Sharks/Flyers Rumor
The latest rumor around the Sharks, in Eklund’s most recent post, is that they are talking to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Sean Couturier seems to be everyone’s favorite trade target when the Flyers come up. I’d really like to know why this kid is so hyped and over-valued. Couturier is talked about like he’s a younger Jonathan Toews when, in reality, he’s a career 0.39 PPG player who generally boasts a comparable 5v5 Corsi to Andrew Desjardins. Yeah, I know, he plays tougher competition. Well Hertl, Nieto and Wingels all have comparable competition numbers and blow Couturier away in possession.
Is he better at hockey than Desjardins? Yes, I’m not completely insane, but the reality of his possession numbers doesn’t make him out to be Toews. Combine that with his point totals and I fail to see how he can actually help the Sharks other than providing them a player to over-value and place in every rumor that comes up. He’s just not worth losing Hertl, Nieto or anyone with any value for. I would trade the fourth line for him, though, if that interests anyone. No? Damn.
Since the Sharks don’t need another <40 point player with a questionable possession game who else could the Sharks be after from Philadelphia?
I honestly don’t know. There’s no one on the Flyers, who is potentially available, that really makes me want to sell the farm to acquire. I’d take one of the Schenn’s, but not for as much as the Flyers would probably ask.
The Flyers are in salary cap hell as usual so for me any deal that involves them stinks of salary dump. The Sharks need to improve their hockey team, not add some juicy contract they’ll be laughed at for taking on. All that being said, a deal with the Flyers just might be the panic move Doug Wilson pulls off. Hand off the trigger, Dougie.
Random Thoughts
Usually when an owner is talking, the team is in rough shape. That’s exactly what’s happening right now in San Jose. In David Pollak’s latest read (here) the Sharks owner is opening his mouth and words are coming out, never a good sign for a franchise.
"Patience is exactly what is needed," he said in an exchange of emails. "It is far too early to throw in the towel."
Again, read Pollak’s full article right here
Alex Stalock should be handed the keys to the cage immediately. He’s a better goaltender, it’s just that simple. The Sharks blowing a 5-1 lead is a great team effort and it falls on everyone. Was it completely Niemi’s fault? No, but he’s still the guy wearing those big pads and gets paid to keep that little black circle from hitting the twine behind him.
If he’s healthy enough to start he should be in.
The Sharks really need to be scouring the league for an available top four defender. I just have this feeling as though they believe things are going to fix themselves on the blueline. Against Anaheim they benched a kid (Mueller) and an AHLer (Tennyson). What’s the message being sent? Mueller knows they aren’t going to send him back to junior and they pair him with Brent Burns so how is he supposed to develop defensively?
And to Tennyson? I’m sure Tennyson would like to be playing, and he should be over Hannan and Irwin, but threatening to pay him NHL money while he watches the Sharks play versus paying him AHL money to do so previously isn’t really a threat.
The Sharks are back in action tomorrow when they play the Flyers. Maybe Sean Couturier will be a Shark by tomorrow and Desjardins can get him up to speed on bottom six possession.
Thanks for reading.