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San Jose Sharks Blogger •
The calendar just struck June, but it’s already been a long and interminably boring summer for fans of the San Jose Sharks. Anaheim dumped Team Teal from the playoffs on April 27, exactly 39 days ago, leaving plenty of time for reflection as better teams battle for Lord Stanley’s silver chalice. I’ve spent the last six weeks working off a winter’s worth of double cheeseburgers and I have several ideas about the Sharks’ direction as they work through their summer of discontent, but I thought it would be a good time to take a trip back through memory lane.
Way back on February 19, 2008, I unveiled a blog containing the 10 moves I would make if I was Doug Wilson, aptly titled “The 10 Moves I Would Make If I Was Doug Wilson.” At the time, I wrote that the Sharks “need to make some changes, reversing the car and changing course to ensure competitiveness this season and in the years to come.” Over the past 15 months some of these moves have come to fruition, while others still need to occur for the Sharks to put themselves in contention.
This move should have been pulled off over a year ago, but it has to be gaining momentum after Marleau puked all over himself for the fourth consecutive playoff run/stumble. While it’s difficult for teams to pull off a one-for-one deal, this one should be pretty easy. The players have similar cap hits (Smyth at $6.25 million through 2012 and Marleau at $6.3 million through 2010) and they would help fill holes on each club.
Smyth probably wouldn’t produce as much offense as Marleau, but he helps fill San Jose’s most glaring needs, specifically heart, grit, work ethic, leadership and mental toughness. Plus, his game would mesh incredibly well with Thornton, since one of them lives in front of the net and the other wouldn’t go there if the crease was stuffed with pineapple upside down cake. In addition, you don’t have to worry about dealing within the conference because the Avs won’t contend for another decade or so.
I think it’s a testament to Rivet’s leadership that the Buffalo Sabres made him their captain as soon as he arrived in town. Honestly, he never should have been traded. The Sharks lost a large chunk of defensive awareness and toughness that Rob Blake failed to replace, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be back next season, even if he does agree to sign for less ($3.5 million) than Rivet is slated to make through 2011.
Luckily, the Sharks added another strong-willed competitive defenseman to the roster during the last offseason, and there’s little doubt that Dan Boyle will be named the team’s captain once Marleau is sent packing. Unfortunately that’s another move coming a year late, and Shark fans had to suffer through another season of shoulder-shrugging complacency on and off the ice when everything came crashing down in April.
Bingo! Pavelski signed a two-year deal last summer that’s paying him approximately $1.6 million a season, and made a fantastic transition to the second line, essentially forcing Marleau up to the top line. Pavelski might have been the Sharks’ best all-around player last season, contributing offensively and defensively, and ranked sixth among NHL forwards in blocked shots.
While he had a fantastic regular season, Pavelski was arguably the worst Sharks player in the playoffs, recording a single point through six games and wilting in the faceoff circle. Despite his playoff disappearing act and lack of physicality, the Sharks’ second-line center should get a few long looks for the U.S. Olympic team and should be in line for a huge raise this time next year. Also, Logan Couture shouldn’t be anywhere near the Sharks’ second line in the fall and he’ll need a dynamite training camp if he hopes to make the NHL squad.
I won’t say my comments were prophetic, but they sure make a lot of sense to me. Carle was a decent offensive defenseman, one of many the Sharks have groomed or acquired over the last few years, and I feel he’s going to be an all-star in the near future. However, when it comes to defensemen, I prefer the ability to play defense rather than offense, and that’s what Seabrook would have provided. Also, would anyone miss Goc, Plihal or Kaspar right now? Not one bit.
Looking back, it turns out that Wilson got caught up in the trade deadline hype and went for the big score, which turned out to be a huge mistake. Brian Campbell bolted for nothing, forcing the Sharks to give up a hefty sum for Boyle and Lukowich simply to save face. Ultimately, I think it comes down to priorities and addressing needs. The Sharks’ defensive corps hasn’t been the main culprit during any of the team’s last four playoff appearances, yet Wilson keeps tinkering with it. Meanwhile, the forward group of Thornton, Marleau, Cheechoo, Michalek and Grier has consistently come up short and remained virtually untouched,
Robert Esche isn’t much different than Brian Boucher. Both netminders are around the same age and were essentially buried after faltering with the Philadelphia Flyers. Esche is still playing, and he’s coming off an outstanding season with St. Petersburg of the KHL. Boucher was definitely easier to find, and he’s performed very well since he arrived in San Jose at the 2008 trade deadline.
