Sorry guys, I couldn't wait any longer after reading the last article written about our cap space!! For the sake of this article, I'm going to assume that the cap hit is 62M, and not the higher prediction of 63.5M..

Furthermore, I am going to try and be somewhat realistic (hopefully) and not make extreme possibilities come true based on Wilson's history (moving Heatley, etc).

Clearly our problem lies with the defense so that is what I'm going to try and fix.

Continue reading this post »

This whole article is taken from Sharkspage. They did a very nice job of reviewing every Worcester player and providing us with a report of how they have improved.

Key notes:

1) Petrecki is labeled as being the most improved player on the ice

2) Despite his numbers and wins, Stalock is playing very well

3) Our forwards have been hit hard from the Worcester shuttle

But thanks to Darryl Hunt from Sharkspage, here is his article:

With the AHL season just past the halfway mark it’s time to take a look at the players on the Worcester Sharks roster and give them a grade on how well they’ve done against the expectations that have been set for them and how well they’ve done compared to the other players on the roster. When looking at the grades remember that a “C” is average, meaning the player has done what was expected of them or that their play based on the other players on the roster has been average in nature.

FORWARDS
#14 Jonathan Cheechoo LW
38 games; 14g, 23a, 37pts; (-5); 8PIM
Whether or not Cheechoo has NHL level talent is still in question, but there’s no doubt he’s one of the best players in the AHL. Averaging about a point per game all season, Cheechoo makes every player he’s lined up with better. He’s a threat to score every time he has the puck, and while he may have lost a half-step he still has the ability to make defenders trying to stop him look like fools. It’s hard to imagine how bad the WorSharks would be without him on the team.
Season highlight: goal, 2 assists at Connecticut on 10/10
Grade: A

#23 Dan DaSilva RW
42 games; 8g, 10a, 18pts; +13; 48PIM
An original member of the “Crazed Rats” line, DaSilva started the season off slowly and still hasn’t rediscovered the scoring touch he had last season. He has shown streaks of effectiveness on offense, but more is expected and needed from him if the WorSharks are going to make any sort of playoff run. DaSilva’s defensive play is still good, and he leads the team in plus/minus, which saves his grade a little.
Season highlight: goal, assist, +3 vs Norfolk on 11/14
Grade: C

#22 Andrew Desjardins C
38 games; 5g, 12a, 17pts; +12; 46PIM
Another original member of the “Crazed Rats” line, Desjardins also started the season off slowly in scoring goals. Despite the scoring slump his high energy and tenacious play has continued to make him one of the hardest players in the AHL to play against, and it’s that hard work that resulted in a recall to San Jose and playing in his first NHL game on Jan. 3 against Vancouver. Desjardins is another on the long list of players that needs to pick up the scoring for the WorSharks.
Season highlight: goal, 2 assists, +4 vs Springfield on 11/21
Grade: C

#21 Benn Ferriero C
16 games; 10g, 6a, 16pts; (-3); 8PIM
Ferriero was a point per game player this season while he was here in Worcester, and after his second recall to San Jose on 11/26 it looks like he’s going to be there for a long while. The WorSharks most certainly miss his goal scoring and play making abilities, and one can only dream about what this season would have been like had he been in the AHL.
Season highlight: two goals, assist at Connecticut on 10/10
Grade: A

#47 Kevin Henderson LW
40 games; 4g, 6a, 10pts; +9; 37PIM
Henderson has been a great addition to the Crazed Rats line, and he has already doubled his goal output from last season. One of the handful of WorSharks on the plus side of the ledger, his high energy play is his greatest asset. Henderson doesn’t have NHL talent, but he is a decent AHL player and he’s good at his role.
Season highlight: 3 assists, +3 vs Norfolk on 11/14
Grade: C

#19 James Marcou RW
41 games; 4g, 15a, 19pts; (-12); 18PIM
Marcou’s small size is a real hindrance in the AHL. While he excelled in college at UMass on their Olympic width rink the smaller ice surface of North American pro hockey has caused issues for him  because he is unable to create space for himself against opponents that are much larger than he is. Marcou is more effective on the power play where a majority of his points come from, but lately he has been unable to generate any offense even with the extra space created with a man advantage. He currently has the worst plus/minus on the team.
Season highlight: goal, assist at Connecticut on 12/4
Grade: D

#53 Brandon Mashinter LW
31 games; 7g, 8a, 15pts; (-4); 64PIM
Hopes were high that this would be Mashinter’s breakout season, but so far that hasn’t happened. Another of the many WorSharks that are having issues putting the puck in the net, Mashinter has seen his talent as a power forward plateau. His recent recall to San Jose may rekindle his development, but he still has a long way to go to be considered an every day NHL player.
Season highlight: goal, 3 assists, +3 at Providence on 10/31
Grade: C

