Discussion of trades, buyouts, entry draft, free agent signings.
… and the skies are not cloudy all day.
Real quiet this past week. No announcement of the expected Sharks outdoor game, as some said would happen in July. (But perhaps Ticketmaster spilled the beans?)
The only news of the week was that Ryan Mougenel has been hired as an assistant coach for the Worcester Sharks.
And congratulations to Justin Braun. (He got married on Saturday, August 2.)
And the most exciting thing of the past week was that the NBC Sports national games were announced. Sharks will be on NBC (once!) and NBCSN (12) for a total of 13 games. (Max number of “national exclusive” games is 11, but not clear, right now, how many of those will be on CSNCA also.)
The other to minor things that happened this past week was that draftee Julius Bergman signed with the OHL team that drafted him in the CHL import draft. (Transfer from Sweden not expected to be a problem.) Which means he’ll be in North America playing, either for OHL London or the NHL Sharks (probably the former).
Logan Couture was also in the news, guesting at Smashfest, former Shark Dominic Moore’s ping pong charity tournament. They raised $140,000 this year, benefitting his deceased wife’s memorial Katie Moore Foundation (rare cancer research) and his brother Steve Moore Foundation (concussion research).
Nothing on the schedule for the upcoming week. So it could be on the quiet side (with folks packing up for the August “holidays”). (Maybe an announcement of the outdoor game?)
I don’t think that the “NHL roster” players as signed today and in the organization is the list that will start the season for the Sharks.
Possible opening roster based on players in the organization as of today looks like, with cap space of about $6m available:
Goalies: Niemi, Stalock
Defense: Braun, Burns, Demers, Hannan, Irwin, Tennyson, Vlasic
Forwards: Brown, Burish, Couture, Desjardins, Hertl, Kennedy, Marleau, Nieto, Pavelski, Scott, Sheppard, Thornton, Torres, Wingels
Some pundits have Mueller making the NHL at 19 (over Tennyson) in the defensive corps. And there are rumors that the Sharks have Niemi on the block.
But I think the majority of changes may be in the forwards.
Little has been heard or said about Burish, Kennedy, and Torres this off season regarding their future with the team. Two missed a majority of the season with injury, proving the Sharks might not need them for the future, and they are among the “veterans” of the team who might want “out” during a “rebuild”. And Kennedy seemed to be the odd man out in the playoffs. (Torres has a modified NTC.) (Hertl and Nieto are still waiver exempt; but I do expect them to start the season on the NHL Roster.)
And there are some teams (including Chicago and Philadelphia) which may be seeking cap relief and the Sharks could be a trading partner. And some rumored “get me outtahere” players, like Winnipeg’s Kane or Toronto’s Reimer, that might also be targeted by the Sharks.
Sharks may also risk some older players on waivers if they don’t fit the desired NHL roster requirements and either lose them for nothing, or get limited cap relief as they play in the AHL.
But unlike some teams, the Sharks do not “leak” trade interests, so it may be an unlikely move or three that helps form the opening night roster. So anything and everything here is total speculation. YMMV
(And Geraldine with her boyfriend Killer may still be looking for something entertaining to watch at the start of the season.)
A relatively quiet week, news wise, for the Sharks unless you count the continuing “controversy” over the announced new “Ice Girls”/team.
The Sharks announced the signings of Taylor Doherty (one year) and Jason Demers (two years). This marks all RFAs signed for next season (defected Sateri, notwithstanding), one of the earliest in my memory.
Prospect Julius Bergman tweeted he’d been signed by the Sharks, but as of the writing of this blog entry, it has not been officially announced. (My guess — there are a few kids from the last week’s prospect camp getting deals, and the Sharks won’t announce until all are signed.)
This gives the Sharks 44 active NHL contracts against the maximum allowed of 50 (with the potential of two — Bergman, Mueller — sliding).
The week ahead — nothing on the league calendar (for the Sharks, especially with resolving Demers’ contract situation before the scheduled arbitration hearing).
The next real “deadline” is August 15 to sign graduating college seniors (Macleod and Ferriero for the Sharks). Have to wonder if either will be part of the organization, or perhaps only offered AHL deals as neither was invited to last weeks’ development camp. And guessing that the Sharks be looking in that list of graduating seniors and/or leaving-college-early players to bolster the prospect pool for AHL depth?
Sharks organization still needs another 6-10 players to fill out their AHL roster (and call up depth from the ECHL).
Nothing (yet) announced regarding possible ECHL affiliation for 2014-15.
It’s the time of year for summer camp!
