Finally, Something Interesting
July 19th, 2009, 1:44 pm
I’m sure fans are abuzz over the recent article by Mark Emmons. Although, the title is “Sharks’ G.M. Preaches Patience”, there are a couple of significant tidbits in there:
- Nabby would waive his no-trade clause if asked. He hasn’t been asked.
- Marleau would give up the captaincy if asked. Again, he hasn’t been asked.
Second thing first. I said back in DOH 49 that I thought the captaincy needs to change. If that means Marleau has to leave, so be it. Looks like DW might share my evaluation, and it also looks like there’s some flexibility there. One, you have to admire Patty for his willingness to “ do whatever it takes to get this team to the next level.” It’s a bit of an awkward situation to be sure. But this is the very definition of putting the team first. For all those Marleau haters out there, you can suck it.
Now first thing second. Nabby seems like a proud guy, and I can understand the sentiment of wanting to be wanted. But the natural question to me is, why have an NTC at all? It seems, especially considering the recent trials and tribulations of Dany Heatley, that an NTC really never works in the players favor. If you choose to exercise it (a clause that both parties agreed to in the contract, remember) then the player can be made out to seem like a problem child. And if you, like Nabby, would waive it if asked, there’s no point in having it in the first place.
Along that vein, I do see the point in an NMC, which also covers a player being waived. Not to bring up a sore subject, but if Kyle McLaren had an NMC, he wouldn’t have spent last season in the AHL. Frankly, I think that’s a big reason why he’s still unsigned- he was out of sight and out of mind. It puts teams in a tougher spot- the Sharks probably would have had to make a potentially unfavorable trade to either move Kyle or another player- but I don’t think it carries the stigma of refusing a trade. Hard to blame a guy for not wanting to stay in crappy hotels and get bussed around New England. Maybe they should invent an NWC- a no-waive clause. Player could get traded to another NHL team, but not demoted.
The third thing that’s worth mentioning from the article, is this statement.
“I get the idea of instant gratification and people not understanding why we’re not doing everything today,” Wilson said. “But this team only needs to be built by the trade deadline. Big deals take time and patience. You have to wait for the moons to align.
“Are we done? No.”
This reiterates what we’ve said many times, and on the most recent podcast- DW is interested in doing something, and he’s not going to tell us about it. Sucks if you’re impatient, but that’s the way he’s always been.
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Great post dude. I thought it was also telling when Doug Wilson said that if he needed or wanted to dump salary, he could do it in a matter of moments.
“I can make one phone call and be well under the cap.”
He has a plan and isn’t changing it because we the Fans are growing impatient. He could trade Michalek for a 2nd rounder and save 4M but that isn’t his worth and isn’t the plan.
Just gotta say, no trade clauses do give players power. Just ask recent Leaf players Mccabe, Kubina, Tucker, Kaberle….
Nail on the head Doug!!!
That was the quote that most stood out to me as well. DW seems to have a plan and the means to implement it. It makes me think they have recieved offers but just like Mike said on the podcast, he is waiting for the best offers.
David,
I agree with you- NTC’s do give players power, but I think all four took some shots from management. Certainly McCabe and Tucker were painted by the Leafs as an impediment to the team’s success by not waiving their NTCs.
Last time I checked, two of those dudes were traded to non-playoff teams (McCabe and Kubina). If Kaberle is shipped to Tampa Bay or some other NHL wasteland, his NTC was essentially useless.
While I’m sure Nabokov is honest in saying he would waive his NTC, I think he would give a list of teams he’s willing to go to. So while he wouldn’t stay where he isn’t wanted he isn’t abut to make his life miserable in a terrible city.
That, or with 1 year left on his deal it may not matter as much to him now as it did 3 years ago and 3 consecutive playoff disappointments with him in net.
Sadly, every team DW built by the trade deadline so far failed badly and just about every player he brought to the club in February failed the club.
I hope he hurries with his changes at least for the sake of team chemistry.
Great post and podcast. I really enjoy the commentary here on this blog.
I understand that only one team can win the Stanley Cup every year, so it’s kind of always a strawman to criticize a GM’s moves to improve the team. However, considering that San Jose’s hump has been the 2nd round — at least until last year — and the way they have looked shell-shocked and frankly, a different team in the playoffs, consistently, has to be troubling.
