I really don't think Grier is doing it on accident. There isn't a universe out there where you choose to trade Brent Burns in an effort to be more competitive. There was an interview he had with Rusanowsky where his closing message was basically saying to the fans to I know it's been a rough couple of years, stick with us, we'll turn this around.
But Grier asked him if he wanted to stick around and be a part of process and Burns decided he didn't. It wasn't exactly Burns forcing his way out.
I know what you mean, and me just being a negative nancy but what if Grier’s process is trying to be competitive and make the playoffs as a late seed, but not being Cup favorites or true contenders. And for that, Burns was like nope.
I kind of think what management is thinking is "we've improved our goaltending and our top six is good enough to compete, we just need depth in the bottom six." I think they're thinking they're actually a playoff team or close to it.
Man, I think you guys are really shortselling Couture. He's the best example this team has had over the past 20 years of a guy who has raised his game and compete and everything when it matters, and now he's "useless" and "show no emotional commitment"?
I don’t even know how we could knock him for not being a good leader. Leadership is such an overrated term here, and it’s the one thing us as fans know nothing about since we’re not in the locker room.
What is this based on? It sounds like you have some vendetta against Couture? Not many players in Sharks history have shown more emotion than Couture has on the ice. Not many players have shown more love for the area or the franchise either. This is pure BS.
And provide zero basis for your random accusation. Yup, sounds like something personal.
Who fits that description better than Couture then? I really don't think I overlooked anyone
I can name one right off the top of my head, and he just scored a point a game in Dallas last season.
I honestly don’t know how you can still think that’s true after what Grier has said and done this entire offseason. Very few GMs will come out and say their team is flat-out tanking, especially when first coming to a team.
If the front office doesn't realize how bad this defense is, then we have bigger problems than whether they're actually trying to tank or not
I agree. I think Couture's talent is starting to wane, as it does with any player getting older, but I don't understand criticizing his effort. He's the type of competitor who tries hard even in games where they're down three with two minutes to go. I'd imagine he hates the way the last three years have gone. Hate the contract, sure, but don't impugn the man's honor by claiming he doesn't care.
I'm being nitpicky, but Pavelski didn't need to raise his game when it mattered because it was always at a high level. In other words, Coutures playoff play is better than his regular season play, whereas Pavs is generally consistent between the two seasons (just always high). That's what I meant by that comment.
It’s not so much his talent. Couture has always had really good players on his line. Clowe, Marleau, Timo are the most obvious ones. A part of that was because he was playing against top comp and a bigger part of that was because he’s not as big of a play driver as some hype him up to be and he never has been. The issue this season was after about halfway through he was paired with guys like Dahlen and Gregor. There’s a reason he played well in the beginning of the season (and also that Timo played so well). This is my main argument with splitting up Hertl and Timo.
