DOH 306 – DeBoer It Is
June 10th, 2015, 8:56 pm
The Sharks have chosen a new head coach, the former head coach of New Jersey and Florida, Peter DeBoer. The Dudes weigh in on this choice, and what changes (or lack thereof) in results this will lead to.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Tags: San Jose Sharks
Loading ...
Agree with the dudes, I’m okay with the DeBoer hiring, too.
If the Penguins want Burns, Wingels, and the 2016 1st for Malkin, I’d do it. The Sharks won’t do it, but I’d build a package around Pavelski if they wanted. Malkin is younger than Pavs. I’d also do that Dougie Hamilton trade. Sharks get better AND younger? They have the cap space to do it.
This has been a great Stanley Cup. Really like how the teams are built. TB makes Stamkos carry his own line (like the Sharks should do with Thornton), Patrick Sharp is on the 3rd line (like the Sharks should do with Marleau or Pavelski), dominant top 4 dmen. TB played Drouin all year on the 4th line (and should be playing him in the PO’s over Morrow, but small quibble) like the Sharks should do with Goldobin next year, “4th line roles” be damned. Really forward thinking franchises, DW is known to be a copy cat and I hope he is watching closely.
Crazy trades are fun, but as Doug said Malkin wants out because he wants to win another Cup. No chance the Sharks are on his radar. He wouldn’t leave for a worser team than the one he’s on!
Do the Dudes actually agree with the Sharks’ plan of continuing to be a bubble team indefinitely? Call me in 2 years, when Thorton, Marleau, and Wilson are gone. In other words, when an actual rebuild begins.
Watching the Warriors this postseason, I can’t help but draw a comparison between the way the W’s treated its young stars vs. the Sharks. A few years ago, the W’s front office took heat for trading All-Star Monta Ellis away and going all-in for Stephen Curry, who had experienced several ankle problems and hadn’t proven himself as a nightly starter. They handed Curry the reigns and he blossomed, eventually becoming the MVP. The Sharks should have done the same with Thornton and Marleau, clearing the way for Couture and Pavs to develop and building around them. Instead, their growth has been stunted. I think Couture and Pavs have a potential that has not yet been tapped into.
Also, consider the coaching comparison between these two organizations. Mark Jackson got the current W’s roster to the playoffs, but the front office had higher expectations and fired him. That sends a message to your players: we expect championships. They aggressively went after and got their man: Steve Kerr, who has them in the finals. The Sharks should have done the same to TMac several years ago when they had a championship roster.
I have been thinking the same thing. Obviously two different sports and leagues, but … go back to the 2011-12 W’s season, which mirrors the Sharks’ situation last year.
The dubs were a borderline playoff team when ownership threw in the towel on the season by trading Ellis for a high-risk high-reward Bogut, the big man and D anchor the franchise has needed for years. But Bogut would not be able to play until next year, Curry was injured often, and Thompson was an unknown rookie. Fans famously booed the Lacob at the Mullen event.
In the long view, those moves made the W’s a championship roster. Iin the next draft the W’s got Barnes, Green, and Ezeli. Next season, they turned the backcourt over to Curry and Thompson, who become the Splash Brothers. Bogut began a defensive turnaround for the team. Bottom line is the old ways still work: stock picks, draft well, and clear a path for the young guys.
Team Teal has done the opposite, clinging to an old core, dealing away 3 first rounders in 4 years for rental players, signed veterans past their prime, and had mediocre drafts without properly developing players or clearing a path for them to truly blossom.
And yet people still think that Doug Wilson is a good GM.
I don’t buy that comparison…
The Sharks were riding the 2nd longest streak playoff streak in the NHL. The Warriors… not so much. Its was a much easier decision for the Warriors to take, and I’m not sure DW would have still been in a job had he taken that approach and ended the playoff streak then. (It looks as though he lucked out with the playoff streak ending under this ownership rather than the previous ownership, and the attendance numbers for the Sharks may be more dependent upon the wins column rather than the Warriors, which may affect the GM’s orders)
There do seem to have been a lot of bad decisions over the last few of years (ever since the McGinn trade…) – arguably out of desperation – which has led to the change in view of DW’s abilities – but I won’t criticize the approach of trying to win rather than trying not to. I also don’t think there has been enough credit given in achieving that playoff streak. 10 years in the parity era is no mean feat.
Taking a step back, history will look at the last 6 years and see a dynastic Blackhawks team and a playoff specialist Kings team winning 5 of 6 cups. The Sharks’ have run into those teams in 3 of the last seasons. Hindsight is great, but who knows what would have happened had those 2 teams not been around.
If anything, I can’t stand the draft system which rewards teams like the Penguins and the Blackhawks with Cups following underachievement, leading to fans suggesting the team tries not to win (in the short term). I’ve been grateful to support a team trying a different approach. The only real game changing players are top 5 picks, and as Edmonton have found, that requires a lot of sucking and isn’t a sure thing, and I really don’t want to watch the Sharks go down that route.
Championship teams: “We expect championships.”
Sharks: “We expect to make the playoffs and lose in the 1st or 2nd round.” (And will continue to keep the same core and GM around indefinitely as long as we keep that going. Who cares about the Cup?)
Crazy trade:
Justin Braun straight up for TJ Oshie.
Both 28. Oshie is imo, the better player, but less term on contract and has 4.5m cap hit. Braun 3.8m thu 2020.
Yeah its a risk, if Braun flourishes and Oshie busts. And obviously we’d absolutely need to pick up a Dman or two with this move.
Maybe STL adds a pick…?
Also Andrej Sekera is a Dman I wouldn’t mind seeing SJ poach on the UFA market. Common logic would say he probably re-signs in LA, but it would make it nicer if we stole him away.
There should be a poll of Sharks fans. What is more important to you?
– Making the playoffs in 2015-16 and exiting early
– Being a Cup contender 5 years from now
Obviously, Hasso would pick the first option. Not so sure about the fans. When PDB says the goal is to “win now” he presumably means regular season games, not Cups. That’s not how I define winning. Heck, Babs just walked away from the Wings and they have the longest playoff appearance streak around.
If Plattner is worth anything as an owners hw would want option two..
But I think this is a false choice. Because many Sharks fans still mistakenly believe this core can/could have won with minor tweeks.
Either way I agree with you. This org should be more concerned with getting back to contending for a cup 2-5 yeats from now, not trying to make the playoffs next year.
I’m a believer in romance, and an optimist, so think that just sneaking into the Playoffs gives you a shot, and hate to see a team deliberately sabotage themselves, so I’m in for Option 1.
The evidence is clearly against this as a team hasn’t made it out of the West in such a fashion since Edmonton in the crap shoot that was the first season under the new rules, but sport isn’t played on paper and I’d much rather root for the plucky underdog.
It is the job of the owner & GM to go for option 2, but the job of a fan to go for option 1, so am looking forward to free agency & the draft hoping to see an improved team out the other side & not crossing my fingers for a weaker team.
In a conference with these Hawks, Kings, and Ducks, option 2.