Welcome Wallin, but for who?
February 3rd, 2010, 5:13 pm
Like the great Ray Charles, I am writing this post blind. We have probably all read the reports of the Sharks swinging a deal for Carolina defenseman, Niclas Wallin, by this point. Right now, we have no clue what we gave up – so as of 5pm pacific time, I’m going to take a wild stab, cause I’m just that kinda guy. Who’s with me?
Here’s my best guess. Vlasic is hurt enough that he is going to miss this entire road trip and Doug Wilson threw up after watching Joslin and Leach last night, so he had to make a move and make it now. He knew Wallin could be had, and had for cheap, so he called Big Jim Rutherford in Carolina and fleshed out a deal they had already likely discussed a few times. The catch is that the Sharks don’t have the cap room to absorb Wallin’s 1.7M deal (he is a UFA at the end of the season) so Vlasic’s injury now frees up 3M of that room if he’s placed on Long Term IR until after the Olympics.
Everybody with me so far?
So the Sharks get Wallin and I’m gonna guess that…well….hmmm….they traded Mike Moore – how about that? They gave up an AHL d-man to get the job done. Could be Joslin, but after last night, I’m not sure why they’d want him. The Sharks get a serviceable 3rd pairing d-man who hits people (127 hits) and can block shots. Is he the sexy #2 we want for Boyle. No. Is he better than Leach and Joslin…and maybe even Huskins? Yes.
Has he won a Stanley Cup? Yes.
Am I totally way off base here? Probably. We’ll see.
7PM: STILL NO WORD. RUMOR HAS IT THE TRADE WILL BE ANNOUNCED AFTER THE HURRICANES/FLAMES GAME TONIGHT. MIKE MOORE PLAYED FOR WORCESTER IN THEIR 8-4 WIN OVER SPRINGFIELD, SO HE LIKELY ISN’T IN THE DEAL. I DIDN’T NOTICE ANY MAJOR PROSPECTS OUT OF THAT GAME EXCEPT FOR THE GUYS WHO WERE TRAVELING (JOSLIN, MCGINN) AND THE INJURED (COUTURE). WE’LL SEE….
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“Like the great Ray Charles, I am writing this post blind.”
Helluva intro haha.
The issue with trading an AHL defenseman to Carolina in exchange for Wallin is that the Sharks will be forced to deal someone else before the deadline. Once Vlasic returns off the LTIR and San Jose loses his exemption, they will be over the hard cap limit.
So, essentially, even if Moore is the only Shark traded now, you’re going to be forced to give up someone else down the line as well in order to fit under the cap.
This is a really weird trade to me. Seems a lot like treading water.
I agree Plank. For that reason and the fact that they are waiting until after the game, tells me there might be more players involved. Corvo and Wallin would be huge. One can hope.
Not sure why they are waiting until after the game…the game has been over now for a few hours and still no news. If we’re into conspiracy theories, and I am (I just finished watching the LOST premiere on my DVR) is it possible that when David Pollak mentioned that Doug Wilson was traveling this week, but not with the team – that in fact he was in Calgary tonight watching Joe Corvo in his first game back off IR? That would make sense for the deal to be held up.
Could the Sharks really be getting Corvo AND Wallin? That just sounds crazy…but I would like it. Mike and I are both big Corvo fans.
Who knows. I’m delirious and heading to bed.
On another note….
Philly has hit an all time low. They lost 0-1 to the OILERS!!!
I love a good hail mary, so here it goes. Andrew Alberts only played 8 seconds tonight for the Canes. Is it possible he’s involved in this deal too? He played one shift in the first period for 8 seconds and then sat his buns on the bench…
Interesting…or he got hurt (but I can find no mention of it)…or he just sucks.
Doug…
yes I was watching the start of that game. Alberts went down and was carried off the ice on his first shift. I am not sure if it changes anything becuase that might put them down a D for long term??
Kovalchuk traded to New Jersey….
According to the following report, Wallin’s contract is what’s holding up the deal. Wilson wants to extend it for two years but Wallin only wants one. Why Wallin would prefer a shorter deal, I have no idea.
http://www.canescountry.com/2010/2/4/1296017/niclas-wallin-update
Interesting. Puzzling. Bizarre. All of the above. If this extension is real, I have to imagine this means that Kent Huskins days in Teal are numbered.
Pollock: NO DEAL. http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2010/02/05/nothing-new-on-the-wallin-watch-malhotra-stays-off-the-ice-and-douglas-murray-prankster/
Thank goodness.
Looks like everyone may have jumped the gun on this deal. In David Pollak’s “Working the Corners,” he said, “Carolina GM Jim Rutherford told the Raleigh News & Observer that there would be no Wallin trade.” In fact, Wallin attended Carolina’s morning skate and is set to play the Sabres tonight.
DW told him to f off or a sweeter deal is in the making.