Maybe the Sharks miss the playoffs, maybe they don’t. There are still two trade options available for improving now and beyond this year. One is a pending UFA and the other has an additional year left to his deal, then will become an RFA.
Before anyone cries foul on the UFA let’s be honest – there is a remote possibility the Sharks make the playoffs. Even if they don’t this is a guy the Sharks should be after in free agency and this will just give them a leg up to hopefully get the guy resigned prior to July 1st.
Ignore the default emotions of “oh my god the Sharks shouldn’t buy!… That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t improve their team if they get a chance to. If they sit back and do nothing all the time then they’ll end up, well, just like they are now.
Without further ado…
Sean Bergenheim – Florida Panthers – Pending UFA – 31 years old
The Sharks need talented depth. Bergenheim is that guy. He makes everyone around him better – and he even makes Dave Bolland seem like he isn’t actually Dave Bolland. Here’s Bergenheim’s WOWY since 2013 with forwards he’s played at least 175 minutes with.
Makes. Everyone. Better.
That’s what you want in a player. The Sharks are at a crossroads with regards to the direction of the franchise. Do they stand pat? I would hope not. Do they go full re-build? Probably not. Do they re-tool/re-build on the fly? I’d say this is more likely. The reason it’s more likely than a complete tear down is for a few reasons: 1) They can’t deal Thornton and Marleau and; 2) The Sharks simply don’t have the prospect depth to avoid becoming the Buffalo Sabres next year if they did tear down everything.
Bergenheim is a player you can bring in to add to an on-the-fly rebuild and, who knows, maybe the Sharks slip into the dance and Bergenheim makes them a little better. Either way, Bergenheim should be on Doug Wilson’s to-do list – and he’s not going to break the bank to acquire.
Patrick Wiercioch – Ottawa Senators – 24 years old
It’s pretty amazing how there is reportedly little to no interest in this player. He’s 6’5…, 206lbs, and is only 24 years old. He also, like Bergenheim, makes everyone better. Here’s Wiercioch’s WOWY since 2012 with defenders he’s played at least 200 minutes with.
You would think Gonchar, with his puck moving prowess, would be the lead mule on the pairing – but that’s not the case. You also, probably, would have assumed Erik Karlsson would drag little old Wiercioch around like an annoying little brother. Also not the case. Wiercioch can hold his own.
Although his point production is down this year from the previous two seasons, he still has that upside to chip in some offense every now and then. The major point here should be what he does for possession. He would be a nice addition to the younger side of the roster and easily eclipses Hannan and Irwin on the depth chart. Since there isn't much interest in him, he should be rather cheap.
Just for fun, let’s compare Bergenheim and Wiercioch to a player who they would potentially bump down the depth chart.
For Bergenheim let’s go with Tommy Wingels. Now, I say Wingels because the Sharks like to moonlight him on the 2nd line and I like Wingels at the 3rd line position – a place he’s more designed for. Bergenheim is a much better option on the second line than Wingels. I could have picked Nieto, but trust me that Nieto would have lost the HERO chart battle with Bergenheim as well. For the record, I'm not saying deal Wingels for Bergenheim. I'm saying Wingels would be pushed down the depth chart.
First, Bergenheim.
Second, Wingels.
For Wiercioch, let’s compare him to Matt Irwin. I’m not choosing Hannan because we all know how bad Hannan’s HERO looks. He’s barely even a person according to the chart. Irwin at least has enough blue paint to make him a third pairing guy.
First, Wiercioch.
Second, Irwin.
There. Both upgrades, both cheap acquisitions. No damage done to the future. What say you Sharks fans? Should the management group be looking at both of these players? One of them? Neither?
Thanks for reading.
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