#11 Cory Quirk C
42 games; 2g, 3a, 5pts; (-11); 18PIM
Another player slight in stature, Quirk was a decent depth AHL player last season. This season he’s having the same issues as the rest of the team scoring goals despite playing many games on the top two lines for Worcester. In spite of his small size he’s a player that isn’t afraid to play against the boards or in front of the net, but unless he’s paired with a player with some play making skills his offensive upside is limited. The best thing going for Quirk right now is he’s a good penalty killer, which saves him from a failing grade.
Season highlight: goal, +2 at Bridgeport on 10/9
Grade: D

#24 T.J. Trevelyan LW
41 games; 8g, 12a, 20pts; (-8); 23PIM
A goal scorer that doesn’t score goals is just another guy wearing your team’s jersey, and that’s what Trevelyan has been so far this season. With no game winning goals and a negative plus/minus there has been virtually nothing positive happening when he is on the ice. If Trevelyan were to double his goal output from the first half of the season it would still result in a career low. All one needs to know about Trevelyan this season can be learned by looking at San Jose’s recall list; his name is nowhere to be found.
Season highlight: goal, 2 assists at Connecticut on 12/4
Grade: D

#17 Tommy Wingels RW
35 games; 6g, 6a, 12pts; (-2); 35PIM
While still learning the pro game Wingels is one of the few Worcester forwards to play while both shorthanded and on the power play. Wingels makes smart plays both with and without the puck, a rarity in rookies. He still need to work on his skating, but so far it looks like San Jose has a very good prospect in Wingels.
Season highlight: gwg, assist at Albany on 12/11
Grade: B

#15 Steven Zalewski C
42 games; 3g, 14a, 17pts; (-6); 14PIM
The vast majority of the time Zalewski has looked totally lost out there this season. He can’t win face-offs, he can’t score goals, and he doesn’t play defense. Zalewski was one of the players that was counted upon heavily to help carry the offensive load this season, and it appears that’s something else he can’t do.
Season highlight: goal, 2 assists vs Portland on 12/5
Grade: F

DEFENSEMEN
#27 Justin Braun
23 games; 1g, 11a, 12pts; +1; 8PIM
Braun is a great mix of offense and defense and possesses a poise not normally seen in rookie defenseman. He doesn’t make the flashy play on either end of the ice, but he doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes either. Not blessed with great speed Braun makes up for that shortcoming with great puck anticipation and good fundamentals. He has played well in two recalls to San Jose and it looks like Braun will turn into another great late round pick for San Jose.
Season highlight: goal, 2 assists vs Portland on 10/23
Grade: B

#20 Matt Irwin
36 games; 7g, 11a, 18pts; E; 12PIM
Irwin is an offensive defenseman that has more than enough defensive skills to not be a liability on the ice. Like most offense first defenders Irwin doesn’t play a very physical game, relying more on a positional game to stop scoring opportunities. He will need to work on his defensive skills to make it to the next level, but he’s already a serviceable AHL defenseman in just half a pro season.
Season highlight: gwg vs Portland on 1/2
Grade: C

#28 Jay Leach
42 games; 0g, 3a, 3pts; (-6); 36PIM
If Leach had been signed to be a traffic cop San Jose made a great signing. Since he was signed to be a defenseman they aren’t getting their monies worth. Leach is having a hard time keeping up with AHL forwards, and does a lot of directing other players in who to cover while leaving his man wide open. Word is he’s great in the locker room, and that’s good because he’s pretty bad on the ice.
Season highlight: assist, +1 vs Charlotte on 11/27
Grade: F

#3 Joe Loprieno
27 games; 1g, 0a, 1pt; (-6); 36PIM
Loprieno has spent a few games up at forward due to injuries and recalls, and he didn’t look that bad up there. Defensively Loprieno still has a lot to work on, and like last season he could use some seasoning in the ECHL as opposed to getting third pairing minutes and virtually no special teams play here in Worcester. He also needs to learn when to pick his spots as he has committed several bad penalties that have luckily so far not hurt his team.
Season highlight: goal vs Charlotte on 11/27
Grade: C

#8 Mike Moore
20 games; 2g, 3a, 5pts; +1; 16PIM
Moore is on the brink of being an everyday third pairing NHL defenseman. He used to be a one trick pony of just blasting his opponents off the puck, but now Moore is a more well rounded defenseman and plays a lot smarter and pucks his spots well. He still needs to work a bit on his skating, but in general he’s probably reached his maximum potential.
Season highlights: 2 goals, +3 vs Norfolk on 11/14
Grade: C

