Step 3: What Do We Need
May 28th, 2009, 11:08 am
On this weeks podcast, Mike and I identify the areas we think the San Jose Sharks need to address this offseason. These are roster weaknesses that can either be filled from within the organization, by trade, or by signing a free agent (but we know how unlikely it is for San Jose to land a premium one of those). Here is our shopping list.
Number Two Defensemen (Doug and Mike)
Legitimate Checking Line A#*hole (Doug and Mike)
Back-up goalie (Doug and Mike)
Top six forward (Doug)
Not exactly the kind of stuff you can pick up at Trader Joe’s, although some current players might be working there next year – “Hey Plihal, we’re all out of Two-Buck Chuck.”
I think we spent enough time explaining and beginning to explore the first three items on the list, but what about a new Top Six forward. This isn’t exactly something the Sharks are lacking in terms of what they have on their current roster – you could make a case that the Sharks have eight “top six” guys to choose from: Thornton, Marleau, Seto, Pavs, Clowe, Michalek, Cheechoo and toss in Jamie McGinn. What I want management to do this summer is identify who the Top Six forwards are and then trade the odd-man out. Watching Cheechoo attempt to do 3rd line duty again next year will be unacceptable for the progress of the franchise. He isn’t a 3rd line guy, can’t play solid defense, doesn’t have great speed, doesn’t kill penalties well. Make a decision and move forward – but I would even advocate that there will be a few attainable UFA’s that can do the job if the Sharks need to part with Michalek, Cheechoo or both to get the #2 D-man we desperately need. I’ll name some names when we get to that step – feel free to toss a few around now.
Mike and I did dive into a wish-list of 3rd line guys we’d like Doug Wilson to chase on the market. Chris Neil and Ian Laperierre are both very attainable names, guys who are mid-level UFA’s that won’t command more than 2-2.5M in salary and would likely consider a West-Coast move – heck Laperierre played for eight seasons in LA, so he knows the California life. Downside to him is his age at 35, but his speed and ability to be King-A#*hole makes him a very attractive guy at a two year deal. Chris Neil will likely be looking for a three year deal, and at 30 years old, this guy could be the Holmstrom type that McLellan is begging for – he scored eight PP goals in 2005-06 for Ottawa and can fight anyone, including Milan Lucic. One of these guys needs to be a Sharks next year. Gotta happen. The trade market for this type of player I think will be pretty slim – although if Carolina decides they can’t afford to resign RFA Tuomo Ruutu, the Sharks should consider making that phone call – but signing Ruutu will cost about 3-3.5M. That’s another topic for another day.
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Good insight into what we might be looking at next year in the Podcast. It takes a strong will to continue talking about the Sharks after yet another year of disappointment. Now that the Pens and Wings will have yet another fight for the cup I can finally stop watching the NHL until next October. Could there have been a more boring two teams to make it that far? I think not.
Anyway, keep on making podcasts and I’ll keep listening to them.
What I think the Sharks need most is some quality experience. A top 6 forward who has won the cup would be an ideal pickup with maybe a 3rd/4th liner or two with significant playoff experience as well.
Chris Neil is a decent player and he will fight (though he isn’t a true heavyweight) but rumours are that he has turned down $1.5 million from the Senators and was seeking more in the $2.5 million per year range (though his camp denies that). Even if the $1.5 million number is true, that is the most that I think he is worth. He is more than a goon, but he isn’t a 15+ minute a game guy. He is a third liner who will fight when needed and chip in a goal here and there. Most of his PP goals (and most of his goals in general) are the garbage kind. Deflections from standing in front of the net, rebounds, etc. He hasn’t done as much of that the past year or two though (coaches decision maybe?). He’d be a very poor mans Holmstrom but useful on a third line.
Ship Michalek and Cheechoo elsewhere for draft picks, free up another couple of millions somehow (for example, by not resigning Goc, Semenov and JR) and make a serious run at Hossa. If Detroit doesn’t want him, we might be the next competitive team in terms of aspirations if he wants to keep competing for the Cup every year. One Hossa easily replaces Cheechoo, Michalek, Goc and JR.
