points and 6.3 assists this season on a Warriors team that is 9-14 on the season.

Read more HERE

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NHL Trade Rumors: Updating the San Jose Sharks' List of Possible Targets

'Tis the season for trade rumors aplenty and San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson seems to always be at the forefront of trade deadline deals. It has become customary for Wilson to seemingly improve his team's playoff chances with a pick-up at the end of February to help boost their specific weakness at the time.

However, as history shows, it has yet to get the franchise past the Western Conference Finals.

This season, inconsistent play and a mix of injuries does not have many sold on the team's playoff potential. Even after the trades for defenseman Brent Burns and speedster Martin Havlat last offseason was this team poised for a Stanley Cup run. That may be why the Sharks have been tied to several key players in the NHL throughout the past few weeks.

The fact is that San Jose is currently a buyer, and the time may be now for this franchise to do all it can to finally get this team over the hump and into the promised land.

Here is the updated list of players the Sharks have reportedly shown interest in over the past few weeks and what it will cost to acquire them.

Tuomo Ruutu

Ruutu is the oldest of the rumors for the Sharks. It seems everyone and their mom is interested in Ruutu, and the Sharks just happened to be thrown into that pile, considering their willingness to spend.

For the Sharks to acquire Ruutu, it would probably take more than expected for a decent player with speed, considering the amount of teams reportedly interested in his services.

Torrey Mitchell would have to be involved, as would one of the excess defensemen, like Jason Demers.

Ryan Smyth

Whether this rumor was as serious as many thought, I seriously doubt Wilson would be interested in a 36-year-old finesse player to bolster a young and talented core and help them into the playoffs. Smyth would have close to zero affect on this team, but crazier things have happened.

Smyth has 16 goals and 20 assists this season for the Edmonton Oilers.

In order for Smyth to become a Shark, San Jose would have to offer Mitchell, Demers and some prospects to land him.

Travis Moen

The Moen rumor to the Sharks was about as serious as any rumor that we have encountered so far this season. Moen was a Shark back in 2008-09, playing in just 19 games for the team, and San Jose could use a gritty, defensive winger to place on that third line with Michal Handzus.

Moen is having his best season in recent memory, tallying nine goals and seven assists for the Montreal Canadiens.

Again, Torrey Mitchell may have to be at the center of this trade, unless Wilson can coax his way into sending some draft picks and a few favors to Montreal in return.

Ray Whitney

There is not a more fitting trade rumor in the NHL right now than the Whitney back to San Jose possibility. Whitney, who was drafted by the Sharks in 1991, would potentially finish his career in the same city he started it in.

The 39-year-old is almost sure to have his best season in three years, already putting up 16 goals and 34 assists for a total of 50 points. He had 77 points for the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2008-09 season.

There is no telling what the trade market is for a 39-year-old playing some of his best hockey. However, Wilson does not seem afraid to throw his hat into the ring for a player of his caliber, especially with such ties to the franchise and Wilson himself, who played with Whitney in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons.

The initial thought was that the Sharks would have to part with Mitchell, Demers and Niittymaki for this to work. Whitney has four more points than Joe Thornton, San Jose's leader in points this season.

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Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Tiger Woods Feels "Explosive Again"

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- In Tuesday's pre-tournament press conference with a packed Media Center of reporters at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Tiger Woods addressed several things: His health, his love of the Bay Area and how his golf game compares to past stints at Pebble Beach.

One notable comment from Woods should scare the rest of the PGA Tour field at Pebble Beach this week and for the rest of the season. Woods talked about how his health compared to just two months ago, and in not so many words, proclaimed he is back.

"I've been rehabbing pretty much the last couple of years, and i haven't been able to train. I haven't been healthy enough," Woods said in Tuesday's press conference. "Now I'm healthy enough to do it, and i can do what Sean (Foley) wants me to do."

When it comes to practicing and properly preparing for tournaments, Woods said that is something that has changed substantially in recent weeks.

"I can literally practice all day if i want to," Woods said. "For a long time there, there was always some kind of limited ball count or i had to get back to treatment. That's not longer the case."