#29 Nick Petrecki
36 games; 3g, 4a, 7pts; (-6); 80PIM
No player has improved as much as Petrecki has since the end of last season. He went from being totally lost on the ice to being one of Worcester’s top defenseman. His skating still needs a lot of work, but now that he’s figured out what he’s supposed to be doing out there and how to go about it there’s no reason to think he can’t improve his skating too. Petrecki may also wish to work on his fighting because some of his bouts have been nothing short of ugly.
Season highlight: gwg vs Providence on 10/30
Grade: B

#6 Nick Schaus
40 games; 1g, 7a, 8pts; (-1); 24PIM
After a slow start Schaus has finally gotten things going in the right direction. His improvement seemed to coincide with the return of Mike Moore, which makes sense as their skill sets complement each other fairly well. Schaus plays better when paired with a “stay at home” partner, and unless Worcester wants to pair two rookies that pretty much leaves Moore as Schaus’ partner. He has a long way to go to be an NHL defenseman, but for now he’s certainly good enough for the AHL.
Season highlight: gwg, +2 vs Portland on 12/5
Grade: C

#37 Sean Sullivan
30 games; 10g, 11a, 21pts; (-3); 18PIM
Sullivan is essentially a forward disguised as a defenseman. He is the WorSharks second leading scorer and is just shy of setting his career high for goals in a season. He was signed to replace Danny Groulx and has done just that. Sullivan probably isn’t the guy you want protecting a one goal lead, but he’s surely the guy you want out there if you need a goal.
Season highlight: gwg, assist vs Manchester on 11/6
Grade: B

GOALTENDERS
#30 Carter Hutton
9 games; 3-2-2; 3.25; .888
Hutton is a serviceable backup to Stalock, and that’s really all he needs to be. Hutton has played fairly well for Worcester but has had a few games where the team was basically invisible in front of him that have done a number on his stats. Should Stalock be unavailable for any length of time Worcester will be in decent shape for a short while, but a more permanent replacement might be needed.
Season highlight: 37 save win at Providence on 10-31
Grade: C

 

#32 Alex Stalock
35 games; 16-15-3; 2.53; .911
Don’t be fooled by his numbers, Stalock is having a great season. There have been far too many times where Stalock was the only reason Worcester is still in the game, and through just half the season he’s already made a career’s worth of highlight reel saves. It’s a pretty safe bet Stalock will find himself in the NHL next season.
Season highlight: 41 save win at Hershey on 11/24
Grade: A

OVERALL GRADE
The Worcester Sharks are 7th in the AHL in shots at 32.29 per game, but are just 26th in goals per game at 2.52. Had the WorSharks scored a minimum of three goals every game they’d have 19 more points in the standings. When you figure the points that division rivals would have lost with Worcester scoring those three goals per game the WorSharks would be running away with the division. Defensively this team is pretty average, and statistically that shows with the team being in the middle of the pack in both goals against per game and shots allowed. But that average defense will be good enough if Worcester can put the puck in the net a little more often. If they can’t it will be a very short season for the WorSharks.
Grade: D

HOCKEY OPERATIONS
The absence of true front line talent and the total lack of players in the ECHL for Worcester to call upon has not only hurt Worcester, but due to injuries on the NHL roster San Jose is now feeling the impact of the Sharks hockey operations gross mismanagement of their minor league franchise. An AHL team is not just for developing prospects, it’s also for borderline NHL talent to be used as spares for injuries on the NHL roster. Because San Jose didn’t do that they’re trying to fill the roster slots vacated by injuries with players that aren’t close to being NHL talent. Hopefully they have learned from this, although if the past is any indication the odds are against it.
Grade: F

Once again, thanks to Darryl Hunt over at Sharkspage!

So, as I was browsing my fantasy hockey team, I just wanted to point out the fact that about half of my league has dropped out and no longer is adjusting their rosters. With that in mind, I wanted to let this blog know that, for anyone interested, I am creating a new fantasy league for people to join...

Yes, it is too late for the live draft but we can set out autopicks to the players that we want.

Here is the information about the league...

Please feel free to join! It is open to anybody who wishes to join another league and will update their rosters persistently... Thanks!

ID: 102242
Password: JumboJoe

So, as I was browsing my fantasy hockey team, I just wanted to point out the fact that about half of my league has dropped out and no longer is adjusting their rosters. With that in mind, I wanted to let this blog know that, for anyone interested, I am creating a new fantasy league for people to join...

Yes, it is too late for the live draft but we can set out autopicks to the players that we want.

Here is the information about the league...

