Free agent targets Offseason Armchair GM Thread

[rares]

$4M plus per? I'll take that bet. Lunch at Wurstkuche?

Haha.. never heard of that place and had to look it up. Sounds pretty fantastic. Let's do it! There's one downtown apparently? Maybe we can meet up for a Kings/Sharks game or something so you can take care of the pre-game meal. :p

 

[Cmon_WTF]

LOL... I'm just saying... which of the following two options would you rather have:

a) Sign Brad Stuart in exchange for giving up A. Murray (a nobody) and a 7th round pick.

or

b) Sign Brad Stuart.

I'm going with b) just because I like stuff for free... Dougie didn't have to give up anything at all. Stuart would have signed with SJ anyway. But either way, I'm not upset or anything. Just saying. Free stuff is more betterer than uhh.. non free stuff. :p

I would take option A. The Sharks were at the 50 contract max and moving Murray gives Wilson some much needed leeway. Also, knowing where he stands with Stuart goes a long way to helping Wilson plan ahead for July 1st and if Stuart is signed soon it gives Dougie the leverage to be more agressive and make moves at the draft. IMO the advantages of being able to negotiate with Stuart early are well worth a 7th round pick in 2014.

 

[abaskin18]

LOL... I'm just saying... which of the following two options would you rather have:

a) Sign Brad Stuart in exchange for giving up A. Murray (a nobody) and a 7th round pick.

or

b) Sign Brad Stuart.

I'm going with b) just because I like stuff for free... Dougie didn't have to give up anything at all. Stuart would have signed with SJ anyway. But either way, I'm not upset or anything. Just saying. Free stuff is more betterer than uhh.. non free stuff. :p

Without a single number attached, I'd prefer B as well, but A could (and should) result in a more manageable contract. I would actually term that much more likely than Murray or the 7th rounder being worth the paper Stuart's eventual contract is printed on. And I think we can agree your "free stuff" analogy is a little bit of an oversimplification. So which would you prefer:

a) Sign Brad Stuart to a 3Mil/per deal in exchange for giving up A. Murray (a nobody) and a 7th round pick.

b) Sign Brad Stuart to a 4+ mil deal outbidding some team using him to reach the cap floor or a contender looking to shore up their backend.

c) Sign someone worse than Stuart at around 1 or 2 million and watch him sit in the press box most of the year

Money talks, and the wanting to play near your family notion, sweet as it is, might not be so bedrock if someone over payed for him. This ensures that he can't even be tempted by the fruit of another, that's good enough for me.

 

[filosofy29]

$4M plus per? I'll take that bet. Lunch at Wurstkuche?

Hopefully that place is better than Terriblepuss.

 

[abaskin18]

Hopefully that place is better than Terriblepuss.

Trust me, it is worth the pun. If we've learned nothing else from this board we've learned that I am well versed in sausage.

 

[rares]

Maybe you dudes are right... One thing I failed to think of was the whole holy-shit-the-FA-defenseman-pool-is-pretty-slim-and-a-bunch-of-people-are-about-to-get-overpaid-something-fierce angle..

I was just thinking that the whole thing was going to be offset/balanced out by Dougie being Dougie and his love of overpaying defensemen.

 

[abaskin18]

Maybe you dudes are right... One thing I failed to think of was the whole holy-shit-the-FA-defenseman-pool-is-pretty-slim-and-a-bunch-of-people-are-about-to-get-overpaid-something-fierce angle..

I was just thinking that the whole thing was going to be offset/balanced out by Dougie being Dougie and his love of overpaying defensemen.

Certainly possible...and also more likely than Murray or the 7th turning into a damn thing...

 

[rares]

Certainly possible...and also more likely than Murray or the 7th turning into a damn thing...

Agreed on Murray (who the Wings have no plans to sign anyway) but a not so sure about teh pick. Holland is a genius and drafts well... that 7th round pick can turn into the next Zetterberg or whatever.

