Rory McIlroy: 15 Bold Predictions for the Next 15 Years

The phenomenon that is Irishman Rory McIlroy has taken flight, and the golf world is abuzz with the possibility that we are witnessing the start of a career that could go down as one of the best ever.

However, before we anoint the 22-year-old the Second Coming, let us take a step back and realize how lucky we truly are to potentially witness two of the greatest golfers to ever live.

As soon as McIlroy broke Tiger Woods' record of the lowest score at the 2011 U.S. Open, we started comparing the two.

From that day on, McIlroy and Woods will be forever linked.

For that exact reason, most of the predictions we will make of McIlroy in the next few years will be about stepping over or not living up to Tiger Woods' standards.

They seem like exact opposites, for now. McIlroy is the nice and polite young man, while Woods is the guy who picked up on a waitress at Perkins' Pancake House .

For now, they live in two separate worlds, but on the golf course, they are playing for the exact same honor. Both want to be the greatest ever.

Whether we are jumping to conclusions with McIlroy or not, his age and talent urge us to do so. For that, we make predictions in our mind.

Will he be the greatest ever?

We will soon find out.



15. Rory McIlroy Will Not Win Another Major in 2011

With the British Open and PGA Championship left to be played on the majors schedule, many are already jumping to the conclusion that McIlroy will at least win one of those.

Many are almost giving him the title as 2011 British Open champion already.

However, what may hurt him the most is the fact that immediately after the 2011 U.S. Open, he announced that he would take a three week break.

What a three week break is to him, I do not know.

Is he not going to pick up a club during that time?

The break will hurt him more than help him in this way. He was playing great golf up to the U.S. Open.

Why disrupt that?



14. Rory McIlroy Will Eventually Join the PGA Tour

McIlroy said on the Dan Patrick Show just days after winning the U.S. Open that he does not plan on joining the PGA Tour for at least the next several years.

However, within the next 15 years, his stardom will almost insist that he should.

With every win will come more pressure to join the most competitive tour in golf, and become a bigger star in the United States.

McIlroy will succumb to that pressure.



13. Rory McIlroy Will Break Record For Most U.S. Open Wins

Currently, it is a four-way tie for the most U.S. Open Wins in the history of the tournament. the four players are Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.

Given McIlroy's almost perfect play at Congressional CC, we can almost guarantee that he will win three more in his next 15 chances.

McIlroy put his full golf repertoire on display in 2011.

He is accurate and long off the tee, putts well, and is a good and consistent ball striker. Those three characteristics are what all golfers struggle with the most in a U.S. Open.

At 22-years old, McIlroy has already displayed those three characteristics and we can expect him to achieve that feat at least four more times.



12. Rory McIlroy Will Break Record For Most British Open Wins

Currently, the record for most British Open wins is held by Harry Vardon with six.

Although this would be hard for ant golfer to pull off, McIlroy is as good as any to bet that he could.

Many will agree that the easiest tournament for McIlroy to win would be the Britsih Open on a links-style course.

He already proved that he can contend as a 21-year-old back in 2010, but his overall game sets him above the rest in a British Open.

McIlroy is long and accurate with the driver, which only sets you farther ahead of the competition in an Open Championship.

At the least, McIlroy can pull a Tiger, and never take the driver out of the bag.

It is for that reason that McIlroy will eventually make his way to seven British Open victories.



11. Rory McIlroy Will Win Just One Major In the Next Two Years

Since McIlroy just won the U.S. Open by eight shots, this prediction may seem a little farfetched.

However, it would not surprise many if the U.S. open hangover hungover for a couple years.

It is hard for anyone to win a major, let alone a 22-year-old on the biggest stage. Although McIlroy is as good a man as any to overcome that, the fact of the matter is that he will encounter some bumps in the road in these next couple of years.

It is how he overcomes those bumps that will suggest whether or not he will be one of the greatest to ever play this game.



10. Rory McIlroy Will Not Make As Much Money As Tiger Woods

In 2010, Tiger Woods made $62.3 million in combined endorsements, salary and winnings. He made that much while endouring one of the hardest and most well-publicized years of anyone's life.

Can McIlroy do that?

Woods has several things going for him:

-Swings hard
-Wears his emotions on his sleeve
-African American (very few on the PGA Tour)
-WAS fan-favorite
-Has popular video game
-Has a flare for the dramatics

Will McIlroy ever accomplish any of that?

Yes, the 22-year-old is getting more endorsement deals than ever and is set to get absolutely paid in this next year, but will he ever make the type of money Woods was making?



