A possible trade idea

by BobPurkey34 on Nov 19, 2010 1:51 PM PST

Just stopping by from Pensburgh, but I thought of a potential trade that could really help both the Penguins and the Sharks.

Now first of all, on the East Coast, I don't get to see nearly enough of the Sharks as I would like. Most of the time, I'm forced to catch highlights or read things. Anyway, from my knowledge, and please correct me if I'm making things up, the Sharks should be looking to add a puck-moving defenseman at some point to assist in your Stanley Cup dreams. I believe we have your answer.

The Penguins are a team that has had a surplus of puck-moving defensemen over the past few seasons. Ray Shero is strangely obsessed with them. Even now, 3-4 of our defensemen could be considered mobile, puck-moving d-men. Ben Lovejoy has been a fairly nice fit at #6. Kris Letang has really taken the next step after signing a new contract last spring. Paul Martin just signed on for 5 years. Which brings me to Alex Goligoski.

Go-Go as we call him is your prototype mobile puck mover.

While he may be a bit undersized at 6-nothing, there's no question he has a lot of offensive upside and can make excellent passes up ice out of his own end. As a very fluid skater, he can also lug the puck himself, although he still needs to work out the kinks there. So what price? I think that's obvious.

The Penguins have been on an ongoing conquest to find a winger to play on a top line. Devin Setoguchi would be almost an ideal fit for the Crosby line. No offense meant to Pascal Dupuis - he's played mostly admirably this year - but he's just not the man for a top line in the NHL.

Both players have a nearly identical cap hit - Setoguchi at 1.8 and Goligoski at 1.833, although Gogo is under contract for an additional year. Both players are not without flaws either. You're all aware of Setoguchi's offensive struggles this season. Gogo isn't physical at all and was just removed from the Pens' top power play unit. But to me, this move would be very beneficial to both teams, because if it is indeed a puck moving defenseman you're after, Goligoski is your answer.

What do you say?

Poll

Setoguchi for Goligoski?

Yes

33 votes

Maybe

30 votes

No

40 votes

103 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'm going maybe on this.

We’ve gone back and forth a lot around here on if we need a defense-first defenseman or an offensive defenseman. It seems like the consensus is that we may need some of both. We’re not getting the blue line offensive production we want, but we also need to shore up the defensive end and start forcing turnovers rather than giving them up.

I haven’t seen enough of Goligoski to be able to say for sure if his offensive numbers would outweigh us needing to cover for another offensive d-man pinching and looking for shots. Or if he’d make the turnover issue worse.

Definitely don’t mind the discussion, though.

by Auth0r on Nov 19, 2010 2:09 PM PST reply actions

PAUL MARTIN PLZ

by Khaaz on Nov 19, 2010 2:44 PM PST reply actions

I actually kinda like this idea. Goligoski is a really solid puck mover. And young. And pretty cheap. I could see him fitting in very nicely on Vlasic’s pairing…let Vlasic just worry about defense (I think his best game of the year was when he was paired with Boyle). Goligoski will get pushed around a bit…he’s not a crease clearer, or anything like that. But he can carry the puck out of the zone, can make good passes, has a pretty decent shot off the point.

Personally, I’d do this trade in a heartbeat…but I’ve been clamoring for an offensive D man for the 2nd pairing for quite a while now…

"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
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by ZeroIndulgence on Nov 19, 2010 2:59 PM PST reply actions

I just worry if we DID get him and DID pair him with Pickles that they would get destroyed by physical forwards. Neither of them are that big and neither of them are terribly strong on the body.

by animadiversion on Nov 19, 2010 3:18 PM PST up reply actions

But they wouldn’t get destroyed by fast, speed forwards, which has been our poison. It’s all a matchup game. Against everyone, we need more offense from the blueline, and he would provide it.

"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
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by ZeroIndulgence on Nov 19, 2010 9:55 PM PST up reply actions

I dunno, the Chicago series last year showed how powerful it is to have a giant ass in front of our goaltender… I dunno though, any improvement would be welcome at this point.

by animadiversion on Nov 19, 2010 10:04 PM PST up reply actions

I don't think the Sharks need any more size on defense.

I think someone who is reliable with moving the puck down the ice is what they should be looking for. Offense doesn’t hurt either. Size is a plus, but I believe that having those other qualities is something the Sharks lack on defense the most.

by SanFranciscoKnights on Nov 22, 2010 11:25 PM PST up reply actions

I wasn’t advocating for size, but rather for strength. Someone who is able to clear the crease of those meddlesome giant asses that like to sit in our crease

by animadiversion on Nov 23, 2010 12:55 PM PST up reply actions

Honestly it’s probably not too bad a move for us right now since we’d only be losing a 3rd liner, but i think we’re better off keeping Seto in the long run.

by Khaaz on Nov 19, 2010 3:08 PM PST reply actions

hmm.. thats actually a tough question to answer

I mean at this point Seto has been demoted to the third line, and Cooch is kicking ass on the second line. Moving forward from here, do you think that Seto has a legit shot at cracking the top six?

