What We Need Right Now is D, D, D
December 7th, 2009, 10:42 pm
Thanks to everyone who was able to tune in to the radio show last night. We hope to have a replay available for download on the website. The show was a blast, especially our interview with former Sharks player Mark Smith – who was amazingly candid and really entertaining. Great stuff.
One hot topic that we heard from some callers on the radio show has been in line with my final rallying cry to Sharks management. Doug Wilson has to be looking for an upgrade on the blueline. Now, I’m not talking about someone to come in and play a Kent Huskins type #5 role – I’m looking for a guy who can log big minutes, do the dirty works like block shots, kill penalties, dish out big hits – and also not be a total stiff offensively. It’s clear the Sharks 0-2-1 record against the Flames and Hawks is reason for concern, and the main difference between the Sharks and the other two teams are their top four d-men are flat out better than ours. I think Doug Wilson did an outstanding job in the offseason of making a Naughty and Nice list and managed to get rid of the three players currently under contract who were at the top of the Naughty list in Ehrhoff, Michalek and Cheechoo. So, who is next on the Naughty list? I think it has to be Vlasic.
Dan Boyle and Douglas Murray are untouchable. The team has made a commitment to Rob Blake by making him the Captain for this season, and I also suspect for next season – I’m 99.9% sure that there is a handshake, wink/wink, nudge/nudge, say no more agreement between Blake and DW that he is coming back for 2010-11. That leaves Vlasic in a put up or shut up situation, and I think he might be beginning to go silent…So, Doug Wilson should parlay his depth at the forward position and find a guy who can jump in and take this team over the top. Guys like Phaneuf, Shea Weber and Chara are not worth discussing – so I’m going to kick off a new weekly series where I’m going to bring a top four blueliner to your attention and why I think he’d be a good fit for the Sharks and what I think it would cost Doug Wilson to acquire him.
This weeks target:
St. Louis Blues/Barret Jackman
Jackman is a stud and doesn’t get a ton of press because he’s been playing for a bad team that finally broke through and made the playoffs last year. In case you’re not familiar with Jackman, let me introduce you. He is the guy who stands in the net and blocks an empty net slap shot attempt like a human brick wall.
That is a guy willing to do anything to win a game. I doubt Nabby would have to ask him twice to block a shot. Jackman’s resume is impressive, he won the Calder Trophy in 2004 with 19 points and 190 PIM’s, beating that hack Henrik Zetterberg – not bad. After battling early career injury problems, he has responded by playing three full seasons back to back, averaging around 22 points and 86 PIM’s. He represented Canada at the World Juniors twice and was a member of the 2007 IIHF Canadian World Championship team in Russia, playing in all nine games.
This St. Louis blogger believes Jackman can be had, and possibly not for much of a return because of his 3.6M cap hit until 2012. If I were Doug Wilson, I would offer Vlasic straight up and if St. Louis didn’t like that offer, I would keep Vlasic and offer power forward Ryane Clowe. It would kill me to lose Clowe, but I’m not sure it would kill the Sharks. Moving Clowe allows a permanent top six forward slot for either Malhotra or McGinn, and they can certainly get the j-o-b done.
What do you say? Take one more look and tell me you wouldn’t love to see this guy in Teal.
MY OFFICIAL PROPOSAL: I think St. Louis might be looking for a change and the potential to get younger.
To St. Louis: Marc-Edouard Vlasic (signed until 2013@3.1M)
To San Jose: Barret Jackman (signed until 2012 @ 3.6M)
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I also love in the second video, how he takes his helmet off first, even though he’s not wearing a visor and Kesler is. Badass.
I like this! As much as i dislike Jackman when Sharks go against him, he would do a world of good in Teal. I bet Nabby would like that fact he goes down to block shots late in a game.
How ever i doubt St. Louis would do a straight up trade if they where to just get Vlasic in return.
Sharks Need Right Now is a D, D, D?
Yeah i guess Jackman is a DEE DEE DEE!
HAHAHA
Nothing related to Carlos Mencia is funny.
Not even the fact that he steals jokes? wait-a-minute…
Buffalo has this Rivet character I really like. Wonder what he’d be like in Teal. . .
Yeah Rivet would be great, but who would be dumb enough to trade him away…………..
I don’t think Wilson is even considering shipping Vlasic– he’s 22 years old, signed for a very manageable cap hit for the next four years, and is in the top 25 of defensive defensemen in the league this year according to James Mirtle. Jackman didn’t make the list.
I agree with the need to upgrade the blueline, as well as the assertion that Vlasic’s soft play can grate the nerves immensely. I just don’t think this is a good deal for San Jose, both now and in the future. He has steadily improved since Blake went down with injury. In my opinion Clowe is a much more appealing option here, even though he has played well in his last fifteen games.
Also, if I remember correctly, Jackman has a no-trade clause. I’m sure it’s a non-factor considering he would likely waive it to come play for San Jose, but just something to consider.
Also, this isn’t to say Jackman would be a bad acquisition– I like the idea behind it, just not what we would be giving up. If you move Clowe and Huskins for Jackman and a role player (Steen is appealing) you have me sold.
Wilson might have to toss in a mid to low level pick here to make it work, but I’d much rather go that route.
Mr. Plank – right you are about Jackman’s NTC. My mind set is that the Sharks need another warrior and not a player whose work ethic is called into question by the goalie. Will Vlasic go to war in May, that is the question.
Ideally, a trade for a Jackman type guy would come from the Sharks forward depth and leave Vlasic to play with Huskins on the third pairing. As you said, moving Clowe for Jackman would be more appealing, but St. Louis already has many forwards with toughness that I thought it would be a duplicate part.
Another suggestion coming next week. Perhaps we should dust off Al Iafrate?
I’m not sure I share your concerns about our defense. Yes, it’s good to look at how we’re playing now and make some conclusions, but I’m putting more stock into most recent playoff experience.
What were our problems against the Ducks? Was it the defense or was it a lack of offense on the PP (0-12 in the first two games), lack of secondary scoring and poor showing by Nabokov? I think you can see what DW thought, and how he addressed all these in the offseason.
I think he’ll make a move at trade deadline for a defenseman, but I don’t think it’ll be a move that will make a big difference.
One more point..
Look at last season’s Penguins defense – far inferior to Sharks. Any team that has Sergei Gonchar as their top d-man is not a defensive team.
Gonchar serves the Boyle role. Orpik = Murray. So then you’re saying you’d rather have Blake and Vlasic over Scuderi and Letang? Not sure I’m with you, and even if you prefer the Sharks D, last years Pens D certainly isn’t “far inferior”.
Gonchar = Brian Campbell + constantly injured. Ask any Penguins fan, and they’ll trade Gonchar for Boyle in a heart beat. Boyle is a better player defensively, plus he stays healthy for much longer.
Blake is also superior to Scuderi in my mind. Look at how Scuderi is playing for the Kings this season.
Vlasic? I’m not his fan either, but I do remember how old he is, and I’m not about to give up on him.
I like it. Jackman is a beast. And Vlasic would be the obvious D swap. Losing Vlasic would suck, but we need more of a defensive/power presence on the blueline, and Vlasic just cannot provide that.