9. Rory McIlroy Will Win Four Majors in a Row

Also called the Tiger Slam, McIlroy will at one point in the next 15 years win four straight majors.

We all saw what he can do if his game is on. There is nothing to stop him from doing it all in the same year.

Injuries are the only thing stopping this from happening, and with his flawless swing, he is built for years and years of dominance.



8. Rory McIlroy Will Take A Back Seat In Every Tournament Tiger Woods Plays In

McIlroy is on top of the golfing world, as it stands. However, when the king comes back, golf will change yet again.

McIlroy is talented, but although we have not seen him in a long span yet, Woods still controls golf.

He owns the sport because of the fact he wears his emotions on his sleeve, owns the Tiger fist pump and has brought us countless clutch moments.

Until McIlroy can do that, Woods still owns the spotlight in every tournament he plays in.



7. Rory McIlroy Will Break Own Record At U.S. Open

Although this record seems like it will never be broken, McIlroy's 16-under par performance in the 2011 U.S. Open will be defeated by none other than himself.

The U.S. Open is the hardest golf tournament in the world, with high rough, fast greens and tight fairways.

Players often come off the course with a headache because of all the thinking that is involved in surviving these terrifying conditions.

Still, McIlroy is poised to repeat what he did at Congressional CC, and then some.

Like I said i a previous slide, McIlroy has the ultimate set of tools to contend every time at the U.S. Open.

He is accurate and long off the tee, has great ball-striking ability and putts well.

That is the exact formula to winning at the U.S. Open, and there is no stopping McIlroy from putting on the exact show he put on in 2011 in the years to come.



6. Rory McIlroy Will Stop Wearing Bad Shirts

Did you cringe, as well, when watching McIlroy strut down the 18th fairway wearing a bland Oakley shirt with the brand "Jemeirah" on it?

Where I come from, the top player in the world should be wearing Nike or Titleist, not a faded Oakley collar.

McIlroy did just sign a three-year extension with Jemeirah, so expect that on his chest for the next few years.

Down the road, we will see the 22-year-old graduate to Titleist or another big-name brand. They will throw so much money at him that he will be forced to switch sooner or later.

Until then, enjoy watching one of the best players in the world rock something off the 50% rack at Sports Authority.



5. Rory McIlroy Will Not Beat Tiger Woods To Jack Nicklaus' Record

It is hard to say what has a better chance of happening these days, Tiger Woods catching Nicklaus or McIlroy surpassing both of them.

McIlroy has one major and has been in contention for three at the tender age of 22, and Woods has 14 majors but has been struggling with injuries over the last few years.

Who will get to 17 majors first?

I do not see how anyone can take McIlroy with their pick. Woods has a solid 10 more years in contention on the PGA Tour, and we all know how much he wants that record.

If we have learned anything, it is that what Woods wants, he gets.

Who knows what is in store for McIlroy?

He could be plagued buy injuries, or maybe the choking bug, like in the 2011 Masters. There are so many factors that go into the making of a golf legend, and it is too soon to crown McIlroy yet.



4. Rory McIlroy Will Not Break Jack Nicklaus' Record

If we have learned anything from the history of golf, it is that Nicklaus' 17 major victories is going to be a tough record to catch.

In golf, there are too many factors that can alter a players' career in this game.

Can McIlroy do it?

Sure. However, we thought Woods was a lock to overtake Nicklaus, and look where he is now.

It could be injuries or a mental block, but McIlroy has a lot to overcome before he challenges Nicklaus' hallowed record.



3. Rory McIlroy Will Break Tiger Woods' Record For Longest Period At No. 1 in the World

The current record for most weeks at No. 1 in World Golf Ranking is 281 weeks by Tiger Woods.

McIlroy will easily surpass that sometime in the next 15 years.

He will break that record mostly based on the fact that there is no young up-and-coming challenger that is ready to rival McIlroy for the next several years.

Is it this Patrick Cantlay from UCLA?

It is too early, yet.

McIlroy is already No. 3 in the world right now at age 22, so what is stopping him from grabbing hold of the No. 1 spot in the next year just as he steps into the best golf of his career?

McIlroy's talent and youth suggest that he can be at No. 1 in the world for a very long time.



2. Rory McIlroy Will Go Down As the Greatest European Golfer Ever

Currently, Seve Ballesteros is arguably the greatest European golfer to ever live.

He has won 50 times, the most by any European Tour player, and has five majors, which is only second to Nick Faldo.

McIlroy, at 22-year old, has three career wins and one major, as he steps into the prime of his golfing career.

