Critical Time of the season.

[shrksfn9192]

Former Shark favorite Torrey Mitchell to Sabres
Meszaros to Bruins
Stempniak to Pens

 

[sjrules99]

I cant say Im surprised that Dougie sat still. The team is finally healthy and looks respectable. Their consistency isnt there but the depth at forward is pretty nice particularly if Hertl does indeed come back (that could be why no forward was added). Adding a top 6 forward would have taken ice away from someone like Wingels since he is the only forward playing more than 15 mins/gm who could see ice time significantly cut. I dont see dougie overpaying to add a forward that would replace a pretty solid existing player in the top 6 or 9 already.

That said, I agree about the lack of adding a Dman. I would have reallllly liked to see dougie add a legit top pairing defenseman. When your D goes 20+ games without scoring a goal, and the one player who count on for offense from the D is 38 years old and showing age big time, then you are in trouble. The D is serviceable in their own end, but awful offensively. That's a big reason for the PP free fall as well. However, I don't know if anyone was available. No top pairing Dmen moved and the only top 4 Dmen arguably were Meszaros, Macdonald, and Robidas. Not sure I would have wanted dougie to add any of those anyways and besides none would be a significant upgrade over the current D. Clearly, the market was thin and I dont know if dougie made some pitches for myers, J schultz, or others but since none moved (including errorhoff), it kinda seems like GM's were not interested in moving key Dmen.

My guess is dougie looked at the market and realized that there just isnt a good deal out there and held his cards. Like all of you, I would love burrish to be moved, but no way another team is gunna take on his nearly 2M per given his 5th line role. Havlat? maybe. But that too is a tough sell and if he is moved and hertl doesnt come back, your forward depth gets somewhat iffy. I woulda loved to see him go but only if something of value came back. Dougie can always shop him during the offseason or at the draft if he wants to drop salary, or just buy him out. At this point, keeping him makes sense, and he has actually had a few good games of late, so who knows?

 

[Cbrower91]

Cant Believe Moulson got traded for Mitchell and a 2nd rounder lol

 

[MrFlyingV]

Cant Believe Moulson got traded for Mitchell and a 2nd rounder lol

Better deal would have been Kennedy and a 2nd rounder for Moulson

 

[sjrules99]

Better deal would have been Kennedy and a 2nd rounder for Moulson

Honestly, Im not sure I'd do that deal. Kennedy has been a disappointment but dougie got him for his PO performances. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and he is signed at a reasonable number next year. The sharks dont really need another top line forward, IMO. Jumbo, Pavs, Patty, Burns, Cooch, wingels, torres, havlat, kennedy, Nieto is a fine top 10 forwards with shep and desi rounding it out. That's more than enough firepower to score. The issue is the D. Its hard to score 3 on 5, and I think the little scoring drought they had is as much forward injuries as defense disappearing inside the offensive zone. That's certainly the main reason for the PP struggles IMO.

But, as I mentioned before, if there's no top flight D available, dougie was better off just sitting tight and going with what he has instead of paying more picks for rentals that very very rarely pan out. Look at all the top picks the sharks have dealt for failed rentals from soupy, guerin, Moore, Ian White, Wallin, Rivet, and a few smaller others. Combined, the sharks gave up 2 1st rounders (david perron and tyler ennis), and 5 2nd rounders many of which also panned out. With all those deals, very few resigned and none got the sharks so far as the finals let alone win a cup. A huge amount of future assets get moved for rentals, and rarely does it work. Unless there is a really obvious need and a good chance of keeping the player or a very low asking price, paying high picks for rentals has backfired.

That said, LA stole gaborik for a 2nd rounder. I mean, players like gaborik are usually at least a 1st rounder+ so that was a pretty solid move for the #1 defensive team that is having some trouble scoring. Like I said, usually rentals are bad but top line forwards for 2nd rounders is hard to beat.

 

[sjrules99]

oops, the rivet deal also included the sharks' 1st rounder which became max pacioretty.

In other words, renting soupy, rivet, and guerin cost the sharks potentially ennis, perron and pacioretty. If they keep those picks and pick those three guys, imagine the difference. 3 players all 25 years old or younger and have a combined 68 goals this year (on pace for an AVERAGE of 30 goals each!)... 3 30 goals scorers signed for an average of just 3.7M per year (i.e.: probably 2-3M under UFA market). This team would be completely different had it not been for throwing away 1st rounders for rentals. Better to either sit tight or only trade those kinds of picks/prospects for guys like Boyle who were already signed long term.

Good job by dougie to sit tight and then I suppose he can go shopping for a top flight dman around draft time, aka, the 2nd trade deadline. Hopefully, they can find some more offense from the D, but at the very least, barring further injuries, the forwards this year look like arguably the best they've ever had and they are all set up front for years to come as well. Dougie will address the D in due time. He can see that boyle is nearing the end and hannan too. He knows that he'll need to add another Dman going forward but there's lots of options in the offseason as well when 1st round playoff disappointments happen and players become available.