Semenov is basically an injury replacement, without any upside or long-term potential with the team, and the last two seasons have contained some decent play and a few moments where you wonder why he’s on an NHL roster. He’s basically filling a spot that’s usually reserved for prospects who can step in and gain some NHL experience when another defenseman goes down.
I’m not sure how much longer he’ll continue signing cheap, one-year contracts, but you have to think there are better options for a team with Cup aspirations. Just look at the Red Wings, who have Jonathan Ericsson stepping up, making a difference, and forcing his way into the lineup because of his strong play and bright future. That’s what your seventh defenseman should be, not a grinder who’s keeping the spot warm for someone else to come down the pipe.
Wilson was canned after the Sharks’ second-round loss to the Dallas Stars during the 2008 playoffs. While the four-OT Game 6 loss brought a disappointing end to the Sharks’ promising season, at least Wilson was able to get the team past the first round. First-year head coach Todd McLellan was learning on the fly last season, and that included some hard lessons when he was outcoached by Ducks’ bench boss Randy Carlyle.
Was anyone expecting a rookie head coach to step in and lead the Sharks to the Promised Land? Yes, of course, that’s why Wilson was fired and McLellan was hired. Obviously the new coach didn’t get half as much out of his players, considering each one of them faltered once the playoffs began, and it’s back to the drawing board next season with the same high expectations and a greater understanding about San Jose’s personnel.
Bingo! Ehrhoff signed a three-year deal last summer, paying him $3.1 million per season, and depending on the week you can make arguments that he’s overpaid and underpaid. Honestly, nobody runs more hot and cold than Ehrhoff. Not even me. As long as he’s wearing teal he’s going to be mentioned as possible trade bait, especially if he continues his recent habit of shying away from physical play.
Ehrhoff took a few steps back defensively last season, and went through a ridiculous cold stretch that landed him in the press box at one point. He got his shot under control last season and became a legitimate threat from the point on the power play, at least until the playoffs began and his game went into the toilet.
When I spoke with Wilson at the beginning of the season, he explained that he had to choose to part with either Bernier, Ryane Clowe or Devin Setoguchi. One the surface, I’d say the Sharks made the right decision. Not with the Campbell trade, obviously, but with the decision to vote Bernier off the island. He’d fallen into a rut in San Jose, bouncing from the second to the fourth line and failing to make any strides after a strong rookie season.
Bernier landed in Vancouver, and he’s become a fixture on the Canucks’ third line with Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond. That might not sound great, but there’s something to be said for a grinding third liner who can chip in 15-20 goals per season for $2 million. In the salary cap era, Bernier might be a more valuable player than Clowe or Setoguchi, who could price themselves out of town because of their offensive numbers. Not saying I’d rather have him on the roster than either of those player, but just some food for thought.
The Sharks took the gamble last season, spending right up to the salary cap in pursuit of that elusive Stanley Cup and/or Stanley Cup final appearance. Wilson maintains that the increase was simply the result of player cycles, and that makes sense when you take into account the salary boost for Thornton, Marleau and Michalek. However, what about Boyle’s $6.6 million price tag, or Blake’s $5 million salary? Those weren’t just player cycles but major acquisitions.
I guess we’ll never know if Wilson made a plea to San Jose ownership, or they simply opened their pocketbooks to ice a better product. Whatever the case may be it backfired in a major way, with only three playoff dates helping to recoup the money being doled out by SVSE. It makes you wonder how much money ownership will commit next season, and how that figure is going to impact the roster.
