Sharks Want Help on D.

by Sharks_Own on Feb 2, 2010 4:05 PM PST

Reports are coming in from Darren Dreger that the Sharks were actively trying to land Ian White from the Toronto Maple Leafs, before he was traded to Calgary. This means that the sharks are looking for a cheap, yet decent Dman to be paired with, most likely, Huskins. This means that the sharks will most probably explore their options. After taking a quick trip to nhlnumbers.com, here are my leading candidates that the sharks might try to nab.

#1) Marc Andre Bergeron:

For the sharks, this kid would be the next best bet now that Ian White might be off the market. I still think that he has the most upside out of any Dman that the sharks can afford. He has a blast from the point, so he can help the defensive numbers in terms of offense go up. He plays solid D on a team that is pretty bad. He has 10 goals and 18 assists for the Habs, and he plays on a team that is currently out of a playoff spot. If the Habs decide to cough him up, they will demand somewhere around a 3rd round pick which is not bad.

#2) Kris Russell

Kris Russell would be an interesting pickup for the sharks. Not only would he provide good support for Huskins on the 3rd D line, but he would also address the need for a cheap young Dman signed further than this year. I know this may not appeal to some people, having to commit further than just this year, bot for a 22 year old, i think it can be done. Plus his salary would only be 1.3 million per year after this year. He is a minus 5 on a terrible team, which says a lot considering he has the highest plus minus of any Dman on that team. He has been solid defensively, but he won't wow you with his offensive ability. Kris Russell will most probably be more expensive than Bergeron, because he is signed for 3 more years after that. We will likely have to give up a prospect and a 4th round draft pick to bring him in.

#3) Jack Hillen

The Islanders had a good run in the beginning and hit a slide afterwards. This pushed them out of the playoff race, but the Islanders are not sellers. I still think though that Jack Hillen can be picked up for the right price. Jack Hillen would bring some defensive posture to the back end and he can provide some offense when needed. He has the offensive numbers of a Jason Demers type player, but he is also sound defensively and young. His contract spans over one more year after this, but its only for 550k. He will most probably demand a 2nd round pick or just a prospect. This would also help answer our questions on the blue line going forward with a young budding Dman.

If you feel like there are other alternatives better than this, leave a post, but these 3 are the ones that I would target if i was Doug Wilson.

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Comments

I’d want no part of Marc-Andre Bergeron. He’s too much of a one-dimensional offensive defenseman, and in my opinion the Sharks need someone who is going to be able to play tough defensive minutes.

Hillen’s really the only one who appeals to me on some level here, but I agree— Wilson will be looking to upgrade the defense as we move into the playoffs.

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by Mr. Plank on Feb 2, 2010 4:37 PM PST reply actions

Good point, but i think the sharks are not looking for someone who is going to log the defensive minutes. The only time that the Huskins/Demers/Leach pairing has been put out on the ice is for offensive or neutral zone face-offs with usually one of the top 3 lines.

by Sharks_Own on Feb 2, 2010 6:00 PM PST up reply actions

Interesting options (esp. Bergeron)

Just keep in mind that Hillen will be out 6-8 weeks from that Ovechkin slapshot that broke his jaw.

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by Conico do Mayo Miracle on Feb 2, 2010 4:37 PM PST reply actions

I think it will work out, because he will be ready before the playoffs and the injury will make his price tag drop.

by Sharks_Own on Feb 2, 2010 5:59 PM PST up reply actions

Bergeron is absolutely terrible defensively

And he isn’t particularly creative offensively either. He pretty much has one tool, a booming slapshot. That’s about it. Defensively, I’d trust Huskins and Leach over him. Russell I like. Other possibilities are Gleason and Corvo. (If we could get Gleason for Ferriero/Zalewski+2nd+Groulx/Braun+Huskins for salary, I would be very pleased.)

by tarlinian on Feb 2, 2010 4:47 PM PST reply actions

does not sound like Wilson wants to get rid of Huskins, although Wilson always surprises me. I feel as though Huskins has built some trust with both Mclellan and Wilson.

by Sharks_Own on Feb 2, 2010 6:03 PM PST up reply actions

Gleason

Would love to have him but Canes fans sound like they want more (i.e., Seto +). Crazy.

by IsThisTheYear? on Feb 3, 2010 2:51 PM PST up reply actions

I think that the Sharks will make a move for a defenseman making over $1M. They need a guy to take minutes from Blake, and none of these players would do that.

I like the ideas though, and I also agree that defense will get attention this trade deadline.

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by Matthew_Taylor on Feb 2, 2010 5:12 PM PST reply actions

Hmm

This means that the sharks are looking for a cheap, yet decent Dman to be paired with, most likely, Huskins.

Am I the only one who’d rather that sentence ended with Leach?

by xarexerax on Feb 2, 2010 5:35 PM PST reply actions

not at all. As surprised as I would have been about saying that when they picked Leach up, I totally agree now

by fatbabies on Feb 2, 2010 5:42 PM PST up reply actions

By the way...

I, personally, am still hoping that we can somehow get Ian White from the flames.

by Sharks_Own on Feb 2, 2010 6:10 PM PST reply actions

I'm not a big fan of any of the guys mentioned previously.

I can understnad filling holes ( TWSS), but plugging the dam with whatever’s available would be suicide.

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by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Feb 2, 2010 6:25 PM PST reply actions

Dislike.

Sharks need a very good defensive D to be paired w/ Boyle, Blake/Vlasic and Murray/Demers or Leach are good otherwise…get rid of Huskins if needed, get rid of Shelley, Staubitz…but it is absolutely crucial that we get someone of Regehr’s caliber (as i mentioned in the other topic…) :D

by Dmitriy on Feb 3, 2010 7:03 PM PST reply actions

I think Boyle and Murray are perfectly fine together this year. It allows Boyle to work freely and Murray is solid defensively. If anything the new guy would be a partner for Demers/Leach/Huskins (if one of those players is not traded)

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by SharksFanEst.1994 on Feb 3, 2010 9:25 PM PST up reply actions

Shelly and Staubitz aren’t going anywhere – they play for peanuts. For how much they make the fact that they are warm bodies is equitable for the Sharks

by jMoneyBrah on Feb 4, 2010 3:24 PM PST up reply actions