"It's why i think i've made such huge progress since the Frys," he said. "I'm now training and my body feels explosive again. Consequently, I'm hitting the ball further."

Tuesday was not about looking towards the future or rehabbing that knee for Woods. He was all about winning and winning now, something we have not heard him say in awhile.

For the past two years, Woods has expressed that discomfort in the fact he did not feel like himself on the golf course due to his inability to practice or properly heal from injury. Now, Woods is upbeat about his game and acknowledged the fact that this is the best he has felt in some time now.

"My body feels explosive again"

Nobody knows Woods' body like Woods, and he has made a note of that in interviews past. For him to come out and say that he feels "explosive," using that strong of a word, followed by "again" is a big statement even from a pre-tournament presser during the beginning of a PGA Tour season.

"Again" refers to his dominance pre-November 2009, and that is enough to send chills up golf fans' spines.

In the past, it was not uncustomary for Woods to talk about how his body feels, be honest about it and alert the media that something is not right. On Tuesday, that changed, and he made it clear that the time is now for his game to earn him a spot back on the PGA Tour's leaderboard.

It is a scary thought, as well as a scary quote, being that Woods was so dominant when he previously talked about his game like this. But Woods let everyone know on Tuesday that his game is back and he is not opposed to letting people know all about it.

We can expect performances like the one in Abu Dhabi to be of the norm in the coming PGA Tour season. As for the Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week, Woods is expected to win for the first time in recent memory.

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San Jose Sharks: 5 Trade Scenarios Involving Antero Niittymaki

The Antero Niittymaki era in San Jose has come to an end. Er, kind of. I am not even sure there was an era, just a mediocre stint for the Sharks in which he started 22 games over two seasons. Mix that with a slew of injuries and a lost back-up role, and you should have a pretty disgruntled goaltender.

And that is exactly what they have.

One month ago, Niittymaki had some trade value. Maybe a team in the playoff hunt needed a pretty good back-up goalie, or a team out of the hunt needed a netminder for next season. Either way, Niittymaki was looking for a place to play, and that was not going to happen in San Jose.

Since then, the Sharks put him on waivers and still he went untouched by other teams, which means his trade value has taken a hit, to say the least.

He will need to be packaged with some hefty talent from San Jose if GM Doug Wilson wants to include him in any blockbuster deals before the trade deadline.

Here are three scenarios in which Niittymaki can find a new home, and the Sharks can get some much-needed talent for a playoff run.

Tuomo Ruutu

Ruutu has been reportedly coveted by teams looking to improve their speed and offense heading into the playoffs.

For the Sharks to pull this off, it would take much more than just Niittymaki, as Carolina understands the Sharks' needs for both speed and more scoring on the top two lines on offense.

A package for Ruutu would have to include Niittymaki, as well as defenseman Jason Demers and/or Torrey Mitchell for this to work. Several teams are bidding for Ruutu's services, so there is no telling what the Hurricanes could be asking for in return.

Brenden Morrow

The likelihood of the Dallas Stars trading one of their best players inside the division is not good, but the Stars are fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, and Morrow's season has been disappointing.

He has eight goals and 14 assists on the season.

However, his leadership is something to be coveted by the Sharks, who have been searching for such a player since the retirement of Rob Blake.

For Morrow, San Jose would have to overpay now and hope to be repaid later with a fresh start in a new city and a boost in the playoffs.

Joe Pavelski or Ryane Clowe would have to be the centerpiece for this deal to go through. The Sharks would also have to add in Niittymaki and either Justin Braun or Jason Demers.

Andrei Kostitsyn

The Sharks have been rumored to be interested in Kostitsyn since last offseason, as need at forward with some size is imperative on this team.

Kostitsyn has 12 goals and 11 assists on the season.

A deal for the Canadiens winger would have to include Torrey Mitchell, who has yet to fully pan-out in San Jose. Niittymaki could be thrown in for good measure, but the deal would surround the young talent of Mitchell and some draft picks.

