Even though the San Jose Sharks top players didnt score at previous levels last season, there are few teams that boast the quality of scoring options that the Sharks possess, making them very appealing on draft day. Scoring 70 points in 80 games last year, Joe Thornton registered his lowest points-per-game since 1999-2000. Its possible that Thornton has lost a step as he nears 1000 career games, but he finished strong (24 points, plus-18 in 25 games after mid-February), so its also conceivable that the 32-year-old could rise back above a point-per-game, as has been his custom. Though he doesnt have the kind of marquee name recognition of some of his teammates, winger Ryane Clowe is extremely valuable in fantasy because he brings a rare combination of points and penalty minutes. Clowe and Corey Perry are the only two players in the league to have at least 50 points and 100 penalty minutes in each of the last two seasons. Antti Niemi took some time to get into his groove with the Sharks, struggling (3-5-1, 3.93 GAA, .877 SV%) through October and November before getting on track and putting up stellar numbers (32-13-5, 2.14 GAA, .927 SV%) the rest of the way. Figuring that the Sharks will be contenders this year, Niemi should have a decent chance at 40 wins, which is pretty heady company when it comes to goaltenders and fantasy value. Though he scored a career-high 66 points Joe Pavelski had a career-low 7.1% shooting percentage, so that, combined with the possibility of playing with more skilled linemates (his most common linemates last season were Kyle Wellwood and Torrey Mitchell) makes it possible that Pavelski could have a 30-goal season. Patrick Marleau seems to take a lot of heat for an elite goal-scorer. The 32-year-old has tallied 119 goals over the last three seasons and only Alexander Ovechkin has more goals over that time. Low penalty minute totals and a minus rating can hinder his fantasy value, but Marleau is an elite talent. Consistency has not been the hallmark of Martin Havlats career, but hes very skilled and has been able to stay healthy in recent seasons, missing 14 games over the last three seasons, after missing 141 in the three seasons before that. A fresh start in San Jose, with presumably quality linemates ought to give Havlat a chance to put up better numbers than he did in Minnesota. Just barely a rookie last season (after playing 25 games the year before), Logan Couture impressed with 32 goals, 59 points and a plus-18 rating. Can he do it again? 35-year-old blueliner Dan Boyle has scored at least 50 points in five of the last six seasons -- he and Nicklas Lidstrom are the only defencemen in the league to have 50 points in five of the last six seasons. Boyle ignites the Sharks attack and his consistency makes him a top ten fantasy defenceman. Possibly easing some of the workload on Boyle is newcomer Brent Burns, who was healthy last year and that resulted in a career-high 17 goals and 46 points for the Minnesota Wild. Burns had missed time in each of the previous two seasons with concussions, so he presents a risk in that regard, and hes a combined minus-32 over the last three seasons, but that may be less of an issue in San Jose. When healthy, he presents a rare mix of size and skill. San Jose figures, again, to be in Cup contention and that means their top players should be relatively safe bets to have productive seasons; really, the same as it has been for a while now, but this group might have even better depth of high-end talent. Depth Chart - San Jose Sharks LW C RW Patrick Marleau Joe Thornton Joe Pavelski Ryane Clowe Logan Couture Martin Havlat Benn Ferriero Michal Handzus Torrey Mitchell Jamie McGinn Andrew Desjardins Andrew Murray Brandon Mashinter James Sheppard Frazer McLaren John McCarthy Tommy Wingels Mike Connolly D D G Dan Boyle Brent Burns Antti Niemi Jason Demers Marc-Edouard Vlasic Antero Niittymaki Colin White Douglas Murray Thomas Greiss Jim Vandermeer Justin Braun Nick Petrecki Taylor Doherty Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy Sports on Facebook. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . -- Ryo Ishikawa of Japan is headed back to the Masters with another special invitation. Cheap NFL Jerseys free shipping . Quiros had three birdies in a flawless round for a 10-under total of 200, one shot ahead of Swedens Peter Hanson, who recovered from an early bogey to shoot 65. McIlroy shared the lead with the 28-year-old Quiros after both of the first two rounds, but the U. http://www.usnewjerseyscheap.com/ . But now that hes achieved the round number, he acknowledges its importance. "Its a nice little milestone," said Janssen. Wholesale Jerseys free shipping . At the top of the list on Friday was ending their long losing streak in Houston. Marc Gasol had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Zach Randolph added 15 points and the Grizzlies snapped a 13-game skid in Houston with an 82-78 victory over the Rockets. Cheap Jerseys . The 38-year-old Bowman is entering his 11th season with the Blackhawks and third as the head of team operations. The team won the Stanley Cup two season ago, snapping a 49-year drought, and Bowman has been key in locking up Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp, Brent Seabrook and Corey Crawford to long-term deals.BALTIMORE -- First Mariano Rivera, now David Robertson. The New York Yankees are running out of healthy pitchers to put in the closers role. Robertson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained muscle in his left ribcage. The right-hander was working as the fill-in closer for Rivera, who is likely sidelined for the season after tearing a knee ligament on May 3. Robertson finished five games this season and was 0-1 with a 2.51 ERA and one save. He had not pitched since Friday because of discomfort in his ribcage, an injury diagnosed Tuesday as a strained oblique muscle. "We dont think its too severe, but its hard to tell," manager Joe Girardi said. "Obliques can be tricky. We expect him not to pick up a baseball for probably seven to 10 days, and then well see where we are after that." To fill out the bullpen, New York recalled right-hander Cody Eppley from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes--Barre.dddddddddddd Rafael Soriano, who earned a save Monday night in Baltimore, will become the new closer. "We lost Mariano first. The bullpen will do whatever we have to do," Soriano said. "Now with two guys down, its not easy for us." Soriano was 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA and two saves entering Tuesday nights game against the Orioles. Although no one told Soriano hes been assigned the stoppers role, the right-hander said pitching coach Larry Rothschild has indicated Soriano will be finishing games. Asked whether he was eager to fill the role, Soriano responded, "Oh, yes." Despite losing Rivera and Robertson, Girardi was confident the Yankees bullpen would be effective. "They have been used a lot lately, but we think we have the guys that can get it done," the manager said. "Guys roles have just increased a little bit, but were not going to abuse them and ask too much." ' ' '