 

[filosofy29]

Certainly possible...and also more likely than Murray or the 7th turning into a damn thing...

Knowing Detroit, they'll probably draft another Zetterberg and this board will go into full on pantshat mode.....so really, nothing changes.

 

[abaskin18]

Agreed on Murray (who the Wings have no plans to sign anyway) but a not so sure about teh pick. Holland is a genius and drafts well... that 7th round pick can turn into the next Zetterberg or whatever.

If you gathered a list of every 7th (or later) round pick to contribute at the NHL level (limited to the geniuses in Det or league wide) I'm betting it pales compared to the folks who didn't cut the mustard.

I'm not sure either, but I like those odds.

 

[Cbrower91]

One other aspect about the PK is that Marleau, Thornton, and Boyle need to be given rests while the Sharks on the PK, not skating. At 33+ in age, saving those legs for 5on5 is crucial. I've always liked the idea of having bottom 6 kill penalties because the shift after killing a penalty, there can be line matchup advantages. Whatever system they use, I want the bottom 6 to execute it.

Agreed, that's how most upper tier teams do it, and how the sharks used to do it

 

[SJVP408]

What To Expect When You're Expecting (a Brad Stuart signing) - Fear The Fin

Awful stats and overpayment here we come? 3.75 per with possibly more? I hope this guy is way off.

Geez, that article doesn't paint a very pretty picture at all. Either way, I look at Stuart as Doug Murray's replacement and I know that it will be an improvement. How big or small we'll see, but I am convinced, in my head, that it will be an improvement. Lose the intimidation factor and lose physicality, but gain in speed, passing, and defensive IQ.

 

[CJdublé]

ESPN NHL Rumors

San Jose's odd man out?


Brad Stuart hasn't technically signed with the San Jose Sharks just yet, but he's made it pretty clear he wants to be in the Bay Area. With that in mind, how does GM Doug Wilson make room for his new blueliner?

Assuming Stuart is good to go, he almost certainly becomes a top-four defenseman alongside Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Dan Boyle. Some have suggested Boyle might be the player on his way out of San Jose, but Kevin Kurz of Comcast SportsNet argues that the 35-year old rearguard is simply too valuable for the organization to let him go. Instead, he contends that Douglas Murray makes the most sense as the odd man out here. And considering the relatively thin crop of defenders that figure to be available this summer, the Sharks probably wouldn't have a very hard time moving him.

 

[rares]

Kurz is clueless; I wouldn't trust anything I read from him but Murray of Demers will be just fine, yeah.

 

[sjrules99]

Geez, that article doesn't paint a very pretty picture at all. Either way, I look at Stuart as Doug Murray's replacement and I know that it will be an improvement. How big or small we'll see, but I am convinced, in my head, that it will be an improvement. Lose the intimidation factor and lose physicality, but gain in speed, passing, and defensive IQ.

I agree with the article in every way except that he is not an upgrade over murray. Murray is slowing very quickly and the physical game is really taking a toll with injuries and his lack of original speed, so his past likely doesnt represent his future. Stuart is better.

However, the article simple puts into stats what I was saying before. Stuart isnt very good. He's a fine depth Dman in a bottom pair but not good for 20+ mins. His reputation is proceeding him, and if he were entering the league now, noone wise would jump to grab him, especially at 3+. He will be a great disappointment if dougie hopes to slot him on a second pairing.

 

[Cbrower91]

I agree with the article in every way except that he is not an upgrade over murray. Murray is slowing very quickly and the physical game is really taking a toll with injuries and his lack of original speed, so his past likely doesnt represent his future. Stuart is better.

However, the article simple puts into stats what I was saying before. Stuart isnt very good. He's a fine depth Dman in a bottom pair but not good for 20+ mins. His reputation is proceeding him, and if he were entering the league now, noone wise would jump to grab him, especially at 3+. He will be a great disappointment if dougie hopes to slot him on a second pairing.

