For a while (a while Meaning most of the season) things were not looking up for the San Jose Sharks. Captain and defensive stalwart Rob Blake had retired over the offseason, and franchise goalie Evgeni Nabokov had departed for greener pastures (green pastures meaning Russia). The team was left with journeyman Antero Niittymaki, and Stanley Cup winning average-joe Antti Niemi covering the crease.