After losing to Edmonton in 2006, blowing a 2-0 lead, Wilson thought the young Sharks needed more veteran presence (ostensibly to prevent such a collapse in the future). We sign Grier as a free agent and trade for Guerin and Rivet — “character” and veteran type guys. We know what happens in the 2007 playoffs against Detroit.
Wilson then “deliberates” on firing Ron Wilson, but ultimately brings him back. Kind of like the autopsy for the players this year, only for the coach. We need more “character” and vets — signing Roenick on a flyer and trading for Shelley later. We also need a puck-moving defenceman to help the now stagnant PP. Wilson trades for Campbell, when his first choice Boyle seems unattainable after signing an extension. Outside of Hossa, Campbell is probably the biggest player to move at the deadline. Thus starts a crazy unbeaten streak and things look kind of awesome. The end result is the same, however.
Thus spawns a new antidote: Stanley Cup winning experience. McClellan, Boyle, Lukowich, Blake, Lemieux. Looked pretty good for half a season. Then it was the same old thing, especially in the playoffs: players playing tenative, struggling against a strong forecheck, powerplay disappearing…
I don’t know. Obviously it’s a tremendous challenge for a GM. Again, a lot of the lunatic fringe out there measures it by Stanley Cups. I think most of us Shark fans though, just want to see progression — in the playoffs. If not results, then at least a different type of team. Wilson said of the 2008 playoffs, the Sharks played 5 good games out of 13. I wonder what he would have graded them out in 2009. Maybe just 1 good game where Joe, Seto, and Marleau accumulated all their points.
You can kind of see the desperation in Wilson’s moves. Ironically, the first team he mentioned that he wanted to model was the Ottawa Senators — I think in a lot of ways, he’s done that. Then he wanted to bring in grit and leadership after the Ducks won. There was a time he scoffed at both of those things — saying that just because a guy had size or was from a particular organization, didn’t mean much. Then he went for a puck-possesion team because of Detroit. Which, when he said this year that he was going to assess the core, that felt like it had weight. He had tried x, y, and z. But maybe the problem was the core — the players he essentially brought in and developed. I don’t know. He talks a good game, possibly even a great game. But he keeps asking for patience when that’s what the past four years have been about, really.
Doug Wilson talks a good game, but he’s pulled the wool over the eyes of Shark’s fans. With most teams close to their payroll commitments for the upcoming season, it seems unlikely that “one phone call and [he’s] well under the cap.” If that’s the case, he’s already had those negotiations, and knows he’s in a corner right now.
His comment about financial flexibility for next year is a telling statement. Don’t expect Blake, Nabby, or Patty back. OK, so that clears $20M. Who do you replace them with? If it’s all entry level guys, then maybe you’re left with a dramatically different product on the ice. If not entry level guys, then I don’t see where the financial flexibility comes from.
DW doesn’t mind the players feeling uncomfortable not knowing what’s to come, and wants to see the improvement, not just listen about it – well, maybe he needs to apply those to the man in the mirror. He promised an overhaul, and so far he appears afraid to deliver.
@Doug: In the previous thread you mentioned that you would flip Sharp for Michalek straight up- I’m not so sure that is a good deal for San Jose.
Sharp has cracked the 50 point barrier only once in his career, while Michalek has done so the last three seasons. They come at roughly the same cap hit, Sharp didn’t get a whole lot of PK time last season, and Michalek is younger and theoretically has more upside.
I’m interested to know what the thought process behind this is- possibly just to mix up the second line?
Jeremy… I understand your argument. However, there is nothing in DW’s history as the Sharks GM that would support your argument. DW is known for being patient and finding great trade deals well after free agency and usually when least expected.
I disagree with you entirely. Either way though proof of the pudding is in the eating right? Well all find out pretty soon if DW is worth his salt or not.
I think one more thing though… Haven’t we had this conversation every off season since DW tenure? When do we as fans begin the trust a little when we clearly don’t have any facts about what is going on behind closed doors.
Though their cap hits are roughly the same, I would guess that it also has to do with Michalek’s contract having 2 extra years, with the bigger payments to come — $4.75MM and $6MM in the final years.
Sharp did have some injury (knee) issues last year, which may or may not have limited his PK minutes. In 2008, he played as much as Michalek did in 2009 on the PK and his 7 shorties were pretty nice.