The Irishman should dominate the European Tour, which he says he will play for the next few year, and I do not see anything stopping him from surpassing Ballesteros 50 career wins.

As for major wins, it seem as almost a guarantee that McIlroy will surpass Faldo' six wins, instantly making McIlroy one of the best European golfers to ever live.



1. Rory McIlroy Will Win 14 Majors

I am not so quick to place McIlroy in golf history, but I will go as far as to say he will come close.

The reason we cannot immediately assume that McIlroy will be the greatest golfer to ever live is the fact that there are so many factors in golf.

We thought the same with Woods when we just about handed him the all-time majors record a few years back.

Now with knee problems, Woods will be lucky to catch Nicklaus' record of 17 major victories.

McIlroy has just one major, and although he has all the tools needed to become great in this sports, it is still too early.

He could be plagued by injuries or even catch several cases of the choke bug.

It is for that reason that McIlroy will come up short for the all-time major wins record, but certainly contend with 14 career major victories.

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NBA Rumors: Tyson Chandler and 10 Young Players Set For A Payday

Around this time last year, the nation was captivated by one of the greatest free agent offseasons the NBA will ever see. Lebron James, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh headlined the list of free agents set to earn big contracts with their new respective teams.

On July 8, 2010, James made his decision to "take his talents to South Beach," and the all hell broke loose.

A year later, with an NBA Lockout looming, basketball has given us a list of free agents that cannot even hold a candle to the cast highlighted last year.

Many will agree that Tyson Chandler will be the most sought after free agent this offseason, given the way he played in the NBA Finals.

But Tyson Chandler?

10 PPG and nine RPG?

It is safe to say, NBA Free Agency 2011 will be shallow at best.

There are players on this list that can make a difference to teams, though, but maybe we are still just stuck in 2010, where superstar free agents were up for grabs.

Now in 2011, we are looking at young available players seeking paydays from a weak free agent class.

Good for them, and probably bad for your team if they are in need of premiere talent, or wish to overpay for any part of this lackluster Free Agency 2011.

Here are 10 young players that are set to get paid this offseason.

(For the sake of this list, I set of the cut-off of "young" at 30-years old)



10. Glen Davis

The "Big Baby" himself will be on the market this offseason, and looking to obtain a mighty big paycheck for all the work he did in Boston these last four seasons.

Mostly off the bench, Davis played a large role for the Celtics as someone that could produce in limited minutes.

He averaged 11 PPG and seven RPG while in Boston, and is considered somewhere around the 14th or 15th best available player in free agency this offseason.

For that reason, Davis' $3.3 million he made last season will most likely increase in free agency.

Is he worth it, though?

Look for Davis to make somewhere around $5 million next season.



9. Kris Humphries

Mr. Kim Kardashian will not have any money problems in the near future, now that he is engaged to the cash cow reality star, but he may want to hold some type of dignity by raking in a paycheck or two next season.

Humphries made $3.2 million last season. Pay no mind that the ring he bought Kardashian was $2.5 million, though.

Fortunately for Humphries, he had a breakout season for the New Jersey Nets last season, averaging 10PPG and 10 RPG. With those numbers, he should claim a pay raise this next season, whether he will need it or not.

Expect around $5 million next season Mr. Kardashian-Humphries.



8. Nick Young

Next to Young's highlight reel plays last season, his 17 PPG for the Washington Wizards should do the trick.

He has improved every year since being in the league, and it culminated with a nice 2010-11.

Young is a restricted free agent, meaning all Washington would have to do is throw a qualifying offer at him to retain his services for another season.

The 26-year-old will not be getting much in free agency, so look for him to receive between $3 and $4 million next season.



7. Carl Landry

Many teams are starting to take notice of the good brand of basketball Landry is playing in the NBA.

The 6'9" forward put up 11 PPG last season, while making his living cleaning up the boards and doing the things that go unnoticed on the basketball court.

Landry was payed $3 million last season, but the free agent market is not sure what to make of hm quite yet.

Expect around $5 million next season for the 27-year-old.



6. Aaron Brooks

The speedy restricted free agent will be receiving several offers from teams this offseason. Many teams would love a quick and secure ball-handler at the point guard position.

He is already being pursued by the Sacramento Kings, who could use his services to deliver the ball to the duo of Tyreke Evans and Jimmer Fredette.

That would not be a bad gig for Brooks.

Last season, Brooks made $2.02 million. But expect near $4 million next season.



5. Greg Oden

Has the public forgotten about this guy?

