Jeremy Roenick is a San Jose Shark?!
17-year veteran is coming to San Jose
Jeremy Roenick is one of those players that I love to hate, but respectfully so. He has always played tough (even in All-Star games) and was, at one point, a true NHL star. However, as his age caught up with him, he became more well-known for his skills during interviews. With this ability in front of a camera, JR seemed destined for the broadcast booth this year...but not quite yet.
Just when I thought that the San Jose Sharks were going to stand pat with their team going into training camp, they make a relatively crazy move like this! This signing blind-sided me; I hadn't heard a thing about Roenick potentially joining the organization. In fact, I thought JR was planning to retire! So what impact will this deal have on Team Teal?
Experience: Everyone knows that the Sharks are a very young team. With JR in the locker room, you can bet someone will learn a thing or two. The guy has been in the league for 17 years and has found himself on nine All-star teams...that's a lot of quality experience.
Leadership: JR has worn the "C" and knows what it means to be a leader. He will be a good example to follow for our young captain.
Toughness: In his 17 years, Jeremy has gained 1,413 penalty minutes. He's played through injuries in the past and is always willing to be chippy when needed.
Heart: As Doug Wilson said today, "Jeremy Roenick is a tremendous competitor and he has a great love for the game of hockey..." This has always been true of JR; he plays with passion...something the Sharks lacked in their most recent playoff series against Detroit.
Offensive Support: I know...the guy only had 28 points in 70 games last year. However, that was with the Phoenix Coyotes. You put Roenick on the powerplay with Thornton, Cheechoo, Michalek, or Marleau and I'm sure his numbers go up. In fact, I anticipate him getting 15 goals and 25 assists this year, if he stays healthy.
With JR now in the picture, there may be less room for the younger guys wanting to come up from the AHL. In fact, this signing may even put a cloud over the idea of bringing back Mark Smith who has always been a crowd favorite. However, Roenick is a quality player and the Sharks got a major discount ($500,000 - only $50K over league minimum). Overall, I like the decision...now let's hope that he stays healthy. Who knows...maybe he's the missing piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle.
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