Of the names thrown about this off-season, Michalek might have the most trade value of any of the Sharks. He’s been a bankable 25Gs and 60pts the past 3 years. He’s got size, speed, and age in his favour. At $4.3MM, it’s not a terrible contract. I think Marleau’s $6.3MM scares teams off and also, the 1-year remaining (unless they are looking to clear space for 2011).
Maybe Wilson is thinking of keeping Cheechoo — lack of takers for a guy making $6MM over the next 2 seasons, who has scored 35 goals in his past 135 games — and moving him to the 2nd line.
He makes the Chimera + some pick for Ehrhoff and refashions a Sharp/Mitchell/Chimera line? The savings giving us just enough room to fill out the roster?
I know I’m in the minority with this, but I also like the idea of keeping Cheechoo. I think his main issue is health. If he can stay healthy I think he can get back to 30+ goals.
The issue I have with Milan is the way he seems to disappear through entire playoff rounds.
Mr. Plank: I look at Sharp as a more complete player than Michalek at this point. Here’s why I prefer Sharp.
– The last two seasons, Sharp and Michalek have played roughly the same amount of PK time, but mostly due to Sharp’s injury last year. In 2007-08, he was 2nd amongst their forwards in PK time. How about the fact that Sharp has 11 career shorties and Michalek has zero? I honestly never notice Michalek on the kill. Sharp’s league leading SH goals with 7 in 2007-08 certainly grabs my attention. Paired with Marleau, Mitchell and Pavelski, isn’t that an upgrade?
– Sharp can play both center and RW. Roster flexibility that allows for him to take draws on the PP and the PK. If there is an injury, it also allows for Marleau to stay on the top line instead of sliding down to center the 2nd or 3rd line.
– Sharp had 20 PP goals the last two years. Michalek had 11. It always seems like Sharp scores a big goal.
– Sharp is cheaper and off the books in 2012 with $3.9M. Michalek lingers at $4.3M until 2014.
How am I doing? He’s not as dynamic as Michalek, but in my opinion, I think he’s better. McGinn and Seto can provide the flash. Let Sharp provide the blue collar.
I like McGinn as much as the next guy and think he’s a logical third line candidate, but I’m not sure he’s going to provide a whole lot of flash next season.
As for Sharp-Michalek, this was the first season Michalek played heavy PK minutes. My guess is that after the great strides he made defensively this season, it is likely he will improve. I was under the impression that Sharp’s decreasing PK time was due to Coach Q as well as an improving Chicago roster, not because of an injury.
From what I’ve seen from Sharp, he is a player akin to Cheechoo. Relies heavily on other players to create space for him, and does little in the way of generating his own scoring chances. Michalek on the other hand has shown that he is able to create off the rush. I’ve mentioned this before (and believe you may have also said something along these lines during a podcast)- San Jose is loaded with players who can shoot but have trouble creating their own chances. Essentially you’re losing the only top six guy outside of Marleau who will be able to provide this aspect of offense.
I don’t think this is a case of DW getting swindled, but my nod goes to Michalek due to his age. If Talon, er, Bowman throws in a prospect I’d be more content with the return.
If those newspaper reports are to be believed, Chicago isn’t looking for a forward in return for Sharp. Considering they have 3 other forwards making around $3M+ — Versteeg, Byfuglien, and Bolland — they’re probably looking for cap relief first, and maybe a defenceman, second.
Seabrook is their only physical defenceman, really. Would Chicago be interested in Douglas Murray ($2.5M) + some type of pick (either SJ’s 2nd, or whatever SJ can get for Lukowich or maybe even Cheechoo) for Sharp? That’ll be a net saving of $1.4M for them and some physicality — two definite needs. I do not see Chicago being interested in Ehrhoff and they don’t really need Vlasic.
SJ would have time to get under the cap later — depending on Luko/Cheech from the above scenario — which according to Wilson, isn’t a problem. At some point, though, the question of Sharp v Michalek v Cheechoo will come to head since they all can’t be on the team.
@ Tom
I agree with you about Cheechoo. I don’t know anyone that could score 20+ goals with no power play time and Marcel Goc and Stone Hands Greir as their linemates. His value is waaay down, and I bet DW is thinking that whoever he slots on that 2nd line with Clowe and Pavs is gonna put up 30 goals (at least between Cheech and Milan). Might as well trade the one with the higher perceived value.
I love this blog and I love all of the back-n-forth arguments, rebuttals and analysis. LOVE IT!!!
Lol, I must agree Jerry. I may not agree with everything said, but not many knuckleheads around here!