Waiting for the other flipper to fall

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 11:05 AM PDT

Related story: Sleek buys printer paper.

Hey, what do you know? My scanner still works!

I was inspired today by a good Sharks post by That'll Cheech You over at Fear the Fin, reminding us of where the Sharks currently sit contract- and cap-wise. It's been a much quieter offseason than anticipated thus far in San Jose-land, and while there's many months before the puck drops on 2009-10, the fact that the first-week-of-July spending frenzy is over is significant. By now, nearly all of 30 teams have committed contracts to fill their budgets and rosters, and seemingly nobody is eager or able to take on significant salary. Whatever trade options GM Doug Wilson may have had at the draft (and we can only speculate there) are now fairly diminished. How it affects the Sharks going forward? Remains to be seen.

Still, it was only one summer ago that the Ducks sat in the Sharks' position -- over the salary cap ceiling with most of the league's summer spending done, trying to unload a useful veteran in Mathieu Schneider. While Schneidermayer carried a significant salary for one more season, he had demonstrated an ability to outscore easy competition and was a useful power play pointman -- I initially thought there'd be a hefty return for a year of his service. But as "spending" summer turned to "waiting" summer, the value of Schneider did shift substantially. Nobody was out to do Brian Burke any cap-managing favors, and Atlanta finally bailed out the Ducks with just days to spare. The return? Ken Klee -- played 3 games for the Ducks before being shipped to Phoenix (where the Ducks still paid half his salary). Brad Larsen -- never played for the Ducks, having an eternal injury of some sort. Chad Painchaud -- I've never even heard of this guy; frankly it sounds made-up.

My point being -- it's not fun to be in the "shed salary" position at this point in the offseason -- certainly we're nearing the point where optimistic trade returns may be out of the picture. Now it's entirely possible that Doug Wilson has more friends in the GM circles than Brian Burke did, and San Jose is still a great team with a lot of superstars -- I don't think the Sharks are screwed by any means. But the later this summer prolongs, the less bargaining power Wilson is likely to have -- could be that the Sharks have to give away players for junk at some point. Here's hoping.

Your move, Sharks. Go Ducks.

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Now it’s entirely possible that Doug Wilson has more friends in the GM circles than Brian Burke did

He and Barstool have that former blueline pairing BFF thing going. Thank god we’re out of money.

Anaheim Calling
http://anaheimcalling.blogspot.com

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 16, 2009 11:35 AM PDT reply actions

Yeah, for sure.

For a brief bit this summer I envisioned the Kings as the solution to San Jose’s problems — they were in a spending mood and had some assets that would have worked for the Sharks. But the Kings were no help to us last year, and I don’t think Lombardi is a guy who wants to bail out the Sharks in any useful way.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Holy crap, the offseason started?

Yep, SJ Sharkie, it always starts after the first round of the playoffs.

Although technically, teams can’t do anything until after the season… but still, I’m really surprised the Sharks haven’t done anything. I know with their cap situation it’s hard to, but I would’ve thought that by now they would’ve moved Cheechoo before everybody else filled up their cap space, who I just looked up on Hockey-reference, only had 29 points last season?? God, he sucks now. Back in 2004-05, he won the Maurice Richard Trophy with 56 goals in 82 games. Since then, he’s had 72 goals in 211 games (28 goals per 82 games).

He’s literally half the man he was back then. He might just need a change of scenery, but I don’t know how much that’ll actually help… Cheechoo had 29 points last year. KYLE CALDER HAD 27!! And it’s not like Cheechoo played only half the season. He did miss 16 games, but Calder only played 8 more…

Hey, maybe there’s an idea! Trade Cheechoo to the Kings for a 3rd round pick we got during the draft from the Panthers, and then sign Calder as a UFA. The Sharks also need LW, as their leading point scorer from last season amongst pure LW was some guy by the name of Jamie McGinn, who was a pitiful 4-2=6.

Okay, I’m done ranting about irrelevant crap. Basically, if the Sharks do anything, they’d probably move Cheechoo because he’s completely umproductive now. I can’t check the salaries or cap space because nhlnumbers.com is down right now, but according to SportsNet his salary from last year was $3 million.

Fuck you, Denis Gauthier. You suck at hockey... and life.

by Kevin Y on Jul 16, 2009 11:54 AM PDT reply actions

Basically, if the Sharks do anything, they’d probably move Cheechoo because he’s completely umproductive now.

