Rumor: LeBrun: roster reset? Boyle to Rangers?

[Gene Parmesan]

St. Louis needs a partner for Pietrangelo, Ottawa needs a partner for Karlsson, Washington needs a partner for whichever of Green/Carlson isn't with Alzner, Edmonton needs a partner for J. Schultz, etc. A young, top pairing left-handed shutdown defenseman is very valuable.

And the Sharks lack skilled young forwards that are NHL ready. It may come to that. I know Vlasic's D is very good but his lack of progression in regards to offense and puck handling is troublesome. Tonight he wanted no part of the puck and was quick to give it to Demers. I laughed.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Personally, I would be perfectly comfortable with Stuart, Irwin, and Braun as the lefties. In the time that Stuart is signed, there is plenty of opportunity to draft a shutdown guy or two. Hell, maybe we could do something novel and draft a stay at home righty. I know, so bold I had to bold it.

His defensive game is still flawless. But his decision-making is truly horrendous. He looked fine with Demers tonight. I'd like to give him a couple of games with Burns just to see if there's any magic there, but if not, entertain offers.

 

[AgentCooper]

I feel like he's an easier piece to replace. Defensive defenseman are moved all the time. Though most can't skate as well as Vlasic does, I doubt we'd see much of a difference because of all the little puck bobbles and fumbles that make MEV play slower than he really is.

One all defense/pk guy is fine, but if Vlasic stays it will be at least two since DW insists on having a 3rd pairing pylon.

Why would we trade him just to replace him? Considering we struggle to sign FAs we very well may just have to trade for another who probably won't be as good.

 

[Grave]

The thing that bothers me about Vlasic is he gets manhandled by bigger forwards.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Personally, I would be perfectly comfortable with Stuart, Irwin, and Braun as the lefties. In the time that Stuart is signed, there is plenty of opportunity to draft a shutdown guy or two. Hell, maybe we could do something novel and draft a stay at home righty. I know, so bold I had to bold it.

His defensive game is still flawless. But his decision-making is truly horrendous. He looked fine with Demers tonight. I'd like to give him a couple of games with Burns just to see if there's any magic there, but if not, entertain offers.

I'd be fine with that honestly.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

The thing that bothers me about Vlasic is he gets manhandled by bigger forwards.

It wouldn't bother me if he were a small guy..but hes not. I know he isn't physical but it seemed he was turning the corner in regards to having more of a nastiness/push back in his game. Its gone now.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Actually, I'm ready to move on from Vlasic. I know he's young, I know he's just re-signed a contract extension, but I'm just getting really frustrated with his lack of puck skills. I think he's one of the best pieces we could move for a young top-6 winger+.

Plus, as he gets older his skating is going to diminish.

On the other hand, Vlasic is paid very reasonably for what he brings to the table.

 

[AgentCooper]

Personally, I would be perfectly comfortable with Stuart, Irwin, and Braun as the lefties. In the time that Stuart is signed, there is plenty of opportunity to draft a shutdown guy or two. Hell, maybe we could do something novel and draft a stay at home righty. I know, so bold I had to bold it.

His defensive game is still flawless. But his decision-making is truly horrendous. He looked fine with Demers tonight. I'd like to give him a couple of games with Burns just to see if there's any magic there, but if not, entertain offers.

So then do you keep Boyle? Otherwise our blue line gets very thin after losing Murray and Vlasic and maybe Boyle.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

So then do you keep Boyle? Otherwise our blue line gets very thin after losing Murray and Vlasic and maybe Boyle.

I would keep Boyle. He has one year left but I don't think he will make more than what he does now.

 

[Juxtaposer]

So then do you keep Boyle? Otherwise our blue line gets very thin after losing Murray and Vlasic and maybe Boyle.

Irwin-Boyle
Stuart-Burns
Braun-Demers

Problem?

 

[AgentCooper]

This is crazy talk. Vlasic is the perfect partner for Burns, and we've seen them play great together. On a team with Boyle, Burns, Irwin, Braun and Demers we can afford a shutdown specialist and I'd even argue that we need one to balance out the defensive blunders that everyone else listed makes. He also allows his offensive partner to take more risks because he is so solid. If we want to get younger and quicker then lets trade the older slower guys, not our ONLY shutdown defenseman who is mobile, on a great contract and only 25 freakin years old.

 

[AgentCooper]

Irwin-Boyle
Stuart-Burns
Braun-Demers

Problem?

Problem? Way too many defensive gaffes from the first and third pairings......?