If the Sharks had stayed at that $41 million figure from the 2007-08 season Dan Boyle wouldn’t be a Shark, Rob Blake never would have been signed, and there’s a good chance one of the big four (Thornton, Marleau, Michalek, Nabokov) would be playing elsewhere. Wow… maybe I had it all wrong. Maybe the lower salary would have forced the team to stay the course, building around the young talent and fortifying the prospect pool rather than gutting it. I suppose the old saying applies: You have to be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
Way back on February 19, 2008, I unveiled a blog containing the 10 moves I would make if I was Doug Wilson, aptly titled “The 10 Moves I Would Make If I Was Doug Wilson.” At the time, I wrote that the Sharks “need to make some changes, reversing the car and changing course to ensure competitiveness this season and in the years to come.” Over the past 15 months some of these moves have come to fruition, while others still need to occur for the Sharks to put themselves in contention.
1) Trade Patrick Marleau to the Colorado Avalanche for Ryan Smyth
Not only does this fix the problems San Jose has at left wing, but it gives the team a proven leader and a player whose immense work ethic and grit will rub off on the players around him. Ryane Clowe looked like a 25-goal scorer playing with Thornton, just by standing in front of the net and cleaning up the garbage. Nobody is better in front of the net than Smyth, helping San Jose’s power play and fitting in perfectly with Thornton’s deliberate style of play.
This move should have been pulled off over a year ago, but it has to be gaining momentum after Marleau puked all over himself for the fourth consecutive playoff run/stumble. While it’s difficult for teams to pull off a one-for-one deal, this one should be pretty easy. The players have similar cap hits (Smyth at $6.25 million through 2012 and Marleau at $6.3 million through 2010) and they would help fill holes on each club.
Smyth probably wouldn’t produce as much offense as Marleau, but he helps fill San Jose’s most glaring needs, specifically heart, grit, work ethic, leadership and mental toughness. Plus, his game would mesh incredibly well with Thornton, since one of them lives in front of the net and the other wouldn’t go there if the crease was stuffed with pineapple upside down cake. In addition, you don’t have to worry about dealing within the conference because the Avs won’t contend for another decade or so.
2) Make Craig Rivet captain
Rivet is the obvious choice because he’s been a vocal leader and taken on several different roles this season that management failed to address. To everyone’s surprise, he’s become a power play QB in the absence of a true No. 1 defenseman. Everyone figured his fighting days were well behind him, but he’s defended his teammates several times this season and scored the best knockout of the year against Columbus’ Jason Chimera. He’s maintained solid numbers despite being paired with Matt Carle for most of the season, and even worked the bench as an assistant coach. This is a no-brainer.
I think it’s a testament to Rivet’s leadership that the Buffalo Sabres made him their captain as soon as he arrived in town. Honestly, he never should have been traded. The Sharks lost a large chunk of defensive awareness and toughness that Rob Blake failed to replace, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be back next season, even if he does agree to sign for less ($3.5 million) than Rivet is slated to make through 2011.
Luckily, the Sharks added another strong-willed competitive defenseman to the roster during the last offseason, and there’s little doubt that Dan Boyle will be named the team’s captain once Marleau is sent packing. Unfortunately that’s another move coming a year late, and Shark fans had to suffer through another season of shoulder-shrugging complacency on and off the ice when everything came crashing down in April.
3) Sign Joe Pavelski to a two-year contract extension and move him up to the second line
I’m convinced Pavelski can fill this spot, since his fourth line has outworked and outperformed the second line for most of the season. He’s putting up numbers close to Marleau’s despite playing a fraction of the time and he’s a solid playmaker who’s also responsible defensively. Pavelski would center Michalek and Bernier, giving the line speed on one side, size on the other, with a smart, crafty playmaker in the middle. Looking down the road, Little Joe is keeping the spot warm for Logan Couture, who should arrive at the same time Pavelski’s entering the final year of his contract.
Bingo! Pavelski signed a two-year deal last summer that’s paying him approximately $1.6 million a season, and made a fantastic transition to the second line, essentially forcing Marleau up to the top line. Pavelski might have been the Sharks’ best all-around player last season, contributing offensively and defensively, and ranked sixth among NHL forwards in blocked shots.
While he had a fantastic regular season, Pavelski was arguably the worst Sharks player in the playoffs, recording a single point through six games and wilting in the faceoff circle. Despite his playoff disappearing act and lack of physicality, the Sharks’ second-line center should get a few long looks for the U.S. Olympic team and should be in line for a huge raise this time next year. Also, Logan Couture shouldn’t be anywhere near the Sharks’ second line in the fall and he’ll need a dynamite training camp if he hopes to make the NHL squad.