Im pretty sure he is meant to be the #4 guy with Boyle being the #3 and Burns and Vlasic becoming #1 and #2. Anything more then that and it will be not so good lol

 

[23sharks]

I think it's funny that a first-class organization like the Detroit Red Wings valued Brad Stuart so highly and desperately wanted to retain him but the Sharks fans on the Sports SportsHoopla message board thinks he's an "over the hill" pile of crap. Of course we need Ryan Suter and when you compare Brad Stuart to him, Stu doesn't look that great. Stuart is not our savior but do not be fooled, he is a top 4 defenceman, especially on this team. Nice trade Dougy, give him 3 years.

Very good post, and I completely agree with you.

 

[23sharks]

1. Ginner will pot at least 20 next year, assuming no injuries of course. 30 is a stretch but not impossible, just watch.

2. I suppose I have to give moore a half a pass on his suckage. A wife with cancer would screw me up royally, so maybe that was part of it. However, his long history of suckage for many years makes me think that was only part of his ineffectiveness here. He only had 4 goals in like 50 games for tampa prior to finding out about the cancer, so it's not like his production took a dive. I have absolutely no desire to keep him in SJ...

3. Stuart is NOT a top 4 dman on a cup winning team. If he plays 20+ mins, it's bad news. He's a solid depth Dman good for 16-18 mins. However, here, is bound to be counted on alot, and it's not gunna be pretty IMO.

Rules, wasn't he a top 4 d dman with Detroit when they won the Cup?
He's definitely in the top 4 on this team.

 

[sjrules99]

Rules, wasn't he a top 4 d dman with Detroit when they won the Cup?
He's definitely in the top 4 on this team.

Yes, but that was the 2007-2008 season, 5 years ago when stuart was 28, not 33. Also, Detroit really rode Kronwall, rafalski and lidstrom the whole way on D (23, 25, and 27 mins/gm respectively). Stuey did play 21 mins, but it was the top pairing that held the fort. The sharks have no Dmen anywhere near the talent of either of those two, so Stuart being so-so will be exposed much more and he is much older now while the game is faster and faster.

The problem is that he might be in the top 4 of the sharks which is not a testament to stuart but a big red flag for the sharks Defense. Burns and Boyle are fine top 4 Dmen, but pickles and stuey are not on cup caliber teams. This is why dougie needs to target a suter level Dman and a solid third line. If that has to come at the expense of the high end forwards, then I would be all for it.

 

[Cmon_WTF]

Yes, but that was the 2007-2008 season, 5 years ago when stuart was 28, not 33. Also, Detroit really rode Kronwall, rafalski and lidstrom the whole way on D (23, 25, and 27 mins/gm respectively). Stuey did play 21 mins, but it was the top pairing that held the fort. The sharks have no Dmen anywhere near the talent of either of those two, so Stuart being so-so will be exposed much more and he is much older now while the game is faster and faster.

The problem is that he might be in the top 4 of the sharks which is not a testament to stuart but a big red flag for the sharks Defense. Burns and Boyle are fine top 4 Dmen, but pickles and stuey are not on cup caliber teams. This is why dougie needs to target a suter level Dman and a solid third line. If that has to come at the expense of the high end forwards, then I would be all for it.

You highly under value Vlasic's play. There isnt a team in the league that wouldn't love to have him in a shutdown role against other teams top lines. He is more than a solid top four dman.

Wilson needs to target Suter so he can dump Boyle. Boyle's ineptitued defensively is a death sentance to whom ever he is paired with. It elimiates that players ability to add to the offense which results in one dimentional breakouts out of the zone that are easily defendable.

I'm not a fan of Stuart being paired with either of Vlasic, Boyle or Burns in a top four role which is why, as the roster stands, I think he'd be best suited paired with Braun on the 3rd pairing. If the Sharks aquired Suter I'd be okay with Stuart as his partner receiving limited #4 ice time. (Around 20 minutes)