Please feel free to join! It is open to anybody who wishes to join another league and will update their rosters persistently... Thanks!

ID: 102242
Password: JumboJoe

So, as I was browsing my fantasy hockey team, I just wanted to point out the fact that about half of my league has dropped out and no longer is adjusting their rosters. With that in mind, I wanted to let this blog know that, for anyone interested, I am creating a new fantasy league for people to join...

Yes, it is too late for the live draft but we can set out autopicks to the players that we want.

Here is the information about the league...

Please feel free to join! It is open to anybody who wishes to join another league and will update their rosters persistently... Thanks!

I was just kind of bored from having no hockey for what seems to be a decade, so I was just thinking about this up-coming season and I have decided to make some rather bold predictions for this season. Please don't be too critical, either laugh or comment, but I don't want any Buttercrunch or Boyledshark type comments...

1. Nick Petrecki gets some time with the Sharks. Somewhere around 5-6 games.

2. Wallin doesn't play a full season (he can only manage 55 games)

3. The Sharks lose their 2011 1st round draft pick in a trade

4. Cam MacIntyre plays better than expected, forming a decent 3rd line with McGinn and Couture

5. Couture gets powerplay, penalty kill, and some second line time, and nears 50 points

6. Thornton has a better year than years past and nears 100 points

7. Pavelski emerges as a truly dominant player, after a stunning playoff run, and nears 65 points (30 goals)

8. Marleau is relegated to the second line and still manages to put up 38 goals

9. Heatley returns to his previous form and once again try's for 50 goals... but only manages 46

10. The tandem of Niemi and Niittymaki is not as good as Nabby, yet not as bad as everyone suspects... Niemi plays at

      .915% and Niittymaki plays at .913%

11. Trade rumors about Clowe are consistent throughout the season, but when all is said and done, he still wears teal

      during the playoffs

12. Just like last year, a defensive prospect surprisingly makes the team out of camp (Petrecki, Schaus, Braun)

13. Jay Leach proves worthless and is sent to Worcester, where he doesn't even consistently play

Western Conference Standings:

Vancouver - 116

Detroit - 115

San Jose - 113

Los Angeles - 107

Chicago - 106

Nashville - 102

St. Loius - 97

Phoenix/Calgary - 96

Eastern Conference Standings:

Washington - 119

Pittsburgh - 112

Boston - 106

Philadelphia - 99

New Jersey - 96

Buffalo - 94

Tampa Bay - 91

*Toronto - 89

*Before you call me crazy, after the Phaneuf trade, The Leafs had the 7th best record in the East.

San Jose Player totals:

Player:                                 Golas:                 Assists:                  Points:

Thornton                                  21                        76                          97

Heatley                                    46                        40                          86

Marleau                                   38                        38                          76

Pavelski                                   31                        37                          68

Clowe                                      20                        34                          54

Setoguchi                                30                        19                          49

Couture                                   18                        30                          48

McGinn                                   15                         15                          30

MacIntyre                                10                         12                          22

/all other forwards should chip in a little bit, nothing too significant

Boyle                                       15                         45                         60

Demers                                    10                         27                         37

Vlasic                                       6                           22                         28

Murray                                      4                           12                        16

/all other defensemen should chip in, but nothing significant

My Current Line Projections (what I would like to see)

Heatley - Thornton - Setoguchi

Marleau - Pavelski - Clowe

McGinn - Couture - MacIntyre

Mitchell - Nichol - Mayers/McLaren

Boyle - Murray

Demers - Vlasic

Huskins - Wallin/ Petrecki/Prospect

Niemi - Niittymaki

Please feel free to add what you think or some of your own predictions!

P.S. Is FTF going to have a yahoo fantasy hockey league? I would rather join FTF's instead of random people's.

In the summer of 2012, the current CBA is going to come to an end. What exactly does this mean? I have read a bit about it, nothing extensive, but could there be another lockout season (as there was in 2004)? Could there also be a salary cap decrease? If so, what happens to all of the current contracts? On the other hand, could there be the opportunity to get rid of a salary cap altogether (or change it to a soft cap)?

Thanks

I was just wondering if someone could help me out with some of our younger prospects. I don't know a lot about some of them so I don't know what kind of hopes/expectations I should have of them in the next few years...

1) Nick Petrecki

I know that he was picked 28th overall but he did not play well in the AHL. Is he a lost cause or just maturing?

2) Justin Braun & Nick Schaus

The Sharks signed them out of college and both put up 3 assists (3 and 4 games played). How was their overall play though?

3) James Marcou

This guy is listed as 5'7, 155lbs. Is he going to be a permanent AHL player or could he happen to put on some height and weight to play in the NHL. He put up 3 points in the 4 games he played.

