Sharks ’08-’09? Same as Sharks ’07-’08
June 30th, 2008, 8:04 am
Pollak’s latest article in the Merc states that Marleau is likely to stay on the Sharks- that is, he won’t be traded today. His no-trade clause kicks in with free agency tomorrow. Also, all restricted free agents have been tendered offers, so it looks like we will have another year of Ehrhoff, Goc, and Clowe. The only player we know won’t be back is Curtis Brown. Even Shelley is supposed to be re-signed.
I’m jumping the gun here, but this is shaping up to be a pretty disappointing offseason so far, if it continues on this path. If my prediction of Campbell’s departure comes true, the Sharks won’t have changed a single major (or really even minor) piece since opening day last year. Doug Wilson may have something up his sleeve, but as we said on last week’s podcast, the Sharks haven’t signed a major free agent in the last ten years. Every good player we have was drafted or traded for.
We’ll be recording the next podcast tomorrow night after the first crazy day of free agency. At least I hope it’s crazy. If it’s not that crazy, we can at least talk about all the trades that happened in the last 24 hours. If you have anything you want us to talk about, free agents to consider, or just feedback on the show, please email us at questions (at) dudesonhockey.com, and we will read your email on the air.
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Disappointing offseasons are becoming Doug Wilson’s MO.
I’m sure you’ve seen this:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/8295342/Teams-trying-to-undermine-no-trade-clauses
The interesting part being:
“The Sharks are on Marian Hossa’s short list, a list that also includes the Rangers, Penguins and Red Wings, a source reports. If San Jose adds Hossa, who is believed seeking between $7.5-8M per, they will intensify their efforts to deal Jonathan Cheechoo, who was dangled at the draft. The Blueshirts will be all ears.”
Wondering your thoughts on that (very slim and unlikely) possibility. Even if Campbell walks, it could make for an interesting *regular season* by front-loading the roster with offense.
I don’t know why your upset with having the same team as last year. They won the Pacific Division Title for the first time in a while, and made it through to the second round of playoffs again. Getting knocked out for the third consecutive time could be largely attributed to coaching and a lack of matching up lines when needed.
I think that the decisions being made are a combined effort between DW and McLellan, and the players being picked are for a reason. Maybe it’s because McLellan sees something in those players and their styles that he feels will fit in with the new system he plans on implementing.
Bcyde,
Trading an inexpensive winger (essentially) for a very expensive one isn’t exactly the Sharks’ style, but it’s an interesting proposition, one I hope to explore on this weeks podcast.
SCSG,
It’s a valid point. I’m sure grier and I will both have something more to say on this topic, and I hope to address it this week as well.
If Campbell walks, I imagine Doug will try to fill that hole via a signing or trade before training camp. Losing Bernier and a 1st rounder for a winning streak and another 2nd round exit is tough, but that’s the cost of gambling, I guess. Clearly the Sharks brass know they need a puck-moving D-man.
Hossa is not an option for the Sharks, I don’t think. He’s too expensive for the kind of deal he wants.
Why would it be upsetting to have the same team as last year? Let’s see. Did last year’s team win the Stanley Cup, go to the Finals or even make it to the Western Conference Finals? No. Have the Sharks underperformed in the playoffs for three seasons in a row? Yes. That’s why.
This team has a nice combination of promising youth and solid veterans. But it got manhandled by a Dallas Stars team that got thrashed by the Detroit Red Wings. So the Sharks have a ways to go to reach the ultimate goal.
One of the reasons for this disturbing pattern of underperforming when it counts is their lack of toughness and intensity. That’s why I advocate the signings of Brooks Orpik and Darcy Tucker. They also need a #1 defenseman with an all around game like Wade Redden.
If the Sharks by some miracle end up signing those guys, it wouldn’t leave any money left for Hossa. I don’t think the Sharks need Hossa, but he’d certainly help. By adding a talent like Hossa, maybe Joe Thornton can finally get off in the playoffs. But shoring up the defense and adding more toughness to the roster should be their priority.
Unless the Sharks are content with being the Oakland A’s of hockey (which they very well could be), this roster needs significant additions in order to make a serious run at the Cup.
If the Sharks got Orpik, Tucker and Redden – I would be a giddy schoolgirl.
I wonder if DW has his own version of sabermetrics that he applies to hockey…
I’d be a giddy schoolgirl too if we get those players, but we resigned Shelley today, so Turcker would be redundant. Plus, it means that DW has less than 12M to work with once the Shelley and Clowe contracts are finalized. After, that he still needs to take care of Goc and Ehrhoff, which only decreases the cap space and I doubt the Sharks brass is willing to pay more than 50M.
If I’m DW, assuming Campbell is gone, I’d trade Grier and McLaren for some late-round picks, sign Wishart, and make a run at Redden.
Jerry
I already gave reasons as to why the team underperformed in the playoffs….COACHING. The entire team under produced last season, and I think RWs constant changing of systems and tweaking of lines that needed to be left alone to build chemistry played a major role in why the team couldn’t get over the second round hump. Not that the players couldn’t have done better, I just think that coaching played a major role in why they failed.
And I wouldn’t say they got man-handled by Dallas. Except for one game, they were all decided by 1 point. I attribute going down 3-0, again, to RW and his refusal to match up lines as needed and sit out key players that could have and were eager to make contributions.
I hope that with a new coach cracking the whip, some of the players that need to, will get their games together and perform to their capabilities. I too wouldn’t mind seeing Orpik in teal, but I think he made himself a lot more marketable during his play-off run. If we can get him, great….but I’m not holding my breath. And I don’t see Hossa coming to SJ either.
SoCalSharksGirl, I’m not holding my breath about DW making any significant signings this offseason cuz it’s not his style or the organization’s agenda to make such a splash and actually give us fans something to be excited about.
I agree that Ron Wilson was part of the problem, but not the biggest problem. I don’t think you can put so much weight on coaching. Otherwise, you’d think Wilson would’ve been able to get the Sharks into the Finals one of these past few years. After all, he got the Capitals into the Finals during his first year of coaching in Washington.
The problem, in my humble opinion, resides with the talent and its laid back personality. Until DW realizes this and makes some bold moves, the Sharks will continue falling short of the Cup.
Well, you got your wish! With the addition of Blake, the loss of Rivet to Buffalo, and the what seems to be imminent trade of Carle, and a prospect (Wishart probably) for Boyle and another guy, there definitely wont be the same roster next year.