Losing to Ducks altered Sharks' fortunes.
For a pair of teams that had successful seasons by most definitions, the Ducks and San Jose Sharks have certainly made more than their share of key personnel changes.
The Ducks' summer moves were mostly the result of expiring contracts and an aging roster. The Sharks' changes, meanwhile, were brought on by the Ducks, who upset top-seeded San Jose in six games as the Western Conference's number eight seed.
For the players who still remain in the San Jose locker room from last season's first-round exit, losing to the Ducks still stings.
"It's something that we thought about all summer, but it's a brand new season," Patrick Marleau said. "Different personnel on both sides. That being said, we still know what happened in the back of our minds."
The Sharks' first-round loss probably had big implications for Marleau, who was stripped of the captaincy; longtime Kings captain Rob Blake is now wearing the "C." Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo were shipped to Ottawa for Dany Heatley. Defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich also were traded, to Vancouver for a pair of prospects.
These aren't the typical tinkerings you'd expect the Presidents Trophy winning-team to make. But it's clear that losing to the Ducks in the playoffs was wholly unexpected.
"I think it's inside of all of us," said Dan Boyle. "Where, I don't know. But obviously they put an end to our season. Playoff hockey creates rivalries, and that's where rivalries are built. The rivalry picked up between both of these teams. We have a lot of respect for them."
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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