The No. 1 pick out of Ohio State in 2007 is a free agent this season, putting teams at a crossroads as to whether or not he can be a great center in this league.

Injuries have plagued him his entire career so far, but he will be getting paid this offseason because of the "what if" factor.

What if Oden gets healthy and lives up to his No. 1 overall draft pick status?

If healthy, Oden is one of the best centers in the game, so why not take a chance on him?

Expect him to land a contract for next season around $7 million, despite playing in just 82 total NBA games.



4. Rodney Stuckey

Stuckey will not be receiving very high offers this offseason, but he can still be a fantastic acquisition at the point guard position for many NBA teams.

He put up 15 PPG and 5 APG last season for the terrible Detroit Pistons, but they may be the team paying him the highest this offseason.

Does Stuckey want to stay in Detroit or try something new elsewhere?

We will find out.

The most he is getting in Detroit would be around $4 million, but expect Stuckey to land somewhere between $3 and $4 million for next season.



3. Jeff Green

Green was involved in the trade that allegedly destroyed the culture of basketball in Boston.

The Celtics gave up Kendrick Perkins in exchange for Green in order to get younger and more athletic, when in fact they ruined the team chemistry, and most of all, the team's rebounding ability.

Because of that move, Green is in this for the long haul with the Celtics. Boston has no other choice.

Expect him to land a good pay raise this offseason, somewhere around $7 million for several years.



2. Marc Gasol

Gasol's 11 PPG and 7 RPG has teams drooling for the 7'1" center this offseason.

Is he someone a young team can build around?

At times, it seems that way, but he still has a lot to prove to NBA teams.

Because of his size and abilities on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball, look for Gasol to be one of the higher paid players this offseason.

A team with deep pockets could throw as much as $9 million at the 26-year-old next season.



1. Tyson Chandler

Chandler, for better or for worse, is the best player on the free agency market this offseason.

He is a player that can change the complexion of a team by contributing with his uptempo and fearless style of play.

At 7'1", Chandler is not someone that a team can build around, but we all saw what happened this last season to the Dallas Mavericks and how their team changed with him in the line-up.

With his ability to bring energy to a team from the center position, expect Chandler to land a healthy deal this offseason worth somewhere around $10 million.

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NHL Draft: Despite No Notable Picks, the San Jose Sharks Still Had A Productive Draft

The San Jose Sharks went out on a limb on Draft Day 2011 and acquired defenseman Brent Burns from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for winger Devin Setoguchi, top forward prospect Charlie Coyle and their 28th overall draft pick.

Heading into the 2011 NHL Draft, the focus for the Sharks was centered around building for the future.

That is exactly what the Sharks achieved without even owning a first-round pick at the end of the day.

A day prior to the trade, Setoguchi had signed a three-year deal with the Sharks.

Did GM Doug Wilson know he was going to trade Setoguchi the next day?

It is not confirmed.

However, when a star defenseman becomes available, and your team is in dire need of such a player, there is not much time to think.

Wilson took action.

Despite how much the fans loved the home-grown Setoguchi, the team is better today than they were the day they signed him to a three-year deal.

Here are three reasons why the Sharks had a tremendous Draft Day, despite no significant picks.



1. Not much talent at No. 28

If the Sharks had kept the 28th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, the talent level would have been meek at best.

The 28th player taken in the draft was centre Zack Phillips from the QMJHL, and the Sharks would have had their pick of either Phillips, winger Ty Rattie, winger Nicklas Jensen or winger Rickard Rakell, if we are talking best available prospects.

Phillips, the best available player at No. 28, is an 18-year-old playing for arguably the best team in the QMJHL. He has been compared to Patrick Sharp of the NHL, but his speed and play-making abilities need work if he is to make it big for the Minnesota Wild in the future.

The Sharks did not pass up on much here. Phillips was arguably the best player available at that point in the draft, but his ceiling in the NHL may not be that high, although the future will dictate that for him.

The question here is "Was it worth it to pass up on an NHL draft pick like Phillips in order to land an All-Star defenseman?"

In this case, it most certainly was.




2. Devin Setoguchi Was Worth Giving Up

At 24-years old, Setoguchi's ceiling in the NHL is high.

He has scored over 20 goals in every season he has played and the Sharks were correct in re-signing him the day before the NHL Draft tipped off.

However, trading Setoguchi to Minnesota in exchange for All-Star defenseman Brent Burns was also correct.

The truth is that even though he was a home-grown talent and fan favorite, Setoguchi was overshadowed in the stats department with the Sharks.