Maybe I’m crazy, but I’d go big. DW normally wouldn’t, but he knows he’s the next on the hopping block if things don’t turn around, and he may try to do something desperate and crazy like that.
that was meant to spell “chopping block”
First, I think Jarko is the king a-hole of the Ruutu family. Tuomo doesn’t fit what you’re describing.
Second, I agree that this is the (last) summer to go big for DW. If it doesn’t work next year, it’ll be time for a massive overhaul. I’d think that Havlat is going to be more attainable than Hossa.
Finally, and maybe this should be a question for the podcast, how do the Olympics impact offseason decisions? For example, how would bringing in a Ruutu brother affect locker room chemistry if that brother’s primary role for Finland was to get under Joe’s skin? (Of course this assumes that Joe is on Canada’s roster – which is debatable.)
All the players mentioned thus far — Neil, Laperriere, et al — would add value to the team. No question. But, with the cap situation, in addition to the infrequency (seemingly) of free agents signing here, I’m wondering about internal solutions.
The first name that will come to mind is Brad Staubitz, whom I have concerns about re: skill set and ability to play meaningful minutes. He just doesn’t have that kind of track record. But, what do people think about Jamie McGinn as the agitator/a-hole?
He is not the prototype, but when he played at the end of the season, he played with high energy and a distinct physicality. He finished his checks every shift — as if to make an impression — and was strong on the forecheck. I thought the opposition was actually quite annoyed with his persistence and aggressiveness towards the end of the season, for example.
At 6’0, 195, he’s not particularly big and won’t throw down, likely. But, he’s a good skater, and he has shown a knack for laying the body and playing a role. Sean Avery and Steve Ott are not much bigger, if at all, and McGinn also shows decent enough skill around the net to play top-6 minutes or the PP in a pinch. I like that he’s young and cheap, and playing this kind of defined role may keep him with the big club, instead of trying to be a genuine top-6 guy off the bat.
I agree, unless Cheechoo, Michalek, Nabokov, AND one of Ehrhoff/Murray is moved, I just can’t see signing one of those guys for that price in what will surely be a multi-year deal. With all the UFA’s and RFA’s after next year, 2.5million to a Chris Neil is just a luxury this team can’t afford.
And I just don’t think that the Shark’s forwards were “pushed around” this year, even in the playoffs by Pronger and Co. Maybe on D a little bit, but that is nit picking considering the Sharks were one of best defensive teams in the league.
Go big, get louongo, ship Nabby, Cheechoo and either Murray or Ehrhoff, promote Couture to center Mitchell and McGinn, and fill out the rest with Moore, joslin, Staubitz, Vesce, and maybe Petrecki. Its not like the regular season matters anymore anyways.
Adam, we already have that in Mitchell. We don’t want a guy that is just going to finish his hits and be annoying but a nice guy, he needs to naturally be an a-hole. It’s not just a matter of playing harder, it’s more of a mentality you either have or you don’t. Think guys like Avery, Ott, younger Lemieux, Niel, etc. Not only are you mad that he hit you he’s also yapping at you from the bench when you skate by, goading you every moment he gets. A guy you just can’t stand. He’s going to take risks and do things like cross check the back of the legs of the goalie when the refs aren’t looking (curse you Perry!). We need somebody people *hate*.
McGinn is never going to be that guy. He’s just a good kid. Patrecki could be like that if he sticks, but he’s not a forward, he’s more like Orpik.
As far as Ruben’s suggestion of bringing up half of Worcester to fill holes, I don’t think that’s going to get us a cup even if Joe carries us into the playoffs. Vancouver couldn’t get past the Hawks with Luongo, I don’t see how he is going to get us to the promised land without help even if Vancouver got stupid and traded him (which they won’t).
I still think we were the 3rd/4th best team in the playoffs, we just ran into #2 first. I think we could have taken all of the west except the Ducks and Wings and possibly all of the East minus maybe Pitt.
Hey! I work at Trader Joe’s! LOL!
I totally agree with your assessment on Cheech. He’s got the energy for the 3rd line, but just doesn’t have the skills needed for it.