 

[Gene Parmesan]

This is crazy talk. Vlasic is the perfect partner for Burns, and we've seen them play great together. On a team with Boyle, Burns, Irwin, Braun and Demers we can afford a shutdown specialist and I'd even argue that we need one to balance out the defensive blunders that everyone else listed makes. He also allows his offensive partner to take more risks because he is so solid. If we want to get younger and quicker then lets trade the older slower guys, not our ONLY shutdown defenseman who is mobile, on a great contract and only 25 freakin years old.

Thats all true but he still can't make an outlet pass consistently and handles the puck like a grenade. Plus if some team who needs a young shutdown D offers a similiar player in age and salary but a top 6 forward..the Sharks think long and hard about it.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Problem? Way too many defensive gaffes from the first and third pairings......?

Braun and Demers have proven that they are an extremely capable 3rd pair. Upper tier of third pairs.

Boyle and Irwin have proven that they're completely fine together. They're so good at puck possession, that the puck is very rarely in their defensive zone.

Most importantly, each pair can move the puck out of their zone. They can all skate well. They all have great puck skills (besides Stuart, who's fine with Burns).

 

[AgentCooper]

Thats all true but he still can't make an outlet pass consistently and handles the puck like a grenade. Plus if some team who needs a young shutdown D offers a similiar player in age and salary but a top 6 forward..the Sharks think long and hard about it.

Considering the long extension they just gave him I highly doubt they think about it at all, much less long and hard.

 

[AgentCooper]

Braun and Demers have proven that they are an extremely capable 3rd pair. Upper tier of third pairs.

I wouldn't trust them except in extremely sheltered minutes which can make matchups troublesome.

 

[murdock1116]

Considering the long extension they just gave him I highly doubt they think about it at all, much less long and hard.

Devin Setoguchi would beg to differ.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Devin Setoguchi would beg to differ.

Yup. If there is a deal there and it helps the Sharks..we all know DW has no problem pulling the trigger.

 

[AgentCooper]

Devin Setoguchi would beg to differ.

Not comparable situations at all. Sharks wanted Burns badly and Minny named their price. No Seto no deal. The Sharks have plenty of other pieces to trade if they want young forwards. They HAD to trade Seto to get Burns, not so for Vlasic.

 

[Coily]

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/

Nothing after that 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks that hasn’t been said before in this increasingly troubled season.

We can get to that later.

First, if you missed it elsewhere, I did attempt to find out what Hasso Plattner has been thinking since he became the de facto head of the Sharks ownership group back on Jan. 30 when the team was 6-0-0. Plattner said at the time that he would not be talking directly to the media, that all hockey questions should be directed to Doug Wilson, all business questions to Malcolm Bordelon. Same policy as his predecessors, Kevin Compton and Stratton Sclavos.

Still, things have reached the point where the questions of accountability include the general manager, no? And I’m not going to ask Doug Wilson about Doug Wilson’s performance. so I reached out to Plattner. We exchanged emails.

Here’s a cut and paste on the relevant graf from our online-only story:

Plattner acknowledged Monday that “the facts are the facts†as far as the team’s wins and losses, but declined to comment beyond that. Asked about accountability for players, coaches and the general manager, he again said all questions should be directed to Wilson.

Wilson, by the way, heads to Toronto on Tuesday for the NHL general manager’s meeting. He has indicated that the team remains committed to a “reset and refresh†approach to its roster that keeps the Sharks in playoff contention every year rather than a total overhaul that could mean missing the post-season for an extended period. The extent of any roster changes and whether they would come before the April 3 trade deadline likely would depend on what he sees from the team over the next two weeks.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Not comparable situations at all. Sharks wanted Burns badly and Minny named their price. No Seto no deal. The Sharks have plenty of other pieces to trade if they want futures. They HAD to trade Seto to get Burns, not so for Vlasic.

I thought Coyle was the deal breaker?

 

[AgentCooper]

I thought Coyle was the deal breaker?

I vividly remember hearing Fletcher say he needed Seto and he needed Coyle or else no deal.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I wouldn't trust them except in extremely sheltered minutes which can make matchups troublesome.

What kind of minutes do you think Murray's playing right now? The most sheltered of sheltered minutes. Braun and Demers would be absolutely fine.

I thought Coyle was the deal breaker?

He was.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

I vividly remember hearing Fletcher say he needed Seto and he needed Coyle or else no deal.

Fair enough. I just remember Coyle being the most coveted piece according to Bobby Mac. At any rate i'm sure Vlasic won't be traded in the near future but its not out of the realm of possibility. I still can't believe they only have 3 regulation wins out of the last 23 gamesn

 

[Gene Parmesan]

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/

Plattner not really giving any ringing endorsements probably has DW and co. feeling the heat.