Every year around this time, the NHL General Managers start wheeling and dealing, trying to find the best players for the best price. Sometimes they are UFAs who are asked on a tryout basis to join training camp. Sometimes it's a deal between two teams, maybe even a deal among several teams. As the clock ticks down for the start of the season, everyone is trying to make their team the best that it can be by October 1st. Sharks GM Doug Wilson is known for playing his cards right. He knows how to find big deals and make them work, like the trade for Joe Thornton. Wilson is even known for acquiring new players at the trade deadline and throwing them into the mix! For those that don't know when the trade deadline is, it's usually set about six weeks before the end of the regular season. Talk about some late changes. Most of Doug Wilson's trades have done wonders for the Sharks. Thornton, Boyle, and a handful of other players have helped propel the Sharks to the top echelon of NHL teams. Yet, something has been missing from the Sharks. Regular season success is almost guaranteed, having been in the top three teams in the league for the past two years and gaining playoff rights for five years straight. Post season is where they have failed to find the same success. But like the great GM that he is, Doug Wilson always has a plan and a solution . . . and this year is no different. Every year there are big trades, money rich signings, and contract extensions - this year was no exception. Players like Kessel (BOS - TOR) and Gomez (NYR - MTL) were traded, the $30.5 million matching deal for the Sedin twins (VAN), and Luongo (VAN) got a twelve year contract deal. But nothing, nothing matched what Doug Wilson pulled off on September 12th, 2009 - trading Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek to Ottawa for Dany Heatley . . . amazing. Now, I have to admit I wasn't sure what to think when I heard the news. It was leaked very early that Dany Heatley wanted out of Ottawa and he wanted out badly. Unfortunately, the situation wasn't handled correctly, resulting in a very public and very bitter battle. Rumors flew around the net on where Heatley's new home would be. Why was the news so huge? Maybe it's because Dany Heatley is a 50+ goal scorer for the past four seasons. It could be that he has recorded at least one point in every playoff game he's competed in. It could also be the fact that he is the highest scoring player in the Olympics . . . that's the highest scoring player in the world. He's big-time hockey, known as a sniper and a guy that always shoots first.
The amazing thing isn't that Wilson has able to snag Heatley, it's the price he got him for. The word on the street was that Marleau, one of the Sharks best forwards, was going to be traded to Los Angeles, LA would trade three of their players to Ottawa, and the Sens would send Heatley down to San Jose. But somehow, I have no clue how, Wilson got Heatley for Cheechoo and Michalek. In hockey terms, that's cheap. It's not that the two Sharks traded are bad players. Cheechoo had a 50+ goal season a few years ago but ran into injury problems and hasn't been able to bounce back with the Sharks. Michalek had a break out year last season and was a key offensive force on the second line. But even combined, they don't quite have the caliber of talent that Marleau has and they definitely aren't close to Heatley's level. All I can say Doug is "what a steal".
I am definitely excited to see what kind of heat Dany can bring to the Sharks. In the few games I've seen him play in, he rarely smiles. It's not that he's angry or not happy, he's focused. He wants to win and he does't hold back that desire to win. Something that the Sharks have been accused of doing. He only arrived in San Jose last Friday (September, 18th) and got one practice under his belt before playing in a pre-season game. He's been playing with Thornton (C) and Setoguchi (RW) . . . what a scary combination. Thornton, one of the top assist guys in the entire league, Seto's speed, coupled with a sniper like Heatley - crazy. Marleau's been bumped down to the second line with Pavelski (C) and Clowe (RW) but that doesn't mean it's a demotion. The Second line is a Power Player powerhouse and adding Marleau's ability there can only help that line. Pre-season is still underway and the Sharks are still sorting out the rest of the team. A consistent third and fourth line has yet to appear but there is still time to get that together. So far there are 29 players on the roster and it has to be down to 23 by October 1st. There are a lot of spots open now with so many players gone. Let me just give you a quick rundown: Boucher (PHI), Cheechoo (OTT), Ehroff (VAN), Goc (NSH), Grier (BUF), Lukowich (VAN), Michalek (OTT), Moen (MTL), Lemieux (Retired), and the great Jeremy Roenick (Retired). That's not even counting a few of the rookies that have been let go or some of the reserve players. With so many spots yet to be filled, this year's Sharks team is going to look extremely different from last year. Yet I feel strongly that it will be a change for the good. I was worried that if too many of my favorite players left, I wouldn't feel the same way for the Sharks. I watched my 2001 Avs team unravel and become a completely different team in only a year. I find myself feeling differently about the Sharks. I don't love them for a handful of players, I love them for the goals and commitments they have. From the General Manager down to the Equipment Manager, their goals are the same - to create the best hockey team they can. I bleed Teal and will bleed Teal forever. So, bring on the 2009-2010 season!
