Speculation: 2022-23 Sharks Roster Discussion Part II

[Jargon]

It’s not a good look for the Barracuda but he even said that’s not the reason he left. It’s because he wanted more money in the A.

Yeah, poor guy wants to play in the NHL and this is his only chance. But man, what a dumb way to coach.

 

[Levie]

Yeah, poor guy wants to play in the NHL and this is his only chance. But man, what a dumb way to coach.

Honestly the NHL should investigate it. Asking a player who has had concussions to just fight for no reason is bush league.

 

[TheBeard]

Honestly the NHL should investigate it. Asking a player who has had concussions to just fight for no reason is bush league.

Agreed although something seems off about the whole thing. I wonder if there’s a case of broken telephone somewhere along the way.

 

[Cas]

Fire Will, fire McCarthy, bring in two people who have zero previous connection to the Sharks organization. Get some fresh ideas in for once.

 

[one2gamble]

That interview makes little sense and as much as I think the Cuda have a trash staff it feels lost in translation. It talks about fighting but then he basically says he left because they couldnt agree on an AHL salary. If someone on the staff was really picking out fighting opponents he should be fired on the spot. If the staff was asking him to be more physical and add "fight" to his game to take the next step, that makes some sense.

 

[Alaskanice]

That interview makes little sense and as much as I think the Cuda have a trash staff it feels lost in translation. It talks about fighting but then he basically says he left because they couldnt agree on an AHL salary. If someone on the staff was really picking out fighting opponents he should be fired on the spot. If the staff was asking him to be more physical and add "fight" to his game to take the next step, that makes some sense.

This is probably most likely.

 

[Hobocop]

I'm more interested in this part, since like I said, Kaut never actually fought:

"They said they wanted to get something more out of me. Maybe I made a mistake, but I don't think the fights decided if I was going to be in the NHL. [Fights] are on the decline in hockey," Kaut said. "Plus, you didn't feel like we were a team at Sharks Farm. Each of the young people played on their own. Guys, I won't fight for you."

It's why they tried to add so many veteran guys to the Cuda and probably will again.

The reporter on Twitter says our offer to him was $100k in the AHL, which is more than minimum but isn't really on the higher end. I'd have offered him more than that.

Kaut really came out firing in this interview, because what he had to say about the Czech national coach was even more scathing, IMO.

(Google translate):

On the day of the match, I found out from the video that it was true, but no one talked to me personally. I need what role I have. Kari first told me to play my game, but I found out I couldn't. So Kari, what should I play? I wasn't allowed to force, finish off opponents, nothing. Our opponents often made fools of us because of it.

Did the coaches specifically forbid it?
You've always seen it. When we managed to get the puck out, no one knew WHAT to do next. Five people have to force, not three or four, so we preferred to all retreat to the middle zone and wait for them to bypass us. Communication failed? From my point of view, sure. I assumed that I was the youngest boy and in my own tournament. I kept my mouth shut and didn't say anything, I respected everything.

 

[Patty Ice]

Why not? He’s the best captain in franchise history and still a hell of a player. I would rather players like Smith and Eklund learn from and model themselves after Pavs than Logan Couture.

We also currently only have 6 forwards signed for 24-25.

Pavs needs to be the new coach of the Cuda. Sign him to a retirement deal so he can move into that role.

 

[Coily]

Has Joe Will done anything positive for the organization. I wish he got shit canned more than DW.

No.

 

[hohosaregood]

I'm more interested in this part, since like I said, Kaut never actually fought:



It's why they tried to add so many veteran guys to the Cuda and probably will again.

The reporter on Twitter says our offer to him was $100k in the AHL, which is more than minimum but isn't really on the higher end. I'd have offered him more than that.

Kaut really came out firing in this interview, because what he had to say about the Czech national coach was even more scathing, IMO.

(Google translate):

I was checking out the Czech interview too but using deepl for the translation and he just seemed generally disgruntled about being in the US and being sent down to the AHL again.

 

[Jargon]

That interview makes little sense and as much as I think the Cuda have a trash staff it feels lost in translation. It talks about fighting but then he basically says he left because they couldnt agree on an AHL salary. If someone on the staff was really picking out fighting opponents he should be fired on the spot. If the staff was asking him to be more physical and add "fight" to his game to take the next step, that makes some sense.

Yeah though he literally says they picked out a guy for him to fight every game. The intention is pretty clear there.

 

[jarr92]

Two things can be true at the same time.

1. The Barracuda coaching staff seemed to be pretty bad IMO. The team looked overmatched against every team other than Sommer's Gulls.

2. If Kaut was more physical he would have more value as an NHLer.

 

[Hodge]

The salary thing is a legit gripe that I don't know the solution to. It is pretty ridiculous to make these guys play for $70-100k with the cost of living in San Jose. Maybe it wasn't a great idea to put a minor league team in the most expensive city in America.

 

[ISharkted]

If being told to be a facepuncher and picking out specific opponents for him, that’s a concern. I can understand them asking him to play a heavier game, finish checks and such, but picking out an opponent for him to fight feels like 1970’s hockey. If it is about the money, maybe he is just being sour Kaut.

I agree with Hodge though, that is a tough salary to live on in a very high cost of living area.

 

[Mafoofoo]

Is there a particular reason the Sharks couldn’t say essentially pay rent for players in the AHL?

What would that be like $1-2M per season? If they can afford to eat salary for players not on the team you could easily pay for that.

1. Reduces the financial burden on AHL players in SJ and you can sorta ensure they don’t end up in some seedy part of SJ just to afford rent

2. Probably helps in negotiation and team bonding if say 70-80% of the roster live on the same floor of an apartment building



Also yes offer Pavelski 4.5M per year to coach the AHL team or even manage it.