The Sharks held their annual (prospect) development camp with more than 40 campers, mainly draftees and many not-yet-made-it-to-NHL players; plus a handful of invitees. (Two NHL experienced players headlined camp: Matt Nieto and Tomas Hertl.)
The highlight of camp (for fans) was Wednesday’s scrimmage, which featured two 25-minute running clock periods. ~8,000 fans attended. Team White coached by Mike Ricci beat Team Teal coached by Bryan Marchment 2-1.
But that wasn’t the only news. The NHL Sharks re-signed two players (RFA Matt Tennyson – 2 year deal; UFA Scott Hannan – 1 year deal) and signed two players (Bryan Lerg and Micheal Haley – 1 year deals) both seemingly destined for play in Worcester.
After his election for arbitration, Jason Demer’s hearing has been set for July 22 (in Toronto). Both sides can continue to negotiate to try and get a deal before the hearing, but he will be in training camp with a new deal.
That means that RFA Taylor Doherty is the only other guy still looking for a new deal for the fall. (Not including the two college graduates Cody Ferriero and Isaac Macleod who need to be signed by August 15, or they’ll become UFAs.)
The Sharks have 41 players signed to NHL deals (max 50, less 18-19 yo CHLers)
This next week could be pretty quiet with nothing on the schedule.
The winds of change from the start of NHL Free Agency, did not blow hard in San Jose.
While attention swirled around former Shark Dan Boyle, who signed with the New York Rangers (while on vacation in Europe following his favorite band), the Sharks as promised made little noise in the first two days of the “Silly Season”.
Other former Sharks also changing/re-newing addresses included: Havlat signing with Devils. Ehrhoff and Greiss sign with Penguins (and Goc re-ups there too). Nabokov signs with Lightning. Malhotra signs with Canadiens. Bernier re-signs with Devils. Dominic Moore re-signs with Rangers. Michalek re-signs with Senators. Gorges traded to Sabres. McCarthy signs with Blues. Tim Kennedy (and former Sharks draftee Newbury) signs with Capitals.
The Sharks continued their rebuild-centric reallocation of veterans, shipping out Brad Stuart to the Avalanche for a couple of draft picks.
The Sharks did sign un-qualified D Taylor Fedun. And acquired Tye McGinn (younger brother of former Shark Jamie) for a draft pick. And the most angst-ridden signing for the Sharks in the opening days of free agency: enforcer John Scott (apparently there is sentiment in the organization that having an enforcer allows more cohesiveness on the team; he does have a reputation, including recent suspensions, which might need refurbishment, ala Torres).
And re-signed Tommy Wingels to three year deal. While Jason Demers filed for arbitration.
That brings the Sharks to 36 NHL deals (plus 4 QOs to re-sign with Sharks, not including the one KHL defection). So, there is still room to sign more prospects/free agents, or perhaps swap other NHL veterans for prospects/picks before the NHL roster is finalized in about 90 days.
No need (or lots of time) for more anxious hours of worrying over the roster.
The kids are in town for the rookie development camp. There will be a scrimmage open to the public on Wednesday.
The rest of what will happen will happen when it happens.
Enjoy the summer!
O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
— Walt Whitman
Who will wear the “C” for the San Jose Sharks for the 2014-15 season? Our “trip” for 2013-14 is “done”, but the “prize we sought” was not won by the Sharks.
Does the first stanza of the poem foretell the future of the captaincy (and the player)?
Will there be a captain this season for the Sharks?
The team has been emphasizing a change of leadership, to the “next” group of leaders (Couture, Pavelski, Vlasic, et al).
Marleau lost the C when it went to Jumbo, so I don’t see him having that much problem with others taking on the leadership.
Thornton arguable was his most productive, offensively, as a Shark before he had the “C.” I believe that he does have the humility to accept someone else wearing the “C”, regardless of the awkwardness.
There have been rumors that both Marleau and Thornton have been available in trade, but neither has waived their movement clauses to allow for it. And neither player, nor the GM, seem willing to explain what conversations have taken place for their future with the “rebuilding” Sharks.
But there are three months until the start of the season, so arguing and posturing could extend for that time and more.
It’s not getting resolved today.
But luck’s division is perverse
It seems to work more in reverse
If things are better, they’ll be worse
In just a little while!Ha’penny, one penny, tupenny, thrupenny
Twelve to a shilling, twice that to a florin
To find the same face on both sides of the coin?
Bob is your uncle from pennies to guineas,
The two-sided mint is the rule, not exception,
And would you not quite feel quite the fool of deception
To find the same face on both sides of the coin?
— Rupert Holmes after Charles Dickens (The Mystery of Edwin Drood)
Check out this past week’s news stories here.
