I’ve been formulating my offseason suggestions for GM Doug Wilson. There are several areas that need attention and, I think from his quotes in the paper and what Drew Remenda said in his interview on KNBR this week, us Sharks fans can expect change not only behind the bench, but in the roster as well. While I think a few changes are needed, Doug Wilson’s attention will likely be focused on evaluating which of the team’s current UFA’s and RFA’s will be back in Teal and which will be looking for new digs on July 1st. This is the first step to identifying this team’s core strengths and weaknesses – and along with this process must come the evaluation of which of the Sharks prospects might crack the roster. Who will be Mitchell and Segoguchi in 2008-09? Let’s start with the players who could walk away in July without any compensation, the unrestricted free agents – which the Sharks have ten.

The Sharks have 38M committed in salary for next season and we can assume the cap will be increased to around 56.3M. The Sharks have generally floated around 10M under the cap, so I think it’s fair to assume the team will only spend around 46M – so obviously there are many choices to make. I’ll try to keep track of the salary spent and how much the Sharks are under the cap, and who a player’s in house replacement might be. In no particular order.

PATRICK RISSMILLER – The Rizz has been an important part of our 3rd line the last two seasons, but we saw a considerable decline late this year. The Sharks lack of gritty 3rd line is near the top of my list of things to address this offseason and cutting ties with the Rizz is part of this process. A few guys on the UFA market are better options, and there may be one on this list or in the Sharks system – possibly T.J. Fox, Matt Jones, Tom Cavanaugh, Steven Zalewksi or Riley Armstrong. Good luck somewhere else, Rissmiller.

JEREMY ROENICK – J.R. has already implied he is coming back and I think, unless someone slips DW some crazy pills, J.R’s new deal should be announced shorty. I’m guessing one year/1M. Sharks cap now at 39M.

JODY SHELLEY – I love Shelley, but he didn’t win a single fight after going to the Sharks. He is still a great disturber and showed more offensive upside than most goons in the league, but Doug Wilson might be looking for a more functional agitator, someone like Sean Avery perhaps. Remember that little rumor of Bernier for Avery that was rejected by the Rangers – according to the NY Post, DW was ready to pull the trigger….I think Shelley isn’t coming back. Just a hunch.

ALEXEI SEMENOV – To me, this is easy. Goodbye. Get lost. The Sharks have better talent in their minor league system waiting to play the role of 7th d-man than Frankenstein, like Joslin, Spang or Brennan Evans. Save the cap room and cut ties with this waste of roster space.

SANDIS OZOLINSH – It looked like a genius move at first, but something happened down the road that derailed the Ozo-Comeback Train. He plummeted to the bottom of RW’s depth chart and there is nada chance that this reclamation project returns to Teal. Time to retire Sandis.

BRIAN CAMPBELL – I still believe that Campbell is going to resign with San Jose before the July 1st UFA bonanza begins. He wants to be loyal, he has friends here and the Sharks fans treated him like gold. While he isn’t the proto-type #1 d-man, those guys are hard to find. Unless the Bruins are willing to trade Chara for Marleau (not gonna happen) then Campbell is going to be back in Teal. He was willing to stay in Buffalo for around 5.5M, it was the term that turned him and his agent off. Campbell signs in San Jose, six years/36M. Sharks now have 45M in salary.

BRAD NORTON – Oh! My back! Never set foot on the ice, just cashed his checks and rehabbed his back. Seriously, I guess he has a major back problem and might need to retire. Good luck to you, Brad Norton – just not in a Sharks uniform.

BRIAN BOUCHER – Another guy who will be brought back. I think DW learned that not having a veteran backstop is not worth the risk. 1 year/750k. Sharks now at 45.75M.

DEMITRI PATZOLD- He was so good, the Sharks exposed him to waivers multiple times. Bye Bye Bye.

So, with J.R., Campbell, Boucher all back, the Sharks have to move to Taking Care of Our Own Part 2: Roster Casualties. With as deep a crop of talented RFA’s as anyone in the NHL, who is going to get traded to clear precious cap room? There are several candidates….but one step at a time.