Bill Guerin’s been around the NHL for 15 seasons. He’s played
for six different teams.
Bill Guerin’s been around the NHL for 15 seasons. He’s played for six different teams.
At 36, and a native of Worcester, Mass., one might think that pulling up stakes at the end of February and moving west would be distasteful.
Nothing could be further from the truth. When St. Louis approached the veteran forward and asked if he wanted to play in the playoffs, Guerin knew something was up. At the same time, he didn’t hesitate when he said yes.
“St. Louis was very upfront and honest with me,” Guerin said Tuesday during a media conference call. “They asked me if I wanted to play in the playoffs. I was honest when I told them yes. They took what was the best available deal for them. I got the opportunity to play in the playoffs this year. It worked out well for everybody.”
It reunited Guerin with Joe Thornton and Kyle McLaren, who were together in the early 2000s with the Boston Bruins. But this time the situation was far different.
No longer were Thornton and McLaren talented newcomers. Now they were veterans like Guerin had been when he was in Boston. And they were supposed to blend in with youngsters like Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Matt Carle and Joe Pavelski.
If Round 1 of the playoffs is any indication, the transition is working out fine. Forget that Guerin’s numbers (two points) weren’t impressive against Nashville. The bottom line is the outcome, and it couldn’t have been much better for the Sharks.
A series that many thought would be a knock-down, drag-out affair became a Sharks showcase when San Jose won in five games. Chalk it up to numbers rather than a disparity in talent.
Sure, the Sharks had the edge in size and speed. But it was the waves of lines San Jose kept throwing at the Predators that wore them down and frustrated them.
“Game 4 in San Jose, they took quite a few penalties after being on a penalty kill,” Guerin said. “The fact that we kept getting the puck and kept wearing them down physically was a big advantage for us.”
It was the depth that surprised Guerin most. He knew the Sharks were a capable team, one that could be a strong contender in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Guerin found out more when he was acquired Feb. 27 from the Blues for two young players and a first-round draft choice.
“All four lines of ours can really play and be effective,” Guerin said. “I always knew they had a good team here. I think the thing that has impressed me most is the depth of the team. That played a big part in Round 1 with Nashville.”
How it plays out in Round 2 with Detroit is unknown. The Red Wings, however, showed resiliency and character when Johan Franzen’s goal in overtime helped Detroit beat Calgary for the second time in 36 hours in arenas that are almost 2,000 miles apart.
The top-seeded Red Wings, who advanced to the second round for only the second time in five years, are favored. But as Detroit forward Kris Draper told the Associated Press, “in the Western Conference, seeds don’t mean anything.”
It helps the Wings that they open at home, and yet that’s the same situation that confronted San Jose against Nashville.
“Detroit is a world-class team with guys on the team in top shape who knows what it takes to be successful and win in this league,” Guerin said. “It’s no surprise they are where they are. That’s the way their team is built.”
It’s been a nice payoff for Guerin. The 2,100-mile journey west has been well worth it.
Contact Marc David at (408) 842-1694 or at md****@sv**********.com.