I’m fuzzy on the math myself — doing cap math was my job last summer, not this one. But I’m not sure moving Cheech is enough — may have to be a bit more to squeeze under (though somebody can correct me if they’re more in tune).

And also, I think Wilson promised a big shakeup for this summer, and I have to think it’s larger in scope than dropping Cheechoo and Moen. That may be his out — losing one of Thornton / Marleau / Nabokov. He’d get decent return on one of those three, perhaps, or at least has the ability to get creative. Could be something big in the works, though I’m not a guy who is credible on stuff like this.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions

According to Sportscity.com, the Sharks’ cap number is $54,465,000, but one must keep in mind that according to the site Clowe remains an RFA. While it hasn’t been officially confirmed by the team or league, as far as my knowledge goes, ESPN reported a week ago that they had re-signed him, and Wikipedia is reporting a 4-year deal worth an “unconfirmed” $3.5 million. Now, it is unsourced by Wikipedia, and the wording doesn’t make it clear as to whether that’s $3.5 million per season, or the total amount (I assume it’s per season).

If that’s true, then that’ll put them right at $58M towards the cap. The current league cap is $56.8M, so they will have to do something. If they moved Cheechoo, that would decrease their cap number, but I don’t know who else they have to re-sign (of all the days nhlnumbers.com had to be down, it had to be today).

Fuck you, Denis Gauthier. You suck at hockey... and life.

by Kevin Y on Jul 16, 2009 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Loose understanding:

Clowe’s number is $3.6M, I’m pretty sure. And the key unsigned players are Torrey Mitchell and Greiss (who won’t get much, but I think is slated to be the backup netminder).

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Pretty much

Both Torrey Mitchell and Thomas Greiss will get at least $787.5K as per their qualifying offers. Both probably won’t get much more than that, as Greiss will be the backup and Mitchell only played 4 games the entire year.

If you include Mitchell and Greiss in the lineup, and assume Cheechoo is traded away, the lines look something like this:
Marleau-Thornton-Setoguchi
Michalek-Pavelski-Clowe
McGinn-Mitchell-??
Shelley-Nichol-Staubitz

Boyle-Lukowich
Blake-Vlasic
Ehrhoff-Murray
Huskins

Nabokov
Greiss

Obviously, the Sharks need a third line winger, and there is no way in hell a team should ever be considering regularly icing a line of Shelley-Nichol-Staubitz. A defenseman will more than likely be moved (Ehrhoff has been getting some interest), or maybe even another forward (like Michalek).

"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Fools and Sages

by mymclife on Jul 16, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, looking at that — for sure a blueliner needs to be moved. I don’t think Wilson signed Huskins to a nice raise just to reprise his role on the Sharks last year.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions

If a defenseman is moved, it will be one of Lukowich, Ehrhoff, or Murray. Lukowich’s salary is minimal ($1.56M), so probably one of Ehrhoff or Murray. Ehrhoff is an offensive defenseman, which is in vogue and likely to get a greater return, while Murray is the sole bruising force on the Sharks’ blue line, and is sort of overpaid so won’t get much back. But then Mike Moore is one of the more NHL-ready prospects the Sharks have, and he’s basically Murray with a little more offense. So there’s really no obvious answer.

"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Fools and Sages

by mymclife on Jul 16, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

If you want more on trade bait, here’s a linky dink.

Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Jul 16, 2009 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions

You had me worried for a moment there, Plank...

I was afraid that if I clicked on the trade bait link, the next thing I would hear blarring through my computer speakers would be, “Hello! I’m Julie and I luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuv hockey!” followed by the bad 70’s porno soundtrack.

2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!

by DodgerBlueBalls on Jul 16, 2009 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh, and I haven’t added it to the sidebar yet, nor have I explored it very much myself, but apparently CapGeek.com is a reputable source these days among the bloggers.

I’ve linked to the SJS page, but feel free to explore it and figure it out — as I said, I’m new at it too.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions

I LOVE CapGeek. It’s fantastic.

When I'm not battling in California:

http://www.cyclelikesedins.com

by jamestobrien on Jul 16, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions

And I like this graphic because, for one, the King and Duck are talking friendly to each other. Usually it’s about having to babysit the King or something stupid like that.