 

[MrChangoT97]

Well the Sharks roster is set and we have plenty of depth.

My playoff line up

Forwards

Torres - Thornton - Burns

Marleau - Couture - Wingles

Havlat - Pavelski - Kennedy

Sheppard - Desjardins - Burish

#'s Nieto , Brown *Hertl

Defense

Vlasic - Braun

Stuart - Boyle

Hannan - Demers

#'s Irwin , Tennyson

Goalies

Niemi
Stalock

Can you image the line up possibilities if Hertl can return, highly unlikely but you never know.

I trust Doug Wilson and I'm all in for this BEING THE YEAR!

CUP OR BUST

 

[RaiderZar]

Well the Sharks roster is set and we have plenty of depth.

My playoff line up

Forwards

Torres - Thornton - Burns

Marleau - Couture - Wingles

Havlat - Pavelski - Kennedy

Sheppard - Desjardins - Burish

#'s Nieto , Brown *Hertl

Defense

Vlasic - Braun

Stuart - Boyle

Hannan - Demers

#'s Irwin , Tennyson

Goalies

Niemi
Stalock

Can you image the line up possibilities if Hertl can return, highly unlikely but you never know.

I trust Doug Wilson and I'm all in for this BEING THE YEAR!

CUP OR BUST

Sucks being Pavelski, unless Hertl IN & Havnot OUT.

 

[MrFlyingV]

oops, the rivet deal also included the sharks' 1st rounder which became max pacioretty.

In other words, renting soupy, rivet, and guerin cost the sharks potentially ennis, perron and pacioretty. If they keep those picks and pick those three guys, imagine the difference. 3 players all 25 years old or younger and have a combined 68 goals this year (on pace for an AVERAGE of 30 goals each!)... 3 30 goals scorers signed for an average of just 3.7M per year (i.e.: probably 2-3M under UFA market). This team would be completely different had it not been for throwing away 1st rounders for rentals. Better to either sit tight or only trade those kinds of picks/prospects for guys like Boyle who were already signed long term.

Good job by dougie to sit tight and then I suppose he can go shopping for a top flight dman around draft time, aka, the 2nd trade deadline. Hopefully, they can find some more offense from the D, but at the very least, barring further injuries, the forwards this year look like arguably the best they've ever had and they are all set up front for years to come as well. Dougie will address the D in due time. He can see that boyle is nearing the end and hannan too. He knows that he'll need to add another Dman going forward but there's lots of options in the offseason as well when 1st round playoff disappointments happen and players become available.

I would say Stuart is nearing the end too. May get by this year but next year: Vlasic, Braun, Demers, and who knows

 

[Cbrower91]

I would say Stuart is nearing the end too. May get by this year but next year: Vlasic, Braun, Demers, and who knows

Stuarts problems are all mental, he may be having some off ice problems. Its certainly not a physical issue like Boyler

 

[Cbrower91]

Well the Panthers have 30 million in cap space next season and need to hit the floor, i wouldnt be surprised if thats were Halfloaf gets dumped off on next season

 

[sjrules99]

Could be, although I think it all depends on playoff performances. If the sharks win the cup, you wont see any changes. If they go out early, then I would expect some serious shopping around the draft. Depending on how things go will also likely determine boyler's future with the team. I think that's a big really why dougie didnt act at the deadline. He likely wants to hold his picks and tradeable pieces until the summer when the market often opens up and he can look back on the PO's and see where guys performed and how they fit in.

I could see ottawa pitching for havlat as well with michalek and hemsky having good success there. Both are UFA's, but the sens may try to resign both and then add havlat. The czech connection is strong and they have 22M in cap space with a practically full roster excluding michalek and hemsky. The space is there to add for them.

I also think depending on how the PO's go whether dougie shops for a #1 Dman to replace boyle. If they bow out reasonably early, I would expect dougie to shop voraciously since an early bow out would likely result in the departure of boyle. Dougie could shop havlat, Kennedy, irwin, picks, prospects like tierney or mueller, or whoever to try to put together a package that can land a top dman. Subban and Shultz are big RFA's, del zotto and franson are also RFAs, Niskanen is a UFA. (pretty sure Krug is untouchable). Likely subban is untouchable too, though dougie has made major deals before. Even some signed Dmen like Edler may be an option.

I think it's all gunna come down to how well they play in the playoffs... Of course it's important to remember that they will get a "free" top 6 forward in hertl next year, so the current team plus Hertl is that much stronger and really gives dougie nice options up front to move a player as needed.

 

[MrChangoT97]

Must have a STRONG effort in PLAYOFFS!

Like I Said, CUP OR BUST