4) Steven Zalewski

62 points in 78 games isn't bad, however, that -13 is a little worry some. I don't know too much about Zalewski.

5) Cam McIntyre

To be honest, I don't know anything about him...

Thanks for the help.

Here is just a general fanpost for all draft (and other) discussions. Use this place to talk about Charlie Coyle, other draft picks, the recent Wallin+Nichol signing.

Who does every one (at this point) believe had the best draft overall? Personally, (as much as it hurts to say) I think that Anaheim did. They got Fowler (projected #4) and Etem (projected #17). Also, the Kings did pretty well... They get Forbort and Toffoli.

What does Wilson do about his rather not-so-popular-D core now that Wallin is signed at a pretty hefty price? I've read in some other comments that Huskins and Wallin could be used as trade bait later in the season...But who wants older 5-6-7 defense men coming to an end on their contracts?

And furthermore, I'm getting a bad feeling about Setoguchi (who hasn't received a qualifying offer while, on the other hand, people like Desjardins has). Setoguchi and Malhotra need to come back... For me, Seto was more important than Marleau and Manny more than Nichol.

Since the draft will be this Friday, I just wanted to compile a list from around the web as to who the Sharks will draft. As you all should (hopefully) know, barring any trade that Wilson could pull out of his hat, the Sharks currently hold the 28th overall pick. Furthermore, I am only going to include first round predictions because it is a little bit easier to project.

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1). http://bigbadblog.weei.com/sports/boston/hockey/bruins/2010/06/14/nhl-mock-draft-whos-no-3/#more-20547

                                                                            Kirill Kabanov, RW, Moncton (QMJHL)

"From all accounts, this kid has some serious character issues, as he faced massive difficulties getting permission to play for Moncton due to disputes with the KHL. He was also kicked off the Russian Under-18 team, but at 6-foot-3 and 176 pounds, the talent is there. The Sharks are one of the few teams that can afford to take a risk on Kabonov, who is ranked No. 8 overall by International Scouting."

This would be a risky pick for the Sharks. There is no doubt that this kid has talent, but there is also no doubt that he has off-ice issues. Our team has some skilled centers and Kabanov would help with scoring (especially if Marleau were to leave). He would without a doubt be a talent, but I'm not sure how he would react to being sent away from the 'big club' to mature and develop in a minor league.  

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2). http://www.respecthockey.com/news/150-nhl-061310.html                                                                                                                         

                                                                           Sami Aittokallio, G, Finland JR 

To me, this would be a stretch. The Sharks have a very deep goalie pipeline and I'm not sure if this would be a wise pick. I scout did mention that, "My opinion is that he's the better goalie [than Iilahti] ...but his development seems to have slowed slightly where as Iilahti is really developing quickly. Aittokallio's biggest strength is his intelligence. He has really good reflexes and athleticism but just seems to really be able to slow the play down and control it when he has to." Aittokallio is ranked as the number one European goalie. 

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3). http://www.nesn.com/2010/06/tyler-seguin-taylor-hall-swap-spots-in-latest-nhl-mock-draft.html

                                                                           Connor Brickley, C, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)

"More and more it appears the Sharks are very interested in Brickley, and that makes sense considering their director of scouting is also a Massachusetts native who has seen Brickley’s development firsthand."

This pick would most certainly be a development pick. Brickley had a good year, but not a great one. He will attend the University of Vermont next year so don't expect him to join the Sharks any time soon

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4). http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/06/01/2010-nhl-mock-draft/

                                                                           John McFarland, C, Sudbury (OHL)

"No need to reach for a need. The Sharks are deep all over the system, and McFarland can take his time growing up in the major juniors and the AHL."

Last year, McFarland had 50 points in 64 games played. He would need some time in the AHL before coming to play for the Sharks. Once again, this pick would need some development time.

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5). http://bleacherreport.com/articles/405846-2010-nhl-mock-draft

                                                                           Tyler Pitlcik, C, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

"American hockey player playing in college, flying under the radar, drafted by San Jose, sound familiar harks fans? Though he may be considered a project, San Jose can afford to wait for Tyler to develop."

Is it me or does this sound like they are referring to that guy named, I think it was, Pavelski? This would certainly be a project and I wouldn't hope for much for his first few years. He is ranked highly because of his size and his skill set. His hockey sense is highly overlooked and could perhaps be described as a pure goal scorer.

