Day 2

After sitting out the 1st round and the 2nd round, the Sharks got the
1st player in the 3rd and 4th round from TB and LA, for their 2008
4th, 5th picks, their 2009 3rd and 4th picks, and their 2010 5th pick.
For each they chose skinny, tall kids. Justin Daniels was the 100th
rated NA skater, a center from CT. Samuel Groulx is the 76th, a d-man
from the Q. Justin was sort of a strange pick, but exactly the sort
of pick the Sharks have made in the DW era, moving up and giving up
multiple picks to make sure they grabbed someone that could
conceivably have been available later.

Well, DW signalled all this yesterday on the NHL network before the
draft even began. He said the Sharks players were coming into their
prime, and that improvement would come mainly from within. This is
almost exactly what he says every year. He definitely likes his
players. I wouldn't expect any "big changes", other than what has
already been changed, the coaching staff.

On the NHL network today, DW was reported to have given Campbell's
agent permission to talk to several east coast teams. So either he is
trying to lower expectations of $8M contracts, or he sees that
Campbell will have to be "bought" to go to the west coast, and has
given up. It would seem he prefers the east...

If Campbell doesn't sign, its a disaster. A first in this draft and
Bernier for a rental last season, will be the deal. DW can still sign
an UFA, but if he won't haul out the check book for a player he has
exclusive negotiating rights with, how will he do in the free-for-all
on 7/1?

On Jun 21, 9:11 am, Duane <letskee... RemoveThis @posting4now.com> wrote:
> After sitting out the 1st round and the 2nd round, the Sharks got the
> 1st player in the 3rd and 4th round from TB and LA, for their 2008
> 4th, 5th picks, their 2009 3rd and 4th picks, and their 2010 5th pick.
> For each they chose skinny, tall kids.  Justin Daniels was the 100th
> rated NA skater, a center from CT.  Samuel Groulx is the 76th, a d-man
> from the Q.  Justin was sort of a strange pick, but exactly the sort
> of pick the Sharks have made in the DW era, moving up and giving up
> multiple picks to make sure they grabbed someone that could
> conceivably have been available later.
>
> Well, DW signalled all this yesterday on the NHL network before the
> draft even began.  He said the Sharks players were coming into their
> prime, and that improvement would come mainly from within.  This is
> almost exactly what he says every year.  He definitely likes his
> players.  I wouldn't expect any "big changes", other than what has
> already been changed, the coaching staff.
>
> On the NHL network today, DW was reported to have given Campbell's
> agent permission to talk to several east coast teams.  So either he is
> trying to lower expectations of $8M contracts, or he sees that
> Campbell will have to be "bought" to go to the west coast, and has
> given up.  It would seem he prefers the east...
>
> If Campbell doesn't sign, its a disaster.  A first in this draft and
> Bernier for a rental last season, will be the deal.  DW can still sign
> an UFA, but if he won't haul out the check book for a player he has
> exclusive negotiating rights with, how will he do in the free-for-all
> on 7/1?

IMO if they don't sign Marleau and Campbell, it's the beginning of the
decline. Just a matter of how long until you want to go into
rebuilding mode.