Could Chris Drury be Doug Wilson’s Next Reclamation Project?
June 9th, 2011, 1:04 pm
Do you know the way to San Jose?
- Member of 2002, 2006 and 2010 USA Olympic Team.
- Former captain of two different NHL franchises in Buffalo and New York.
- Calder Trophy winner. Hobey Baker winner. Stanley Cup winner. Multiple trips to Conference Finals in both conferences.
- Played 70+ games for 11 straight NHL seasons until last year.
- Chronic knee condition and surgery limited him to 24 games in 2010-11 and Torterella’s dog house.
Chris Drury is an interesting story to follow this offseason. Will he retire and sail into the sunset to live off his big 32.5M payday from the Rangers or will he continue to rehab the knee and give it another go. He would be 35 going into next season and IF he could recapture even part of what made him one of the best defensive forwards and faceoff guys for several years in the NHL, wouldn’t some NHL teams be interested? We know Doug Wilson has given guys a chance in the past. He has brought in established NHL veterans and given them another shot with Jeff Friesen, Claude Lemieux, Jeremy Roenick. Their last chance before retirement and one more shot to win the big one.
The Sharks have been linked to Drury in the past via trade and his free agency in 2007. I could see Doug Wilson making a phone call and an offer of the same deal Roenick signed in 2007. One year and $500,000 to prove you’ve still got it. Drury has been known as one of the most competitive guys in the NHL. Unless his knee is beyond repair, you gotta think he’d consider it.
Based on Doug Wilson’s track record and Chris Drury’s competitive spirit, it’s not too far fetched. I’m not saying I’m advocating for it, I’m just saying…it could happen.
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I was just thinking the same thing this morning. At 500K, I think Drury would be a great addition to the Penalty Kill.
you had me sold until you got to “chronic knee condition”. are you a used car salesman in your spare time?
With a player like Drury and his history – it’s all about getting him at or around league minimum… If that’s done I’m cool with it. Low risk – potential high reward.
But, I have another idea. I also sent this in as a question for the podcast.
I’m also posting this as a comment on the blog FYI.
I’d really like to know what you all think about the idea of SJ going after Ville Leino. The word I hear is Philly really wants to sign Bryzgalov and has to shed a ton of cap in order to do do.
Leino is set to be a UFA this year and could be exactly the type of third line player that we could really use.
In trying to figure out what he might demand on the market, I looked at other third line centers and wingers in the NHL that aren’t restricted and have similar numbers. Leino scored 53 pts last year – a career high.
Here are some similar players and their contracts that I think would indicate what Leino could get:
Dave Bolland (c) 3.37m
M. Sameulsson 2.5m
Mason Raymond 2.5
V. Fillpula 3.0m
Jared Stoll (c) 3.6m
Joe Pavelski 4.0m
On this list, only Pavelski out scored Leino. And of course as with Pavelski, on any other team Leino would probably be on the 2nd line… But that’s exactly the type of player I think we could use, because if Heatley, Seto, or anybody else starts under-performing, a player like Leino and Pavelski would create competition and a little pressure on the top six.
The thing is, I agree with Doug and think Wellwood’s stock probably went up. So if were gonna have to pay 2.0-2.5m to keep Wellwood, why not go after Leino if he can be had in the 2.5-3.5m range?
If I had to choose between re-signing Wellwood and keeping Mitchell for a total of 3.9m… I’d rather sign Leino – a better player and true winger – than continuing with the same 3 centers that scored sporadically during the playoffs. Especially if DW has a younger player/prospect that he believes has earned a third line slot. (i.e. Desjardin or Wingells)
What say you?
I’m eagerly awaiting the podcast and your responses on Leino dudes…
Just read a CSN PHILLY report saying Leino might be the cap casualty in Philly. The rumor is that the Flyers have assured Jeff Carter’s agent he isn’t going anywhere, which shortens the list of guys to move.
But another point I thought of is that I’m sure Leino would be highly desired back in Detroit. I’m hoping his familiarity with T-Mac could sway him our way. Signing him could be a double win – through improving our roster and keeping him out of Detroit.
Essentially signing Drury would Mean that Seto or Pavelski are out the door. The is zero chance Drury signs for the league minimum in my eyes. Somebody will give him at least 2M (which is fine for a defensive 3rd line center with scoring ability)
The idea is especially intriguing if that let’s us flip a forward for that #2 D we want. We could also still retain White and give ourselves some real defensive depth. Then again, I seem to like White a ton more than everybody else. Him paired with Pickles would be great, Murray with Demers on the 3rd pair…
I dunno ED, I’m definitely on the White bandwagon as well, and I don’t mean that to sound racist.
With Detroit losing Rafalsaki and a pretty thin UFA class, do you give White $4M? What about $4.5M? I hope it doesn’t come to that, but that might be a hard choice.
I certainly don’t think so, and I agree with you guys that White was great. When the Sharks got him, he was overpaid at $3mil/year. Giving a guy a $1mil raise for his performance over 40 hockey games is something I’m not sure a wise GM should do. He is a 26 point a year defenseman who plays defense like Brian Campbell. Could he thrive in the Shark’s shoot first system? Sure… but so could/did Justin Braun at 1/6 the price.
Fellas, I have to say it cause no one else is. When have we ever known DW to go out and sign a big name UFA? If we signed White – and I hope we do, I really doubt he makes any other big moves on the blue line. Maybe a depth dman…?
Apart from maybe a signing like Drury, or Leino, like I mentioned yesterday, or another depth 3rd liner… I just think it’s not DW’s MO to go get the type of player we all want via free agency.
I agree with you there Tom.
I think we will see him keep the core (and keep white + seto) and then go for some young guys and the ones of the rest that he can keep for a cheap price, then when we get to trade deadline, we will see the last additions to make it a “full” team where the good players of the season will stay and the bad will be replaced by deadline players.
I hope we can have white for 3.5M, since he knows that this is a place he will have a good chanse of winning the cup, and also that the sharks cant spend to much. I however think he is worth 4-4.5M, but over 4M would be abit much to have enough for the rest of the team.
Honestly, I am happy about that. How many UFA deals turn out beneficial in the long run? Heck, even in the short run? On the UFA market (particularly the top end), you have to value the guy more highly than every other team in the league, and hope that they are all wrong on their valuation.
The only way you win with a UFA is with a high risk, high upside guy like Willie Mitchell (or I guess Chris Drury would fit the mold).
Though bringing in a guy like Ville Lieno would be very interesting for this squad. That is some good rosterbation right there.
Regarding the UFA signings. I think it’s been a result of Wilson refusing to overpay for UFAs, not so much of a lack of effort. I am happy that Wilson doesn’t mortgage the future on July 1. That being said…. No way Drury goes for league minimum. Unless the Sharks are in the wheel house of EVERY other team submitting offers there is zero chance of it happening and even then it’s still a long shot at best.
Anyone gonna be in the chat during tonights game? (Final game 7)
I will be in the chat atleast 🙂
http://playoffschallenge.nhl.com/playoff_challenge/leagues/1764
I miss Cheechoo predictions were perfect for the final where he picked up 63 points to win the league.
Congrats 🙂
So I MissCheechoo is my wife Emily. Funny thing is she actually picked Bruins in 6… But silly me picked Bruins in 7… while not realizing I was still logged in as her… and didn’t actually pick under my profile (skilletboy)….
Your welcome hon’…. !