Ahead of the Curve Again
January 6th, 2010, 2:50 pm
It’s been only a matter of days since Doug and I went up to Stockton to check out the Thunder of the ECHL, and reported glowingly in a recent podcast. Today, the Sharks announce they have entered into a working arrangement with the Thunder for the rest of the season. This coming on the heels of Jason Demers being sent there recently- here’s the always-thorough Sharkspage rundown. Can it be merely coincidence that the Dudes plan a trip, publicize said trip, go to the game, report positively on the quality of the arena and franchise, and have the Sharks enter into a business agreement only days later? Of course it’s a coincidence, what are ya, nuts?
Because I’m crazy like that, I remember something about the ECHL from reading the current CBA, here’s a passage that applies to Demers:
9.7 Loans to East Coast Hockey League. Players who are party to an Entry Level SPC may be Loaned to the East Coast Hockey League (“ECHL”) without the requirement of Player consent, provided the Player will continue to be paid the stated amount of the AHL portion of his two-way SPC in the Native Currency of the NHL Club.
Here’s a corollary, implied by the above:
13.11 No Loans to East Coast Hockey League. A Player who is not in the Entry Level System may not be Loaned to the East Coast Hockey League without his consent.
So the moral of this story is that Demers, McLaren, and McGinn could all be easily sent to Stockton instead of Worchester for the rest of the year with little fuss. And since the Sharks seem to be fans of sending players places for single digit days, it’ll be easier (and cheaper) to make them drive 75 miles than fly 3000.
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So, now they’re going to be practicing with ECHL’ers instead of AHL’ers or NHL’ers on their non-game days. If they practice at all.
This sounds like a great idea!
It’s better than the round trip to Woosta… sorta… but I’d still rather we waive Stauby, send him to the AHL if he clears (probably will) and bring up McGinn and Demers full time.
Dudes,
I noticed today on a “certain hockey rumor site”… (one whose main purpose is to alert the hockey world what is usually NOT going to happen becuase he is always so wrong….) stating he is hearing of a rumor of Pavel Kubina to San Jose…?!?
I know, I know, Eklund’s tearing up the rumor mill with a 3% accuracy rating, but I am intrigued by this idea. At 6′ 4” 250lbs… could this be the answer you both have been seeking for weeks? At 23 pts on the season (21st in D scoring), that is a pretty good defensive upside for such a big D man. I would think that D. Wilson would fare much better in a trade with Atlanta over Calgary any day.
So again, I realize it is Eklund, but what do you think? He is set to be a UFA next year and is a whopping 32 yrs old and is currenly making 5m per… can you think of any way a trade could be worked out to get Kubina within the Sharks cap issues? Would you want him at that age and current contract status?
Interesting thought on Kubina. We will discuss it on the next podcast for sure!
And on another totally unrelated note… I thought I’d share a sight I just saw on tv.
Flavor Flav in a San Jose Sharks jacket, over an Islanders jersey… Getting arrested…
Truly beautiful.
Interesting round table diss. on HNIC about Don Waddell and Kovie. They said that Waddell might be in a corner with the Kovie situation. Wadell has confirmed he is taking offers for Kovie. Is Doug Wilson waiting in the wings to strike on another unsuspecting GM??? Kubina could be the lost equation in the Wadell v. Kovulckuk madness.?!?!
I still think LA gets Kovie if he is traded, which would suck big time. But DW’s MO is definitely to make trades that leave us going “fuckin A… how did he do that?” So we can always hope.
That said, keep him away from the contract bargaining table. If the guy isn’t a star, DW has a tendency to overpay quite often.