4) Trade Matt Carle to the Chicago Blackhawks for Brent Seabrook
This would be a blockbuster trade five years from now, when both players have established themselves as Norris candidates. Both have recently signed similar contract extensions, and they both have a ton of upside. Carle will be a monster down the road but Seabrook has the physical dimension the Sharks need and he’s better defensively right now. Throw in Goc, Plihal or Kaspar if Chicago needs more to make the deal happen.
The Seabrook move doesn’t ignore San Jose’s need for a true No. 1 defenseman, but it delays the process until the summer when the team can make a real bid for an unrestricted free agent. Why sell the farm for two months of Brian Campbell or Dan Boyle without any guarantee they’ll return next season when you can sign them this summer? Wilson shouldn’t get caught up in the trade deadline hype.
I won’t say my comments were prophetic, but they sure make a lot of sense to me. Carle was a decent offensive defenseman, one of many the Sharks have groomed or acquired over the last few years, and I feel he’s going to be an all-star in the near future. However, when it comes to defensemen, I prefer the ability to play defense rather than offense, and that’s what Seabrook would have provided. Also, would anyone miss Goc, Plihal or Kaspar right now? Not one bit.
Looking back, it turns out that Wilson got caught up in the trade deadline hype and went for the big score, which turned out to be a huge mistake. Brian Campbell bolted for nothing, forcing the Sharks to give up a hefty sum for Boyle and Lukowich simply to save face. Ultimately, I think it comes down to priorities and addressing needs. The Sharks’ defensive corps hasn’t been the main culprit during any of the team’s last four playoff appearances, yet Wilson keeps tinkering with it. Meanwhile, the forward group of Thornton, Marleau, Cheechoo, Michalek and Grier has consistently come up short and remained virtually untouched,
5) Find, and sign, Robert Esche
This is basically an insurance policy against injury to Nabokov. Best-case scenario: Nabokov plays every game of the playoffs and Esche is paid a couple hundred thousand dollars for a seat on the bench. Worst-case scenario: Nabokov is injured, but the Sharks suit up a competitive netminder with something to prove rather than an unproven and inexperienced youngster like Greiss or Patzold.
Robert Esche isn’t much different than Brian Boucher. Both netminders are around the same age and were essentially buried after faltering with the Philadelphia Flyers. Esche is still playing, and he’s coming off an outstanding season with St. Petersburg of the KHL. Boucher was definitely easier to find, and he’s performed very well since he arrived in San Jose at the 2008 trade deadline.
6) Put Alexei Semenov on waivers and after he clears send him to Worcester
There won’t be any room for him when/if Clowe and Brown return from the IR, and he can’t suit up in the playoffs if the Sharks want to have any hope of winning.
Semenov is basically an injury replacement, without any upside or long-term potential with the team, and the last two seasons have contained some decent play and a few moments where you wonder why he’s on an NHL roster. He’s basically filling a spot that’s usually reserved for prospects who can step in and gain some NHL experience when another defenseman goes down.
I’m not sure how much longer he’ll continue signing cheap, one-year contracts, but you have to think there are better options for a team with Cup aspirations. Just look at the Red Wings, who have Jonathan Ericsson stepping up, making a difference, and forcing his way into the lineup because of his strong play and bright future. That’s what your seventh defenseman should be, not a grinder who’s keeping the spot warm for someone else to come down the pipe.
7) Begin the search for a new coach
Ron Wilson should be given the rest of the season to turn this team around and make a long playoff run. However, it’s time to start looking ahead to San Jose’s next bench boss. This team would be well served by a taskmaster, a Keenan or Tortorella type who can provide a contrast to the laid-back Northern California style. Basically, toughness and work ethic have been problems for this team the last couple years. It’s time for a coach who will demand more of his players and help develop youngsters in a style that can get the most out of them.
Wilson was canned after the Sharks’ second-round loss to the Dallas Stars during the 2008 playoffs. While the four-OT Game 6 loss brought a disappointing end to the Sharks’ promising season, at least Wilson was able to get the team past the first round. First-year head coach Todd McLellan was learning on the fly last season, and that included some hard lessons when he was outcoached by Ducks’ bench boss Randy Carlyle.