With superstars like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley, the Sharks were never going to fully tap the scoring potential of Setoguchi in San Jose.

That had to be a main reason for Wilson pulling the trigger on the trade with Minnesota.

At one point this last season, many were calling for Setoguchi's head after an insignificant first-half of the season. Even around the trade deadline, we were just waiting for the news that the 24-year-old had been traded.

There was too much talent in San Jose for Setoguchi to become what he is poised to be, a scoring threat.

Yes, Setoguchi's scoring abilities were on display in the 2011 NHL Playoffs, especially with his hat trick in the Detroit series. However, was that just a fluke?

Will we ever see that type of offensive domination from Setoguchi on a regular basis in San Jose?

The truth was we were not, and Wilson knew that.

Setoguchi's offensive threat in the playoffs probably played a huge role in the completion of this trade.

The Wild gave up their star defenseman, and the Sharks gave up a scorer that is capable of so much more in Minnesota than in San Jose.



3. Brent Burns Is Talented

At 6'5" and 219 lbs. with good puck-moving ability, Burns can flourish in San Jose.

The Sharks already have a high-powered offense, but add a young and skilled All-Star defenseman to the mix and watch his numbers increase even higher.

The main reason why the Sharks' trade for the 26-year-old Burns was a success is the fact that San Jose needed a physical blueliner to dominate the boards. Missing that player on the Sharks last season turned out to be a gaping hole in their chances at a Stanley Cup.

Burns is that physical player that fills that gaping hole.

Whether he will be paired up with Marc-Edouard Vlasic or Douglas Murray, that line will get an immediate physical boost in the form of a 6'5" behemoth.

The Sharks will not be afraid to admit that there are a few downsides to this trade.

San Jose had to give up their top forward prospect Charlie Coyle, who was doing very well for Boston University and was set to be a talent for the Sharks in the future.

Of course, acquiring one of the best defensemen in the NHL does come with a hefty price, and Coyle had to go.

The other downside to this trade is that Burns is prone to concussions, or so his past claims.

Burns suffered concussions in both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, which limited him to just 106 games in those two seasons.

A huge bright-side, and one that was a huge factor in this trade, was that Burns played in 80 games this past season and earned a trip to the 2010-11 All-Star game.

The fact is Burns is the exact player that the Sharks lacked last season.

Although they do lose a legitimate scoring threat, and possible future threat, the Sharks ranked sixth in offense last season. Scoring is in the franchise's blood.

Burns changes the culture of this team and the overall complextion of a team that will be back to make a new and improved run at the Stanley Cup next season.

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The Golden State Warriors Selected Two NBA-Ready Players

Remember all those NBA Drafts where the Golden State Warriors would select absolute projects whose talent levels would not be NBA standard for the next few years?

Kiss those days goodbye thanks to two names: Jerry West and Joe Lacob.

In just a short stint with the Warriors, Lacob has already taken this team from seemingly zero draft knowledge to knowingly brilliant draft picks.

Remember projects like Patrick O'Bryant or Ike Diogu, even Andris Biedrins?

In 2011, the Warriors selected two very qualified players that can play not three years down the road, barring good coaching, but players that can play tomorrow.

In Klay Thompson, Golden State does not get an all-around NBA-ready player, but with his 6'7" athletic frame, I'm sure he can be taught.

What is NBA-ready about him is his shot from the perimeter.

Next to Jimmer Fredette, Thompson has undoubtedly the best shot on the draft board with range for miles.

He is sure to contribute next season in that new and improved (and taller) backcourt.

As for Charles Jenkins, the Warriors pick at No. 44, he is NBA-ready, as well. This is the true point guard that Golden State needed.

For those asking where the big man was for the Warriors, this draft just was not worth it, especially with a player like Jenkins that fell in their lap at No. 44 after being thought of as a late first-round pick.

Jenkins has an NBA-ready offensive game, but his all-around game, much like Thompson, will come along with good coaching. And with one of the best point guards to ever play as their head coach, that may be sooner than expected for both players.

All in all, Golden State had terrific picks, even landing the upside of Jeremy Tyler from Charlotte, and most likely had a top five draft of all the teams at the end of the night.

The Warriors got valued talent at their positions in the draft, but most importantly, they got talent that can play and contribute right away.

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2011 NBA Draft Grades: Grading the Teams and Picks of the NBA Draft Live

The overwhelming consensus of the 2011 NBA Draft is that the talent level is shallow at best. Of course, the years to come will decide that, but with so many unknown players in this draft, it would be hard to know much about who that 18-year-old European player is.