Hell, at this point I’m sure if we ran the Barracuda with every decision going to a poll on HFSharks they’d end up in a better position

 

[hohosaregood]

The org response if anybody is interested or believes them

 

[themelkman]

The org response if anybody is interested or believes them

I dont but of course they have to put something like this out.

Wouldnt mind if this caused them to make actual changes though

 

[Grinner]

Shouldn't be all thst tough to verify. Even if it's off the record

 

[TheBeard]

I was checking out the Czech interview too but using deepl for the translation and he just seemed generally disgruntled about being in the US and being sent down to the AHL again.

Maybe we never traded Merkley after all.

 

[TheBeard]

The org response if anybody is interested or believes them

I 100% believe them and believe there was a major miscommunication. Fighting is clearly on the outs and even though the team was top 5 in fighting majors I don’t see them trying to pull anyone specifically in that direction.

 

[Alaskanice]

I 100% believe them and believe there was a major miscommunication. Fighting is clearly on the outs and even though the team was top 5 in fighting majors I don’t see them trying to pull anyone specifically in that direction.

I tend to agree with this. It doesn’t make much sense to order a player to fight. Those players that do, do so for a reason. Fighting is accepted but mainly for certain guys. I honestly think something was twisted in the translation. It’s happened before.

 

[Mafoofoo]

I have to give credit to Joe Will for the finesse job on the team assuming he’s been in charge of the AHL team since he became AGM.

Bro got to coast on doing a mediocre job with the AHL team since DW was keeping the Sharks in contention. Seems like every player like a Braun who became a full time NHLer did so in spite of the Wooster Sharks/Cuda vs being developed.

 

[gaucholoco3]

I tend to agree with this. It doesn’t make much sense to order a player to fight. Those players that do, do so for a reason. Fighting is accepted but mainly for certain guys. I honestly think something was twisted in the translation. It’s happened before.

I don’t know how proficient Kaut is with English so it could just be a misunderstanding asking for more physical play which is something that could benefit his game.

That doesn’t excuse the hundred or so other issues that the Cuda coaching staff has.

 

[Sharkz4Fun]

The org response if anybody is interested or believes them

Man this organization is going down the drain. You don't have your 5'10 captain who still has a year on his deal left request a trade after only a year if this isn't true. You don't have the most skilled prospect in your system, also 5'10, pick a fight with a guy who was like 6'3 or something in an AHL game where (IIRC) they were getting their ass kicked if this isn't true (though I think it was half Eklund's call too).

They need to get tougher as they've probably been softest organization in the league the last 20 years. This is not the way to get tougher. I don't even think it's McCarthy's call, and I wouldn't be surprised if its Burke/someone else behind the scenes making the call with the Wilsons gone because McCarthy was never a tough guy. But clearly there's a great chance of these accusations being true, and just one of the many issues going on right now.

 

[hohosaregood]

Did a trial for the czech site just to see the whole interview. Here's the Sharks relevant stuff translated through Deepl. There's some stuff about his mental state while in america not being great and happier being home but it wasn't necessarily relevant. I guess a charitable read for the Sharks side of this is that they asked him to be more assertive and he just wasn't at the level they wanted him to be.

Zbij Čecha. Ne! Tak nehraješ. Kaut o konci v NHL i o tom, co bylo špatně na MS - iDNES.cz

Poper se. Výzva, kterou český hokejista Martin Kaut na farmě San Jose Sharks slýchal od trenérů každý zápas. Poper se a budeš v NHL. „Vybírali mi i Čechy. Proč? Byl to jeden z důvodů, proč jsem už v San Jose nechtěl pokračovat,“ povídá český hokejista. Proto se vrací domů.

www.idnes.cz

The Sharks only offered me a two-way contract. We tried to adjust it so that I could at least get more money on the farm than a hundred thousand dollars, I'd still have the appetite. But we couldn't negotiate that. I didn't expect a one-way, I know I didn't score enough points for that, but this offer was disappointing.My agent advised me to try one more season, but I couldn't handle another year on the farm.In Colorado, I asked for a trade for two years because of that.

Did they make you fight in the AHL?
One of the coaches would pick a teammate for me to fight before every game. I remember one time he pointed to Adam Klapka. Wow, the guy's 100 kilos, 6'2", and I'm gonna cut him? Another Czech? Oh, no.

What did the coach say when you refused?
He said that's why I don't play in the NHL. I had three concussions and two shoulder injuries. If I'd fought the guys he picked, I'd have gotten hurt. He made me fight anyway, it really bothered me. I'd fight for a good reason, no question about it! When it's a sold out fight, it escalates, or when you're defending teammates. But to fight someone just like that? I'm supposed to be on the ice from the goals.

What if you listened and actually played in the NHL because of it?
I thought about that on the flight home. It's possible, I don't know. I told them during the exit interviews. I've played against them for five years, they know me and I've never been nervous. Why are they suddenly asking me to do this? They said they wanted to get something more out of me. I may have made a mistake, but I don't think fighting was a factor in my NHL career. They're on the decline in hockey. Plus, on the Sharks farm, you didn't feel like we were a team. Each of the youngsters played on their own. Guys, I won't fight for you.

Yeah! Nine games, five points. For the first time in my time in America, I felt like I was in the NHL. I played with Hertlik, everything was great. Then all of a sudden, they told me the others had to get a chance, and they sent me down. That pissed me off. Instead of me, there were players who were sitting among the subs on the farm. I didn't understand.