The events of the past week focused on two main events: the NHL Awards (Tuesday) and the NHL Entry Draft (Friday-Saturday).
In the former, neither finalist who attended (Burns, Marleau) was tapped, and only one Shark was named to the 2nd team (Pavelski). And the ‘cast was worse — not even worth fast-forwarding through. (A HORRENDOUS result)
In the latter, Sharks shifted gears from past drafts, emphasizing European players with their first few picks, and picking up not one collegiate bound player. The team came to the draft with 7 picks, and ended with 8 draftees. (Check out the prospects drafted here; video interviews with the players in Philadelphia can be found at news link above) All the 2014 draftees, excluding Vanier who’s recovering from surgery, are expected to participate at the early July Sharks prospect camp; a public scrimmage will be held at SAP Center on July 9 — tickets are $5 (benefiting the Sharks Foundation), parking is free. (A good result)
Contrast that with the concern and outpouring for 43 year old former Canucks great Gino Odjink really set the hockey world a flutter. He announced he has a rare heart disease that is hardening his heart and he could have only weeks to live. And helps all of us remember what’s important: family and love. (Not a good result)
And word has come that the Sharks have been unable to find a trade partner, so they will be buying out the remaining year of Martin Havlat’s contract. (Ambivalent result depending on your feelings toward the player)
The upcoming week marks the deadline Monday 6/30 for qualifying offers to the Sharks’ nine RFAs. (Sharks have already indicated that Sheppard will return. I think at least two being allowed to walk. Three players have “defected” to Europe; Sharks can choose to retain their rights by making QO.) QOs nominally “expire” July 15.
While other teams (than those who currently hold a player’s rights) have been able to talk to pending RFAs and UFAs since Wednesday 6/25, starting 7/1 those teams can sign the UFAs or make offer sheets to the RFAs. And players with QOs can start signing deals. Plus those whose multi-year contracts that expire in June 2015 can start signing extensions.
In the draft recap, DW indicated that the Sharks concentrated on the draft in Philadelphia, but some of the current players on the roster may be finding new homes soon.
You might think summer is boring, but it can be filled with lots of intrigue and speculation.
Follow your favorite news sources for the latest breaking news.
7/10 update: GM Doug Wilson on not lowering expectations during “rebuild”.
Last summer, Sharks GM Doug Wilson categorized the off season changes as a “refresh” or “reset”.
The sum of changes were 10 NHL contracted players traded, 2 NHL contracted players let go, 7 players drafted, 18 NHL contracted players re-signed, plus 6 prospects signed to ELS deals and one to non-ELS deal.
This season he’s calling it a “rebuild.”
But is it really?
verb \(ˌ)rē-ˈbild\
: to build (something) again after it has been damaged or destroyed
: to make important improvements or changes in (something)
One could define the “damage” that has been done to emotions, egos and reputations after the inability of the Sharks to shake off the “playoff choker” label by losing a playoff series after being up 3-0.
But many pundits are questioning the Sharks “rebuild.” Some questioning if the Sharks are having a nervous breakdown. Others incredulous that a team that got 111 points in the regular season is “rebuilding.” However, even the betting sites are giving the Sharks a good chance to win the Cup next season (7th favorite).
Perhaps they’re (partially) right?
If you look at the team’s contracts, you’ll see NINE players with No Trade Clauses (NTCs) or No Movement Clauses (NMCs). (That’s 8 once Havlat is excluded.) Perhaps this “rebuild” is to weed out some of those players with NTCs by having them agree to a trade?
Well, Marleau and Thornton have been mentioned in trade rumors, but neither player seems willing to waive to move. (And there are three players, other than Havlat, that have a real chance of being compliance bought out.)
Thus far (6/25), two players/rights have been traded (plus Havlat’s hanging future), three pending RFA players defected to Europe (whose rights might be retained by team if issued QOs), one prospect returned to draft, three NHL contracted players signed to extensions, three undrafted players signed to entry level deals. There are nine (other) pending RFAs, six pending UFAs, and two graduating college players that need a deal (or become UFAs). (And for completeness regarding the Sharks collegiate prospects… 3 players completing junior year, 2 completed sophomore year, 3 completed freshman year; 1 heading to college in the fall.)
The Sharks have seven picks for tomorrow’s draft. But that could increase with some potential trades.
Thus, we’ll have to wait to see what the summer brings and how much change there will be to the roster and team, to better categorize this as a rebuilding team or not.
When the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement was signed in January 2013, teams were given the option of buying out up to two pre-CBA signed contracts without any cap hit. (That is contracts signed before the September 2012 lockout started.) These are called Compliance Buyouts.
(This is in addition to the Regular Buyouts which have an impact on a team’s cap hit.)