Ryan Smyth

The Sharks are rumored to be interested in left winger Ryan Smyth, as of late. The Anaheim-native has 16 goals and 20 assists on the season, and this would be a very significant move for Wilson. One that would require a good amount of talent headed to Edmonton in return.

As with most hefty deals the Sharks would make before the trade deadline, the trade would be centered around Joe Pavelski or Ryane Clowe. Pavelski would be the easiest to part with of the two, as Clowe provides leadership and bulk on the ice, something San Jose cannot afford to lose.

Wilson has already said that Clowe is far from ever being dealt, so a deal including Pavelski, Mitchell, and Niittymaki could be in the realm of possibility if Wilson decides he wants to invest in Smyth's veteran talent.

Ales Hemsky

Considering the type of chemistry Hemsky and Joe Thornton have on the ice, this deal is definitely possible.

Hemsky has four goals and 18 assists for the Oilers this season, but could be a nice fit on the Sharks' third line with the frantic Jamie McGinn and veteran Michal Handzus.

Of course, that leaves Mitchell as the odd man out, and he would be headed to Edmonton with Niittymaki, who could throw himself in their goalie mix. The transaction would possibly have to include some San Jose prospects, or even Jason Demers or Justin Braun, to make this happen.

Hemsky has reportedly not been getting bites from NHL teams, so this could be a really good fall-back move for the Sharks if larger moves fail to work out.

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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the Priorities of the Team's Free Agent Class

To say the San Francisco 49ers were a play or two away from the Super Bowl is an understatement because this team played determined football against all east coast odds, and were just a Kyle Williams' freak play away from beating them.

Next on the agenda is getting back to the NFC Championship and ultimately booking a flight to the Super Bowl one year ago from this coming weekend. They will do that by signing an extensive free agent class of players that reached stardom this season and will expect paychecks in return.

Here are the 49ers' free agent players in order of the priority in which they should be signed.

1. Carlos Rogers

Rogers was on the list of possible free agents the 49ers could pick up last offseason. They took the gamble on him and he repaid them with six interceptions on the season in a tie for fourth in the NFL.

With so many free agent players in the 49ers' secondary, it would be wise to lock up Rogers sooner than later. Odds are he will be offered a good three to four-year deal by San Francisco. The price will vary, although we can probably expect around $4 million or $5 million per year, but you can imagine the amount of teams willing to pay a player making that much difference on the field this season.

2. Dashon Goldson

The hard-hitting and aggressive safety was all but gone this time last season. A year later, he would see to be all but gone again from the 49ers, except for the fact that San Francisco would seem to the place to play these days.

Does Goldson want a team around him, or does he want money?

The money will come his way this offseason, and we will be able to tell a lot about his priorities by the move he makes once the 49ers make their offer.

3. Alex Smith

Why is the quarterback of a team that made it to the NFC Championship third on the free agent priorities list?

Simple. He knows, and the 49ers know, Smith is nothing without head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Harbaugh took a chance on him last offseason, and then he managed Smith and set him up for success, which is what they got.

Smith is not going anywhere, and two to three-year deal seems appropriate for the situation.

4. Ted Ginn, Jr.

If you did not know how much Ginn meant to the 49ers, check out Kyle Williams receiving kicks the entire NFC Championship. A panic attack at its finest.

Also, this team needs wide receivers and there are only so many free agent wide-outs and so much money to spend this offseason. With Ginn, the 49ers get a premiere kick-returner and a decent wide receiver that knows the offense and how it functions.

San Francisco would be wise to sign him sooner than later and make it easier on the franchise to go out and sign another free agent wide receiver to strengthen this team. If they do not sign Ginn, then the 49ers will be forced to make a panic move via free agency worth millions of dollars more than probably expected.

5. Josh Morgan

Again, this team needs wide receivers. It's no secret.

Losing Morgan last season was sure-fire dagger in the hearts of 49ers fans come playoff time, and Alex Smith, as well.

The good thing about that is he will not cost as much as if he was the No. 1 wide receiver for the 49ers in the playoffs, which he would have been. The team might have been in the Super Bowl and then the team would have really had to pay the man.

It should not take much to sign him, but the Brandon Lloyd factor always seems to haunt this 49ers franchise and is always in the back of their minds.

