A return to San Jose for Owen Nolan? It's possible, and why it makes sense for the Sharks

Adds a vet to the forwards, and could make sense after we get that much needed D-man for the top 4.

And yeah, it would make a hell of a XX Anniversary Sweater.

Just kidding.

I would love this. It just makes so much sense.

but what are the chances this actually happens?

Do you think there’d be a Sharks Nolan t-shirt if this happened? I’ve always wanted one…

That it might make sense for SJ to sign him to a tryout contract like was done last year with a couple players I believe.

I also agree that we shouldn’t sign him unless he can really play. Obviously over 35 contracts count and we up against the cap.

It seems like it’s a team’s market right now and unfortunetly for us fans and Owen, it might be to the teams benefit to go that route.

Nolan might be willing to attend camp without a contract because it’s SJ. I’ve seen previous interviews with Owen where he pretty much said he’d love to retire in SJ.

It makes sense to me at least…

I will be so pumped when this happens as he is still a very productive player

I might have preferred Nolan to be signed in lieu of Mayers, but that’s a lot of quibbling against a guy who has yet to play a single game for us.

I talked to a buddy of mine who’s a Leaf’s fan, and a generally honest one at that, and has no qualms with stating who does and doesn’t suck on the Leaf’s roster, and he called Mayers a good locker room guy.

Maybe we could have a new Monsters of Medicare line with Buster, Mayers, and someone else. Think Chris Chelios wants to play forward?

All in all, I’d be a fan of bringing Nolan back. I think this year’s squad is going to greatly miss Manny Malhotra. Logan Couture is going to have to really take his spot, being the jack of all trades, able to play on any line and being that vital scoring depth. If he can set up a crease-crasher like Nolan, I think you’re spot on TCY in that Nolan could be a 20 goal scorer from the third line.

Also gone with Manny Malhotra is a bit of bruising. One Punch Manny didn’t drop many times for us, but we always knew he could, meaning we didn’t HAVE to rely on Shelley and Staubitz. It’d be nice to have some sandpaper come back to the lineup.

(Not Bernie…though it would be fun to have a Nichol and Nicholls)

And with Mush & Reech working behind the SJS scenes, all will be right in the hockey world for this Sharks fan.

i miss me some buster.
i kept the paper from the day he was traded.

I approve this idea. Now who do we need to talk with to make it happen? :)

I love me some Owen Nolan, so if he comes at a reasonable price, then, yes.

I wouldn’t mind Nolan signing here, and I likewise wouldn’t be upset if we didn’t sign him too. I’ve never been one for nostalgia, so that really doesn’t factor into my decision. But the dude has put up some goals pretty consistantly over the last many seasons. I’d take 15 goals from a third line player. If he can also help Couture get to 20 and McGinn get to 15, then we have a pretty potent 3rd line…although that’s probably asking a lot. And he can chip in some PK minutes. All in all, it would be a fine signing. Although, if we don’t sign him and decide to go with a kid from Worcester (Ferriero, anyone?), well, that’s fine too.

Of course, we all know DW has yet to sign his “old guy looking to retire on a winner” guy yet this offseason, so it very well could happen with Owen.

YES

This is an awesome idea, he’d be a great fit. I had thought about it before but I didn’t thik it could happen since i assumed we’d be up against the cap pretty hard, but cap space shouldn’t be an issue for signing a guy like him at this point in his career.

Unless DW is vehemently opposed to bringing Nolan back for some reason…Nolan seems to almost assuredly be wearing teal next season imo.

The league is running out of players who were in NHL ’94 and played for the Nordiques. Bring back Nolan, hes useful, a great former Shark and hed fit in perfectly.

I’d be happy to have Nolan back if he’s in a JR-esque role. He seems like he can give us some things we need and having history around is never a bad thing. Especially on an anniversary year.

A 3rd line of Cooch, McGinn, and Buster would make me cream in my pants. Also I think Nolan would give us some more flexibility should one of the top 6 get injured.

I’m all for this, and would totally buy his jersey!
Don’t think he should be captain though.

If it’s any year, it has to be this one.

He always played so well against us too. Didnt he get a hat trick against us when he played for Calgary?

But this article headlined PD

How weird would it be to see Nolan come back though? Patty’s the only player left on the team from his last days in teal. I’m sure the adjustment wouldn’t be so bad since he’s been participating in Captain’s Ice for a while now.

Was my faveorite player when I was a kid. If the Sharks bring him back I might just have to go stalk him. I still have his jersey from when I was 6 time for the long awaited autograph.

Provided he’s cheap, doesn’t serve as a locker room distraction, and doesn’t cause McGinn to rack up the miles on the Worcester shuttle again. But I think it’s safe to say that all of those conditions would probably be met if he signs. I have a feeling that he’ll likely sign after Willie Mitchell decides where he’s going to go, so the Sharks know how much money they have to work with.

Also, I was reading Nolan’s wikipedia page, and I find it quite funny that three of the five events considered momentous enough to be listed under the “Later Years” section was against the Sharks. The guy really does reach milestones against us.

Yes.

I guess that means McLaren stays in Woosta year?

That’s probably about the same price range Nolan should expect.

Also, does that mean there is no way they fit Mitchell in considering they’re now 3.6 over the cap?

Man, it’s so much easier to just sit on Twitter all summer, haha. I think bringing Nolan back on the cheap almost makes too much sense. Ever since his departure, Nolan’s shown a penchant for consistently tormenting us on the scoreboard, almost as if he saved his best performances for when the Sharks were playing one of his 4 subsequent clubs. It’ll be interesting to see who Sharkspage chose for Mt. Puckmore, because I don’t see how Nolan doesn’t make the cut. In any case, production aside, the point I agree with most is the leadership aspect, and the Roenick comparison is very apt. The only veteran presence in the bottom six is Nichol and Mayers, but while a player such as Nichol may command the respect of his teammates, he’s not necessarily the leader Nolan is – particularly considering Nolan’s worn the “C” on more than one of his teams.

He is not needed and would take away from development from our younger players.

This Nolan talk surfaces every year and it’s never been a good idea.

Nolan was a part of Sharks history and he should stay that way. You want to sign him to a one-day retirement deal? Fine, but the Sharks should be moving on from their past.

http://twitter.com/RealKyper/status/22108851066

I’m told clubs have been notified they are out of Mitchell race. Look for LA Kings to announce Willie Mitchell soon on a multi year deal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1QCBF3h_tM

Never say never, but do not expect to see Owen Nolan back with the Sharks this season. Just not going to happen, says a front-office source.

He says Nolan isn’t gonna happen. Reasoning in the link, as well as info on Niemi and Willie Mitchell.

WTC