Fuck you, Denis Gauthier. You suck at hockey... and life.

by Kevin Y on Jul 16, 2009 11:55 AM PDT reply actions

Well, the schedulers put off Ducks/Kings matchups this year until December — that’s half a year away before we play anything meaningful. Babysitting will have to wait this year. :)

I kid — the Kings are growing up. Cartoons can only reflect that.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I don’t see the king wearing a diaper this time ’round.

Fuck you, Denis Gauthier. You suck at hockey... and life.

by Kevin Y on Jul 16, 2009 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey now — most of that diaper wearing had to do with the blog’s infancy. :)

Only a few were about postseason bedtimes.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions

I love the whole bucked tooth look on the Shark…priceless!

GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter

by SK eleven on Jul 16, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Heh, I was just going to say “That Shark needs to get its overbite fixed!”

When I'm not battling in California:

http://www.cyclelikesedins.com

by jamestobrien on Jul 16, 2009 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions

It’s a subtle cartoon metaphor — the bigger the overbite, the more over-the-salary-cap-ceiling they are.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey-o!

When I'm not battling in California:

http://www.cyclelikesedins.com

by jamestobrien on Jul 16, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Awesome.

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Jul 16, 2009 12:25 PM PDT reply actions

San jose is more dangerous as they are now….they’d be foolish to tinker too much..they probally have a real comfort level…like u said earl heres hoping they do some trade to get heatly and disrupt there locker room..bring in a cancer like that…I’d like to interpret your cartoon as the king and duck baiting the sharks to make a move…maybe a pre-cartoon of them talking about how there gonna dismantle the sharks..it would go like this:

ralph the “duck”: all right lets chat up all these moves we made..get the sharks to fuck up there team
louie the “king”: your right…lets also upper deck there toilets!!
ralph the “duck”: whats that?
louie the “king”: shitting in there toilet water supply…so when flushed the water comes out brown!!
ralph the “duck”: you sick fuck
louie the king here he comes!!

Put those cookies back..Mutha fucka!!

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jul 16, 2009 12:50 PM PDT reply actions

lets also upper deck there toilets!!

Fucking hilarious. And for sure I’m hoping to prod Wilson into some brown-water trade.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Then we’ll roll him up in a carpet and throw him off a bridge! Teeheehee!

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Jul 16, 2009 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions

how old are you guys?? you sound like my boys at times! and that is not a compliment. :)

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Jul 16, 2009 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions

You might want to get your kids tested for awesome geniusism.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Upper Deck is played out. It’s all about The Nightmare. Or The Stowaway, which I invented recently.

Anaheim Calling
http://anaheimcalling.blogspot.com

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 16, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Thank you

Nice to see a Sharks piece here Earl, even if written by an enemy.

You bring some good points here. I’m starting to get really nervous about what DW has left to do.

by Ivano M on Jul 16, 2009 4:45 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, it’s certainly not a desirable place to be — nervous is probably right, though this could all end with a “well, that could have been way worse” reality.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Hmm, and now Ortmeyer?

Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed right wing Jed Ortmeyer to a one-year contract.

There’s someone for the forward lines, probably cheap, but another wrinkle in DW’s to-do list.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jul 16, 2009 5:56 PM PDT reply actions

Odd. Ortmeyer never really struck me as particularly useful/NHL-caliber. Kind of a cool name, though.

When I'm not battling in California:

http://www.cyclelikesedins.com

by jamestobrien on Jul 16, 2009 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions

They signed a lot of AHL level guys, one former Duck. I wonder if they’re trying to create a league minimum line.

Anaheim Calling
http://anaheimcalling.blogspot.com

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 16, 2009 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I think you’re onto something Arthur. We would happily send them John Zeiler if that’s what SJ’s intetions really are…

2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!

by DodgerBlueBalls on Jul 16, 2009 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions

read this comment on TSN about the new sharks:

There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that the fan selected in a pre-game lucky seat contest will play left wing on the 4th line. It just seems that way.

and laughed my ass off.

sorry Ang.

by Mike in OC on Jul 16, 2009 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

mmmhmmm … there is just no love!

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Jul 17, 2009 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions

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Pacific Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
San Jose Fear The Fin	51	29	16	6	64
Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	54	26	18	10	62
Phoenix Five For Howling	54	25	21	8	58
Dallas Defending Big D	52	27	23	2	56
Anaheim Anaheim Calling	53	21	24	8	50