I know everyone will think i’m crazy but here it is anyhow…
Put cheecho back with Jumbo on the top line… That is what cheech is plain and simple a top line scorer who IS capable of 30-35 goals. (maybe more) I woul put patty back centering the 2nd line with Seto…
so the needs are thus: either a top line winger to play with Joe… unless Clowe can fill that role, which I beleive he can and SHOULD… he is a prototypical power forward who has amazing puck protection skills and is stonger then 90% of the players out there….
Or….my personal choice is then to find a VERY fast scoring winger like Kovy in Atl…
I don’t think anyone is the minor system can fill either of those roles so they must come from outside the organization…
The D issues might be solved by simply resigning Blake and calling up Petrecki or Joslin… but who knows if they are ready…
And yes for the record I would over pay for JaBo… If Blake is worth 5mil then JaBo is worth 7…
other than grit guys I can’t really think of anyone I would rather have on this team than what we already have…
This is the real problem, who do you try and get that is better than the talent already on this team? Nabby is a perfect example… Unless you got Louongo, and I aint paying 7-8 mill for him, who would be better????
Tom,
Perhaps the solution isn’t finding a guy that can replace them (as in your example with Nabby, which I completely agree with), but to find some one to challenge them for their spots, Especially Nabby. I feel he’s become complacent in his role, and since there’s no one ther to threaten the possibility of it being taken away, his game has slipped. Think about back when Vesa was here and he had to work his butt off to keep his spot, and won the Calder. I’s suggest giving Griess a shot (with how well he did this year in Woosta) and force Nabby to step up his game, or if Griess outworks/outplays him, he loses his spot.
Same for the rest of the squad. Nobody really had to earn their position on the different lines, they fell into them because of injuries. I think if there had been more competition amongst the guys, battling for spots on different lines, the team would have fared better overall.
Nabokov is actually very consistent, with a SV% of .915ish most years. The problem is, Martin Biron and Chris Mason have similar stats, but make around $3mil. Honestly, Nabokov is just like Barry Zito. The difference is that the A’s recognized that Zito was merely a good #3 and let him go to the Giants cause they knew they could fill that role much more cheaply. The Sharks didn’t realize Nabby was an average goalie, and paid him like a star cause he won a bunch of games. I like Nabby the goalie. I hate Nabby the $5million goalie.
I also agree that a “Worchester” 4th line isn’t the best 4th line possible, but in a salary cap world to afford the Luoungo’s and Kovy’s (who would be an outstanding pickup if DW moves both Michalek and Cheechoo) cheap home grown guys must be trusted to take roles. 4th liners like Chris Neil just can’t take up $3mil of the payroll over 2-3 years when Brad Staubitz can do 80% of the job for 20% of the salary. I’d rather have Kovy and Staubitz than Michalek and Neil.
Ruben –
These aren’t the best examples. Biron is going to get a raise somewhere this summer, despite his mediocre season with the Flyers. Chris Mason only played 192 games in the NHL and the dude is already 33.
This Stanley Cup proves once again that it’s not the goalie who wins the series. I would never trade Nabby for Fluery or Osgood. Fluery was pretty average in a regular season, and it’ll bite Penguins in the butt now that they have to start the first two games in Detroit. And we all know about Osgood.
It’s when we start comparing Thornton to Crosby, Marleau to Zetteberg or Franzen or Malkin, Rafalski to Ehrhoff or Blake is when we run into a lot of problems.
The problem with Kovy is that Atlanta wouldnt trade him. As for Michalek, i would love to see him stay: he has incredible speed, strength and shot, and really stepped it up this year defensively. In the regular season he was superb, and at times really got under the opponents skin (2-0 win against the Ducks early on in the season for example)
In the playoffs he doesnt play badly, he just retreats into his shell a little. However, if you look carefully at the stats, he plays a solid, if overly defensive game. This year during the playoffs he had the most blocked shots for a forward, and only 1 giveaway, in comparison to Clowe’s 9, and both the Joes’ 8. All that happens in the playoffs is that he becomes too cautious, its not that he doesnt have the desire like some people say.
With all his physical attributes and huge improvement defensively this year, i wouldnt be too keen to shop him around.