In Episode 190 of The Fin Factor, Paul and Aaron discuss a rare Tuesday episode following a week where the San Jose Sharks showed glimpses of competence amidst a challenging season. Despite individual highlights, the team remains at the bottom of the league, fueling ongoing “Tank for Celebrini” discussions.
The Winning Slide and Lottery Logic
The hosts addressed fan concerns that the Sharks’ improved play might hurt their draft lottery odds.
- The Celebrini Sweepstakes: While the Sharks are currently 32nd overall, fans expressed fear that a winning streak could cost them generational prospect Macklin Celebrini.
- Lottery Realities: Aaron reminded viewers that even the worst team only has a 25% chance at the first overall pick, suggesting that a top-three selection would still be a successful outcome for the rebuild.
- Competency Over Winning: Paul emphasized that he values “hard work” and a “competent version of hockey” more than the final score, as long as the team remains entertaining.
Tomas Hertl and Injury Updates
The episode covered several key injury concerns affecting the roster.
- Hertl’s Status: The hosts discussed the impact of Tomas Hertl’s absence and the general health of the team’s core players.
- Kevin Labanc’s String of Bad Luck: Labanc went down awkwardly into the boards, potentially suffering a neck “stinger”. This followed a previous slew-foot injury, leading to discussions about his inability to stay in the lineup consistently.
- Ty Emberson’s Milestone: Amidst the injury news, the hosts highlighted Ty Emberson scoring his first NHL goal as a rare bright spot.
Game Recap: The Seattle “Drubbing”
The Sharks suffered a 7-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken, which the hosts described as “brutal” and reminiscent of the “HR meeting” games from earlier in the season.
- Lack of Effort: Unlike their more competitive recent outings, this game saw the Sharks “stink” from start to finish.
- Market Correction: Aaron noted that while the Sharks had been picking up their play, games like the Seattle loss serve as a “market correction” that keeps them firmly in the league basement.
League News: The Corey Perry Situation
The hosts briefly touched on the developing story in Chicago regarding Corey Perry’s contract termination.
- Rumor vs. Reality: They addressed the internet rumors involving Connor Bedard’s family, ultimately dismissing them as likely having no truth while acknowledging the difficult position it puts an 18-year-old rookie in.
- GM Management: Paul noted that regardless of the truth, a General Manager is obligated to deny such rumors to protect the player’s reputation.