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6). http://www.sharkspage.com/

                                                                           Jarred Tinordi, D, USNTDP

"Tinordi is the massive, physical stay-at-home defenseman the Sharks need.  He is the type of defenseman that goaltenders would love to have in front of them, an intimidating presence that protects his teammates.  He does not project to contribute much offensively in the NHL, but few are better in their own end. He moves well for his height, and he makes a pro-caliber first pass.  Has leadership qualities, and is a player teammates lean on to settle down and keep things together."

After looking at quite a few mock drafts, I couldn't help but notice that Tinordi is (typically) ranked higher than the 28th pick. That being said, Tinordi would be a steal for us with this pick. The description above states it all. He would be a good replacement to the retiring Rob Blake. 

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7). http://tmlfanfury.blogspot.com/2010/06/tmls-2010-nhl-mock-draft.html

                                                                           Stanislav Galiev, F, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

"Another Russian sniper, would fit Sharks mold nicely"

Not only is Galiev a sniper, but he is also a playmaker. He played in the Q so he is familiar with the North American game (as opposed to those who are drafted from the KHL). With Galiev, you get a darn good Russian (not as talented as Kabanov) without all the drama (a la Kabanov). 

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8). http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=NHL&columnid=218&articleid=35554&pg=2

                                                                           Calvin Pickard, G, 

"Brother of Nashville prospect Chet, Pickard should be chosen by the Sharks who definitely need a top goaltending prospect with Evgeni Nabokov getting older. Is the second ranked goalie in the draft behind Jack Campbell."

If Pickard falls to the 28th pick, I don't know what to say. Pickard is a good puck handler and is very well balanced. Could be a good replacement to Nabokov in years to come. I don't think he answers our goaltending issue for next year though.

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9). http://bleacherreport.com/articles/405122-2010-nhl-mock-draft-round-one-final-rankings#page/4

                                                                           Dylan McIlrath

"McIlrath is a big body that gets in the passing lanes and shuts down the rushes. Dylan can lay out a punishing open ice hit and can intimidate any opponent."

This is the stuff I like to hear. The only problem with this is that I've seen him being picked much higher in plenty of other drafts. I would love this pick if we could get it.

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10). Unlike the nice interviews (with the likely draft picks) that FTF is doing, this is just a look at what around the web thinks we will get. However, some part of me wants to draft Kabanov... Is it only me or does anyone else want to take that risk too? Maybe not with our first rounder, but maybe if we trade for a high second rounder. Please, if anyone sees other prospects that we could draft, feel free to mention them below.

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I'm pretty sure that somebody requested a fanpost for all rosterbation comments... Well here it is!

1) Doesn't Washington need to let a few prospects go because they are really close to the cap? With Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, and Green (and possibly Theodore, if he signs again) eating away a ton of the cap, it looks as if the Capitals can't keep all of their prospects once they need a raise.

Prospects/players to watch:

2) After Florida put in another, say rather poor, season, did the GM not apologize to the fans and talk about rebuilding this team all over? Florida has some good young players, but I have read a lot saying that quite a few of the players are on the block to be traded...

Prospects/players to watch:

Yes, I know it is a stretch, but it is something to think about.

3) Montreal... We all know their Cinderella story. But one thing became apparent - the forwards were too small. With that being said, Montreal does not have a lot of cap space to sign two (starting) goaltenders and their prospects. Will Montreal use prospects as trade bait or what shall they do?

Prospects/players to watch:

4) Oh yes, my favorite. Toronto. It seems to me that Toronto wants their first round draft pick back, yes? How much would Toronto be willing to trade to get what they need? And what on Earth are they doing with 7-8 (top 4?) D-men? And by the way, I've read comments from Toronto fans that Kaberle would only be worth a top six forward and a second round pick.

Prospects/players to watch:

5) I really don't know if I can ask this question, but can we take some of the spare change that Chicago would have after this season? I really don't like it, but it is something that is a problem for the Hawks next year. They do have some quality players that will be let go/traded to make room for the cap.

Prospects/players to watch:

6) I have read in a few places that Pittsburgh is in need of a few decent wingers to play alongside Sid the Kid. How much would the Penguins be willing to trade in order to get that decent winger? (Might I mention that Clowe isn't that bad: I'm not suggesting that we trade Clowe, just that we have some trade bait).

Prospects/players to watch

7) Once again, the Canucks have exited the playoffs in the second round. One concern is that there blue line is not big enough and is filled with puck moving D-men. How much would Vancouver welcome a solid checker like Murray?

Prospects/players to watch:

8) There has been quite a bit of talk about the Flames. Should they rebuild this team or build around what they have? No one knows at this point, but let's pretend that they actually decide to completely deconstruct this team for young money and prospects....

