Monday Morning Rumors…
January 21st, 2008, 9:50 am
San Jose Sharks beat writer David Pollak points out on his blog that there were several scouts in attendance on Saturday night. I’m going to throw out a team that was at the Tank on Saturday, a team that has struggled to find their own identity but they aren’t afraid to pull off a big trade.
The Florida Panthers.
Could the Panthers be the perfect trading partners for San Jose? They have what Doug Wilson might be looking for – a 29 year old All Star center and team captain. No, I’m not talking about our Patrick Marleau. I’m talking about Olli Jokinen. Doesn’t it make some sense? Florida is not going to make the playoffs and they have a decent young core that they need to continue to add on. Jokinen is signed until 2010, is a 80-90 point player and plays with more fire than Marleau. Jokinen has two fighting majors this season, averages around 70 PIM’s and he reportedly speaks out in the dressing room (as a good Captain should). Florida needs a sniper, another young D-man and a veteran center to replace Jokinen – we can offer all three. All the Sharks need in return in a 6th d-man to replace Ehrhoff in the line up until DW can swing another deal….and so we don’t have to watch Frankenstein. Florida likes to make the big trade, the Luongo/Bertuzzi deal and the Vokoun deal proves they aren’t afraid to roll the dice. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2000. Think they don’t need a major shake-up?
To San Jose: Olli Jokinen and Jasson Cullimore
To Florida: Patrick Marleau, Christian Ehrhoff and Joe Pavelski
So we lose Marleau (big deal) and Ehrhoff (not in the future plans anyways, I don’t think) and Little Joe. Pavelski is the one that stings, but you’ve gotta give to get and given Jokinen’s long term contract status, I think it’s worth it. Would this translate to a Stanley Cup this year? No. Would this be putting the Sharks back on the right track for the future? I think so.
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That’s quite scathing to say the Sharks are not even a blockbuster away from the Cup this year, and off track for the future! If this year is already a write-off, and Marleau is that much of a cancer, does the return in trade really matter?
Patty for Vyborny – straight up!
It’s quite scathing, but it might be true. Marleau’s value to the team is terrible, because he’s not scoring, and getting scored on regularly (-20 on the year), and often looks disinterested on the ice. His trade value has plummeted correspondingly. In other words, this is beyond a slump. It looks unfixable. And he’s getting paid a lot of money for his non-results.
As for the Sharks Cup chances, well, look at their record against the teams they’d have to beat in the playoffs. They have one win against the Ducks, and none against the Red Wings. Conclusion: we will not win the Cup this year.
The season is not a write-off (is Vancouver a write off too?), but we have to be honest. The Sharks would be underdogs against Detroit, Dallas, the Ducks, and Ottawa. We don’t have a John Tavares in the wings, so we’re looking at more or less the same roster next year. Why would we expect anything to be different then? Unless we get a Ted Nolan-like figure to rile ’em up.
Wow! Why expect something different??? Experience.
I’d like your guys’ take on how the youngsters like Pickles have progressed over last year. Better than expected? Worse? What does that say about guys like Gootch for next year?
And let’s remember, Hasek and Chelios have to retire someday. Don’t they???
Not only have the Sharks proved that they can’t beat an elite team on home ice – some of the wins haven’t even been close. We’re not talking 2-1 close losses, we are talking 6-3 blowups like Saturday. Watching the Sharks struggle is painful, but it’s not like us fans can chalk it up to growing pains. This team has been together for a few years with the same coach and instead of progressing, they are regressing. That is not a good sign. The teams inability to win and the total collapse of the defense since McLaren’s injury emphasizes that the young guys (Vlasic, Carle, Ehrhoff, Murray) are not ready to carry the load and that Kyle’s injury has been disasterous.
I think a breakdown on some of our young players is a solid suggestion. Look for a blog on that topic in the coming week.
I would hate to see these players go but if it builds the sharks as a better team I will be all for it. I like to see us keep Joe if possible and to see Patty leave he been a shark his whole career but time for us to have a caption that can motive they players and not sure if he is doing so.