In Episode 240 of The Fin Factor, Paul and Aaron return after a three-week hiatus to discuss a recurring theme for the San Jose Sharks: the inability to close out competitive games. The episode also dives deep into the upcoming trade deadline and the “Four Nations” tournament.
The Theme: “Can’t Buy a Win”
A major portion of the episode focuses on a series of close games where the Sharks held leads but failed to secure the victory.
- The Calgary Game: The hosts noted that the Sharks looked sharp and prepared coming out of the break, but a one-goal loss (a “close loss” by the show’s definition) set a frustrating tone for the road trip.
- Ottawa Struggles: Aaron and Paul analyzed a 5-3 loss to Ottawa, which they felt was different from the Calgary game because the team struggled more significantly to maintain momentum.
- Defining the “Close Loss”: The hosts clarified their criteria for a “close loss” as a game decided by one goal, or two if the final goal was an empty-netter.
Trade Deadline Rumors and Strategy
With the trade deadline looming, the hosts speculated on General Manager Mike Grier’s potential moves.
- The Colorado Factor: Paul predicted a “slaughter” in the upcoming game against Colorado, partly due to the altitude and partly because several players might be mentally checked out or out of the lineup entirely due to pending trades.
- Prospect Watch: The discussion touched on which rookies might be injected into the lineup next season, with Quentin Musty, Luca Cagnoni, and Sam Dickinson mentioned as possibilities.
The Calder Trophy Race
The hosts engaged in a detailed debate regarding the Calder Trophy, focusing on Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson.
- East Coast Bias: Paul argued that while Hutson is doing “unheard of” things as a defenseman, Celebrini’s performance is often overlooked because East Coast voters don’t stay up late to watch an “awful” Sharks team.
- Will Smith’s Surge: The episode noted that Will Smith is quietly climbing the rookie scoring ranks, currently sitting just one point behind Logan Stankoven for a top-five spot.
Four Nations Face-Off
Paul and Aaron praised the Four Nations tournament as a successful replacement for the stale All-Star Game format.
- High Engagement: The finals between the U.S. and Canada drew 9.3 million viewers, surpassing recent Stanley Cup Finals numbers.
- International Intensity: The hosts noted that players worked much harder because they were “wearing their country on their crest”.