Prospects/players to watch:

9) Now, now, now. The Senators had a rather successful season after somebody (I think he lead the team in goals - I'm not sure though haha just kidding) demanded a trade. But there still needs a bit more to be done. Michalek - a bust, Cheechoo - a bust... Will the Senators be looking to revamp their offense once again?

Prospects/players to watch:

10) A list of UFA's that should be somewhat interesting:

11) A list of RFA's. Improbable that we explore this route, but interesting nonetheless.

12) My Proposed Roster

2010-11 SAN JOSE SHARKS

13) My sick, jacked roster that is a complete fantasy (But still is under the cap!... well, kind of)... Please don't get mad, it's just for a laugh! It is a little bit over, but again, it's just supposed to be for a laugh. I also don't know how I acquired many of these assets, I just did! (I probably lost all of my first round picks for the next 10 years haha)

2010-11 SAN JOSE SHARKS

14) Another thing, which is not related to the roster, is who should be named captain next year? If Blake retires, that leaves a few people open to the captaincy. Does Boyle take over, or does the young star Pavelski take the reigns of this team? However, this team is regarded as Thornton's team - we live and die by his play.

This is just supposed to be a quick rundown of even slightly, very slightly, possible trade targets. On the other hand, there are some realistic options here, like Hamhuis. I haven't read anything about the Sharks actually going after a specific individual... This is more or less an awareness page on what COULD be out there for the Sharks to jump on. (I'm not saying that the Ducks aren't going to sign Ryan, just that he hasn't been signed yet. I'm sure if another team were to do the same thing, Pavelski and Setoguchi would be on there too)

For me, this season was not a success. On the other hand, it was not a failure either. We made it  to the Conference Finals, which is what we should have done. Now, to improve, I noticed a few liabilities in the defensive end as well as an inconsistent forward group. Our goal tending (Nabby) was okay, not great but okay. He should have saved a few more 'easy' ones. Here is my roster(bation) for next years' group:

2010-11 SAN JOSE SHARKS

(as you should have noticed, I raised the salary cap by $2m because that is what it is looking like)

Key Transactions

T.J. Oshie (STL): To get Oshie, I traded away Huskins and Mitchell. St. Louis needs more depth on the back end and a  bit more speed. They receive both with this trade.

Eric Tangradi (PIT): As most of you know, Pittsburgh has some good centers, but not so great wingers. To get Tangradi, I traded them for Clowe and received Tangradi along with a second round pick.

Carey Price (MTL): To get Price, I traded Montreal Murray and a second or third round pick. Montreal lacked size and hitting this post season... Murray would give Montreal what they need.

Key Additions (Free Agency)

Ilya Kovalchuk (NJ): I wasn't sure how much Kovalchuk would cost, so I gave him a contract like Heatley. I know a lot of other teams would be paying him a lot more, but in San Jose, he is reunited with Dany and he also plays for a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Ilya has a wicked shot and could move between the first and second line. Contract 6 years, 45m

Dan Hamhuis (NSH): Hamhuis has a good first pass out of the zone and is also a good shut down Dman. I signed him for 3.2m only because that's what a lot of us believe him to be worth. He would play on Boyle's line to balance out with Boyle's offensive capabilities. Contract 4 years, 12.8m

Zybnek Michalek (PHO): Welcome back to town Michalek (only this time, it's not Milan!). Michalek plays a shut down type of game and would be a huge upgrade from Huskins. Contract 2 years, 4m

Key Signings

Joe Pavleski: After a rather successful season from Pavs, he deserves a boost on his pay check. I signed him for 4.25m. This is based off of Clowe's contract. Pavelski has put up similar numbers to Clowe and had a great post season. He supposedly is in the running for being the next captain of the team too. Contract 6 years, 25.5m

Devin Setoguchi: I think we all know his story. Great first year followed with a weaker second year. However, I believe his is not the case for Seto. He played well in the post season and showed that he can still skate really well.I love how he plays and he should be signed. But due to his inconsistency, I don't think he should get the same increase that Pavs got. I signed Seto to a 6 year, 19.2m contract.

Manny Malhotra: Long story short, he played well and desrves a raise. Contract 3 years, 4.5m

Scott Nichol: A hard hitter, grinder fourth liner. Played with heart and would like to see him in teal next year. Although I don't think he should get a raise. Contract 2 years, 1.5m

PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK AND, IF YOU COULD, LEAVE A ROSTER OF YOUR OWN!

If your team has an unrestricted free agent (UFA), can the team trade that player at the Draft? This would most likely mean that the player would sign with the new team but I was wondering if a player who is just about to hit the free agent market can have their rights traded just prior?