The buyout period (Compliance or Regular) begins 48 hours after the Stanley Cup is raised (6/16 9pm PT this year), and ends 6/30 8:59pm PT. Excepting those players with No Movement Clauses who waive their right, teams must put players on unconditional waivers (over 24 hours from 9am PT to the following day at the same time) before the buyout can occur.
There are seven players under contract to the Sharks that are potential Compliance Buyout Candidates. (But three are not going to happen; no way, no how.)
Under General Manager Doug Wilson, the Sharks have never bought out a player. (And I don’t recall any player ever being bought out by the organization. UPDATE: Friend reminded me that Ray Whitney was bought out in 1997. So have to categorize it as rare of very infrequently.)
Martin Havlat was acquired by the Sharks in July 2011 in trade for Dany Heatley.
His time with the Sharks has been filled with numerous injuries and limited offensive impact.
Sharks GM Doug Wilson has already announced that Martin Havlat will not be returning to the Sharks. So that means either a buyout or trade. But Havlat has a No Movement Clause so could block a trade to any team he does not want to go to.
Marti’s 2014-15 contract pays him $6M with a cap hit of $5M. A buyout would be $4M paid out over two years ($2M per year).
DW may be seeking to trade him, but might have to retain salary. As long as he retains less than $4M, he’s saving $$ in the long run. (Teams can only retain up to 50% in salary, or $3M, which would also result in a cap hit to the Sharks of $2.5M.)
My gut: 60% chance that the Sharks buy him out (vs being traded).
Antti Niemi was signed to a four year deal in 2011. Niemi’s 2014-15 contract pays him $4M with a cap hit of $3.8M. A buyout would be $2,666,666 paid out over two years ($1,333,333 per year).
Niemi has not had the same success playing for the Sharks that he enjoyed with the Blackhawks (where he won the Stanley Cup). His play has been very sieve-like at times.
Many fans have called for Niemi to be gone. Or at least platooning with Alex Stalock.
The Sharks also have the ability to trade him, which I think they’d rather do (to an Eastern Conference team) than buy him out, for a decent veteran goalie.
My gut: 20% chance that the Sharks buy him out.
Brent Burns signed a five year extension in 2011. Burns’s 2014-15 contract pays him $5.76M with the same cap hit . A buyout would be $11.52M paid out over six years ($1.92 per year).
Burns has been a “team player” switching from defense to forward (and now going back to defense for 2014-15). He has been decent defensively and an asset offensively.
And he’d never clear buyout waivers.
My gut: 0% chance that the Sharks buy him out.
Justin Braun was signed to a three year deal in 2012. Braun’s 2014-15 contract pays him $1.5M with a cap hit of $1.25M. A buyout would be $1M paid out over two years ($500k per year).
But as he is part of the “young core” that DW has been touting, and a good serviceable player at a decent salary, I do not believe the Sharks would consider buying him out (especially as he would not even clear waivers).
My gut: 0% chance that the Sharks buy him out.
Adam Burish was signed to a four year deal in 2012. Burish’s 2014-15 contract pays him $1.85M, which is also the cap hit. A buyout would be $2,466,668 paid out over four years ($616,667 per year).
Burish had a good 2012-13 season, but after a preseason injury, spent most of 2013-14 on the IR (playing only 17 regular season games).
Sharks did find other players to fill his role while he was sidelined, but I think they’d prefer to trade him than buy him out.
My gut: 40% chance that the Sharks buy him out.
Brad Stuart was signed to a three year deal in 2012. Stuart’s 2014-15 contract pays him $3.6M, which is also the cap hit. A buyout would be $2.4M paid out over two years ($1.2M per year).
There has been some speculation that Stuart may be a player that DW was referring to when he said he wants players who want to play in San Jose, not just live in San Jose. It was widely telegraphed before summer of 2012, that Brad Stuart wanted to return to San Jose (or at least California) to be near his family. He was not as defensively effective as Scott Hannan on the ice in 2013-14.
Stuart has a No Trade Clause, and would probably not waive it, so the only option of removing him from the roster may be a buyout.
My gut: 50% chance that the Sharks buy him out.
March-Edouard Vlasic was signed to a five year extension in 2012. Vlasic’s 2014-15 contract pays him $4.25M, which is also the cap hit. A buyout would be $11,333,336 paid out over eight years ($1,416,667 per year).
Vlasic is the defensive rock of the Sharks blue line, and often mentioned in DW’s future discussions. And there’s no chance he’d clear buyout waivers.
My gut: 0% chance that the Sharks buy him out.
Sharks announce Havlat to be compliance bought out. (And no other players will be bought out.)