Was anyone expecting a rookie head coach to step in and lead the Sharks to the Promised Land? Yes, of course, that’s why Wilson was fired and McLellan was hired. Obviously the new coach didn’t get half as much out of his players, considering each one of them faltered once the playoffs began, and it’s back to the drawing board next season with the same high expectations and a greater understanding about San Jose’s personnel.
8) Sign Christian Ehrhoff to a three-year contract extension
He’s been San Jose’s best defenseman over the last month, and he’s just going to get better with more minutes and increased confidence. Also, thanks to the Seabrook deal Ehrhoff can’t use Carle’s contract as leverage for his deal. Carle’s extension set the standard, and it could have led to resentment if he was still sitting a couple spots away in the locker room playing like a minor-leaguer.
Bingo! Ehrhoff signed a three-year deal last summer, paying him $3.1 million per season, and depending on the week you can make arguments that he’s overpaid and underpaid. Honestly, nobody runs more hot and cold than Ehrhoff. Not even me. As long as he’s wearing teal he’s going to be mentioned as possible trade bait, especially if he continues his recent habit of shying away from physical play.
Ehrhoff took a few steps back defensively last season, and went through a ridiculous cold stretch that landed him in the press box at one point. He got his shot under control last season and became a legitimate threat from the point on the power play, at least until the playoffs began and his game went into the toilet.
9) Dangle Steve Bernier, but wait for a team to go after him this summer
There have to be a bunch of teams interested in a 6-foot-2, 225-pound winger who can skate and play the body. Jump on it if the right offer comes along, or wait until the offseason and see what type of offers teams lob at the restricted free agent. He’s not in the same class as Dustin Penner, but there could be a big offer out there and you let him walk for the compensatory picks. If none of the above happen, you should be able to sign him for a bargain price.
When I spoke with Wilson at the beginning of the season, he explained that he had to choose to part with either Bernier, Ryane Clowe or Devin Setoguchi. One the surface, I’d say the Sharks made the right decision. Not with the Campbell trade, obviously, but with the decision to vote Bernier off the island. He’d fallen into a rut in San Jose, bouncing from the second to the fourth line and failing to make any strides after a strong rookie season.
Bernier landed in Vancouver, and he’s become a fixture on the Canucks’ third line with Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond. That might not sound great, but there’s something to be said for a grinding third liner who can chip in 15-20 goals per season for $2 million. In the salary cap era, Bernier might be a more valuable player than Clowe or Setoguchi, who could price themselves out of town because of their offensive numbers. Not saying I’d rather have him on the roster than either of those player, but just some food for thought.
10) Demand ownership increase the team salary or threaten to walk
Sharks ownership isn’t going to spend to the cap on their own, so it’s going to take a push from Wilson to convince the bean counters the Sharks need to be on a level playing field with the rest of the league’s best teams. Do it for the fans. Do it for the all the people who yearn for the Cup. The current salary structure won’t allow the Sharks to bring in any high-priced free agents while signing players like Clowe, Pavelski and Ehrhoff.
The Sharks took the gamble last season, spending right up to the salary cap in pursuit of that elusive Stanley Cup and/or Stanley Cup final appearance. Wilson maintains that the increase was simply the result of player cycles, and that makes sense when you take into account the salary boost for Thornton, Marleau and Michalek. However, what about Boyle’s $6.6 million price tag, or Blake’s $5 million salary? Those weren’t just player cycles but major acquisitions.
I guess we’ll never know if Wilson made a plea to San Jose ownership, or they simply opened their pocketbooks to ice a better product. Whatever the case may be it backfired in a major way, with only three playoff dates helping to recoup the money being doled out by SVSE. It makes you wonder how much money ownership will commit next season, and how that figure is going to impact the roster.
If the Sharks had stayed at that $41 million figure from the 2007-08 season Dan Boyle wouldn’t be a Shark, Rob Blake never would have been signed, and there’s a good chance one of the big four (Thornton, Marleau, Michalek, Nabokov) would be playing elsewhere. Wow… maybe I had it all wrong. Maybe the lower salary would have forced the team to stay the course, building around the young talent and fortifying the prospect pool rather than gutting it. I suppose the old saying applies: You have to be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
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