I need this FanPost to be a little longer so I just wanted to say to keep faith in the Sharks at this point in time. They will pull through. They are playing really good hockey and only need to make minor adjustments. I have faith, Go Sharks!!

Just wanted to raise a few questions and possibilities that I've been thinking about. So at the end of this season, regardless of our playoff success, we have some pretty good assets not signed for this next season; Marleau, Nabokov, Pavelski (RFA), Setoguchi (RFA), and Malhotra.

Personally I would sign Marleau to a 4-5 year contract with 5 million a year (a problem now because he has had an amazing year and other teams would be willing to pay between 7 and 8 million). But hopefully he would take a discount for the sharks. I also would not like to pay Marleau anything over 6 million because I want to leave cap room for the other lines.

I would sign Setoguchi and Pavelski to similar contracts consisting of 5-8 years at 4-5 million a year.

Malhotra should get 3 years at 1.2 million a year. 

To be honest, I would not resign Nabokov for such an expensive price tag and would start to test our younger goalies out in the NHL (Greiss, Stalock, Sateri?). 

I would not resign Blake, Wallin, or Leach and would try and trade Huskins this offseason. I would like to see some younger D guys see some time in the NHl (Petrecki, Moore, Demers, Joslin, and some others that we just acquired). 

Now here is my twist and just something that I thought of. There is no proof of this, just my thinking...

What if Wilson were to trade up in this draft? After looking at the draft, it seems that this year will be very deep and have a lot of good players in it. What if Wilson were to trade Marleau at the draft to try and draft the young goalie Campbell or Pickard? These goalies have been highly talked of and will likely be starting netminders soon. But would any team take Marleau for a first rounder??

One thing that I hope to see would be Huskins traded for like a 4th rounder... he is useless for our team. 

And by all means, I make sure that I resign Pavelski and not give him up. He is an outstanding two way player that plays with a ton of heart. To me, he should get either an A, if not the C, next year. So preferably, under the best ideal conditions, I would like to have the lines look like:

Heatley - Thornton - Setoguchi

Clowe - Pavelski - Couture

McGinn - Malhotra - Vesce/Ferriero

Mitchell - Nichol - McLaren

Boyle - Murray

Vlasic - Demers

Moore - Petrecki/another prospect

Greiss - Stalock 

and possibly Campbell if my scenario does come true. These lines aren't as amazing as they are this year, but provide a year to develop our younger talent and make them NHL ready for the years after that. 

Please leave any comments, suggestions, or critics. It's just something that I've been thinking of so don't come down to hard on me!

So after watching the Canucks game, I really wanted to mention a few things.

1) Pavelski 

I just realized that when we needed a goal, I was constantly asking myself where Pavs was. This kid has taken the Sharks upon his shoulders and is emerging as a leader. I would most definitely make resigning him a higher priority than signing Nabokov and Marleau. Pavs has it all; penalty kill, power play, even strength, shootout... he's becoming my go-to-guy on the team (yes ahead of Thornton, Heatley etc.).

2) Clowe

He's returning to his power forward roll! This can only be good news because he has a big body and should use it. I saw him fighting in the corners and getting the dirty plays. He got a goal because of his strength.

3) Couture

This was the first time I really watched the kid play a game. I thought that he did well. He did not make any stupid plays, he played the corners and behind the net real well. I hope that he does not have to make the trip back down to Worcester because if he becomes part of this team, better start now. I might even see what Couture has and put him on the second line for a bit... just a thought

4) Huskins & Leach

Can somebody please take either Moore, Joslin, or Demers and put them in place of these two. I know that Huskins had two assists on the night but overall, the guys get nervous when handling the puck and make bad turnovers in our own end! I think we know why Montreal placed Leach on waivers now... I'm not trying to be critical, it's just that I constantly saw them making mistakes when the pressure was on. I would prefer (when Vlasic is healthy) to have a look like this:

Boyle - Murray

Blake - Vlasic

Wallin - Demers/Joslin/Moore

5) Thornton

SHOOT!!! I saw so many times where if Joe had just shot the puck, we either could have had a goal, rebound, or (if worse) an offensive zone face off. Instead, he forces a turnover and we go back on the defense. I don't want him not to stop passing, just to shoot the puck a little.

6) Overall

So overall, I saw a better effort and more chances. The top line was shut down (worries me a little) but they were not completely out of it (at least Thornton wasn't). For tomorrow night, I would really like to see lines like:

Heatley - Thornton - Setoguchi

Marleau - Pavelski - Couture

McGinn - Malhotra - Clowe

Ortmeyer - Nichol - Mitchell 

and then:

Boyle - Murray

Blake - Wallin

*Huskins - Demers

*providing that Vlasic will not play