Couture has been steady and is quickly proving his versatility and scoring touch. We have also yet to see Cooch struggle with inconsistency or go through an extended slump. Clearly we have a much smaller sample size than with Seto, but Logan’s game seems to be build on being in the right place at the right time, getting deflections, and making the occasional flashy play from time to time.

Seto on the other hand, has yet to show me anything special this season. Whatever is going on in his head needs to get fixed, because the talent, speed, and shot are all there, but he doesn’t seem to get himself any open ice. It’s been pretty disappointing this year to see Seto not pull himself out of the rut. And with the way Cooch is playing the only way Seto cracks the top six is if someone gets injured. With Heater, Jumbo, Patty, and Pavs all signed for the next 4 years, and Clowe for the next three, Seto could get burried on the third line for years. Unless something changes, we might see Seto actively pursue a offer-sheet with another team this offseason, as clearly he has top 6 potential (I would argue top-line potential in the right circumstances) he may not want to be relegated to the Sharks 3rd line anymore.

The other side of this is the lackluster offensive performance that Vlasic has put together to this point in the season. 0 points is not getting it done. This is with time on the second powerplay unit. Again, this seems to be some head issues, as Vlasic is much to cautious with the puck moving it up the ice. Time and time again he will skate the puck out of our zone, looking for an outlet pass, can’t find an opening or isn’t willing to try to make an above average play, and chips to puck forward towards some open ice. It’s pretty frustrating to watch.

I don’t know much about Goligoski, but it sounds like he could provide some offensive upside. Certainly filling Vlasic’s spot on the powerplay would be beneficial to the Sharks. I put maybe on the poll as I do believe that the Sharks could get a little more for Seto. Also I still have hope that Seto can get his game going and do enough to crack the top 6 again.

But if this trade was made today… I would cry over it.

by jMoneyBrah on Nov 19, 2010 3:31 PM PST up reply actions

I meant to finish with...

…I wouldn’t cry over it

by jMoneyBrah on Nov 19, 2010 3:34 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks for the proposal, but...

No way…Sharks need a physical 2-way Defenseman to play w/ Vlasic on the 2nd pairing, 2nd PP unit, and PK. The perfect option from the Pens would be Michalek or Martin and maybe Letang, but no way Go-Go

Go Sharks!

by Dmitriy on Nov 19, 2010 3:42 PM PST reply actions

I wouldn’t want Michalek on the pp at all. Ever. Letang does nothing for me. Martin isn’t moving, since he was just signed. Meanwhile, Goligoski would give us a potent offensive weapon from the blueline. I wouldn’t dismiss this out of hand…

"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
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by ZeroIndulgence on Nov 19, 2010 9:57 PM PST up reply actions

We definitely need something on D

But my question is which guy who is currently playing D gets to sit?

Demers is really blossoming into Dan Boyle Junior.

Wallin has played better than expected, can’t move him anyway

Huskins? Who wants Huskins?

Murray. Potential to be a motherfucker on D, but not if he has to cover for his D partner (SLOW!)

Boyle is untouchable

Vlassic still waiting for him to really hit his potential.

We need Chris Pronger, basically, as much as it pains me to say it. We need a guy who can play physical, can shoot from the point, and can also has decent hands for passing. I dont think Goligosky is that guy.

I love Douglas Murray, but we are asking too much of him playing the system we currently play. His limited skill set handcuffs him into minutes and situations he isnt cut out to play.

by Morti on Nov 19, 2010 3:47 PM PST reply actions

I seem to remember an hint somewhere...

…that DW had wanted Pronger, but Ana.‘s management didn’t want to trade him within the same division.

"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey."
"Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)

by Soloact on Nov 19, 2010 4:31 PM PST up reply actions

I seem to remember wanting to draft him but being told by Douchebag, sorry Pronger, said he wouldn’t play for us. This I believe is the root of MOST of the shark fans hatred of Pronger. At least its a large portion of mine..

by animadiversion on Nov 19, 2010 6:01 PM PST up reply actions

seto surely needs to be somewhere that he’s not 3rd line. the crosby idea would be fun to see. makes you realize how offensively stacked we are.

by drewhamlet on Nov 19, 2010 5:55 PM PST reply actions

I don't think Pittsburgh would agree to that

I think getting Goligarski is a good idea, but Pittsburgh would probably want something more than just Setoguchi. I say offer Seto plus a couple prospects and/or draft picks for Go-Go.

by zack007attack on Nov 19, 2010 8:03 PM PST reply actions

Seto is worth more than Goligoski…so to offer prospects with him seems absurd. I like Goligoski, and would be willing to give up Seto 1 for 1 because we do need the blueline help. But don’t kid yourself, Seto has trade value in this league.

"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
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by ZeroIndulgence on Nov 19, 2010 9:58 PM PST up reply actions

Exactly

and in any case, i think it would be the Penguins who would need to give up a draft pick or a prospect. This is because to the Pens, Setoguchi would finally bring a strong physical player who has the ability to put pucks in the net on a line with Crosby. And with the amount of puck moving Dmen that the pens have, i think it is fair to say that they can offer a bit more for him.

by Sharks_Own on Nov 28, 2010 10:22 AM PST up reply actions