6. Blake Costanzo

For how under-the-radar Costanzo is, the initial thought would be that he would be no problem to re-sign. But Costanzo is one of the best special teams players in the NFL and the nation really saw that against the New Orleans Saints.

One can make an argument that Costanzo should be higher on this list, but Harbaugh will do anything he can to get this player back on his team next season.

7. Ahmad Brooks

Brooks is simply another threat to rush the quarterback, and a good one at that. Both the Saints and Giants know how hard it was to stop Brooks, Patrick Willis, Parys Haralson, Aldon Smith, Justin Smith and Ray McDonald on any given play.

The need for an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense to rush the passer as hard and fast as Brooks does makes it all that much harder for the 49ers to not re-sign him.

The good thing is that Brooks fell so under the radar last season that the team should have no problem signing him to a contract without fighting other teams. This defense fits into his football mindset, as well.

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San Jose Sharks: 3 Players Poised for A Big Second Half of the Season

Their opponent was the 13-31-6 Columbus Blue Jackets, but the San Jose Sharks' game on Tuesday night had just about everything a fan could want in the first game back from the All-Star Break.

Scoring, numerous fights, defense, goaltending.

For a team that has struggled to get on a consistent roll this season, the Sharks looked like this was going to be the start of something we had not seen so far in 2011-12. Credit that to a whole bunch of Sharks: The big-name players, Antti Niemi, Jim Vandermeer? There was no wrong answer on Tuesday night.

Again, it was just against the Blue Jackets, but we can clearly see who is gearing up for a good second half run and who is not.

Here are three players poised for a big second half of the season.

Jamie McGinn

I am not sure anyone was expecting 10 goals from McGinn all season, let alone one game past the All-Star break.

He has definitely filled the role as the hard-hitting annoyance skating madly across the ice. But adding an offensive mentality to boot sure makes McGinn look awfully good these days.

For how long many have waited to see this player reach his full potential in this league, we may be seeing somewhat of a start this season. His 10 goals and eight assists are more than expected, but it is the plus/minus of +10 that has McLellan relying on him to make plays when possible.

Asking for another 10 goals out of him the rest of the season may be stretching it just a bit, but we should see that plus/minus continue to increase if the Sharks go on their usual second half run up the Western Conference standings.

Jim Vandermeer

Vandermeer's role with the Sharks is still really blurry. Usually, we see him blocking shots or getting physical on the boards on defense, but on Monday McLellan positioned Vandermeer on the offensive fourth line. It worked.

Vandermeer was physical and was much like adding a third defenseman out on the ice. He can have an offensive mindset if asked to, but McLellan said we will probably be seeing him out there on the fourth line only when the Sharks need an extra chippy hard-hitting player against a physical opponent.

If Vandermeer keeps producing when he gets his time on the ice, we should be seeing a lot more of him in the second half of this season -- both on offense and defense.

Patrick Marleau

Heading into this season, the over/under of goals scored by Patrick Marleau was 40. He currently has 18 and will need to raise his play if he is to get his second career 40-goal season. This time last season, he had the same 18 goals and finished the season just about as expected with 37 goals.

However, with Martin Havlat returning within the next month from injury, Marleau's stock will only rise. Also, any trades for a winger made by GM Doug Wilson will only contribute to Marleau's offensive touches on the ice. With Havlat returning, we are sure to see that top line of Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Marleau return to form.

With Havlat in the line-up on the second line, Marleau put up 10 goals in the first two months of the season. When Havlat went down with injury, Marleau had a terrible offensive December (3 goals) and the team played awful because of it.

When Havlat returns in early to mid-March, Marleau will see more pressure applied by their opponents towards that relentless line of Ryane Clowe, Logan Couture and Havlat, and see more opportunities come the way of his first line.

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San Francisco 49ers' Improbable Season Started at SJSU

Before their improbable 13-3 season and appearance in the NFC Championship at famed Candlestick Park, the San Francisco 49ers players found themselves in a much smaller setting — Spartan Stadium.

Read the rest of the article at SpartanDaily.com

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