What we do know is that Kyrie Irving will be selected No. 1 overall and Derrick Williams will be selected No. 2, barring something out of this world happening. However, it would be hard to say that both of those players will be All-Stars one day.

Though the talent level is dull, what will make this draft exciting is everything around it.

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San Jose Sharks: Their 5 Biggest Needs in the 2011 NHL Draft

If you ran into an average sports fan on the street and asked them when the 2011 NHL Draft was, odds are they could not tell you. I even had to look it up just to make sure.

My sources tell me it is this Friday, June 24, and runs through the 25th. But you cannot always trust what Wikipedia puts out.

Either way, the Sharks must make major waves in this draft if they desire to stay among the upper-echelon of teams in the NHL.

They own the 28th overall pick in the draft this year.

Every year, the NHL Draft provides us with a small number of highly-touted prospects, any of which could become elite players in the NHL. The problem for the marketing side of the NHL Draft is that that number of significant players is tiny at best. The majority of the draft will all have their shot one day at playing in the NHL.

For the Sharks, they have several needs that must be filled.

In the 2010 NHL Draft, San Jose selected Charlie Coyle with the 28th overall pick. Currently, Coyle is already the Sharks' top forward prospect, but still years away from the NHL.

In the 2007 NHL Draft, the Sharks selected Logan Couture with the 9th overall pick. So there are possibilities here.

Here are some needs that must be addressed by the Sharks on June 24.



Defenseman

This one may seem obvious, but the Sharks need to select an elite blueliner in this draft.

Yes, the defense happened to be the low point for the Sharks in 2010-11, and despite GM Doug Wilson's heroic attempts with players like Ian White in 2011 and Niclas Wallin in 2010, there still seems to be a hole at defensemen.

Add that on to the fact that Wallin has left the team this offseason and White is still unsigned, and the Sharks need to to add on to their defensive prospects for the future.

While the top defenseman in the this draft is Adam Larsson, look for San Jose to possibly target someone like a Joseph Morrow or Jonas Brodin at No. 29.



Top-Tier Scorer

The Sharks are stacked with forwards at the NHL level. You cannot go wrong with Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley on the ice, unless it is playoff time (low blow).

Still, with Heatley not performing to what everyone expected out of him, the Sharks could use a elusive scorer.

Whether they can find that at No. 28 in the draft is another story.

Look for the Sharks to target point-producers Alexander Khokhlachev or Ty Rattie if they choose to fill this need.



Shut Down Defenseman

This may be piggy-backing with what the first need was about, but the Sharks should find a way to land a defenseman that has the tools needed to play shut down defense on the ice.

San Jose lacked in this very department when they were not able to stop Vancouver's relentless offense in the 2011 Western Conference Finals.

If there is such a thing as a shut down defenseman nearing the end of the first round, it would be Jonas Brodin.



Goaltender
Is Antti Niemi going to last forever in San Jose?

More importantly, is Alex Stalock or Thomas Greiss going to be the next man in net for the Sharks?

I can guarantee that the Sharks will not be taking a goaltender with their first-round pick, but a look into the future shows that they need someone to backup their netminder prospects in these next couple years if things do not pan out.

Look for the best American goaltender in this draft, John Gibson, to be available at No. 28.



Physical Player

The Sharks own two of the bigger players in the NHL in Joe Thornton and Douglas Murray, but maybe San Jose should look to get bigger in the 2011 NHL Draft.

Again, physicality was a weakness of the Sharks in the Western Conference Finals, and although San Jose's front office is not saying it, they may be thinking it.

Who knows how these players will turn out, but if the Sharks do draft for physical presence, then they will not be drafting Ty Rattie.

Despite fantastic skills, Rattie stands only 5'11" and weighs 163 lbs.

The bigger-bodied choice, if there is one in this draft, would be someone like Tyler Biggs, who stands at 6'2" and can play the right wing.

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Proof the Golden State Warriors Are Shopping Monta Ellis

Fan speculation and simulated trade rumors have been running rampid since Golden State Warriors adviser Jerry West hinted at a possible Monta Ellis trade this summer.

There have been confirmed reports that teams are interested in Ellis, but every proposed deal seen on the internet has come from pure fan speculation and not confirmed reports.

Nevertheless, fan speculation has fueled a more personal view of the Ellis trade scenarios, and on Monday the public got their first look at a "real life" proposed trade for Ellis this summer.

The proposal, reported by DraftExpress.com's Jonathan Givony, had Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and

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