Niclas Wallin to San Jose?

At the expense of a more formal introduction (my name is Matt), I wanted to get this out there as soon as possible for anyone reading the blog.

About a half hour ago, TSN's James Duthie, who is usually as reliable as they come in the hockey world, reported that the Carolina Hurricanes were considering moving defenseman Niclas Wallin. He tweeted that San Jose was a possibility here-

http://twitter.com/tsnjamesduthie/status/8607868766

He went on to say that Wallin, who has a NTC, has likely waived it.

http://twitter.com/tsnjamesduthie/status/8608192001

It was just now confirmed that Wallin is indeed a healthy scratch for tonight, so this looks like it could be a done deal.

I'm guessing a 3rd round pick, or possibly a mid level prospect and a 7th.

Details and analysis to follow.


UPDATE #1 4:20pm

TSN is now reporting that a deal is imminent n their site.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=308812

Wallin's cap hit is $1.725m, and the Sharks can only afford a cap hit of $1.095m, so it would appear a roster player will be dealt if this trade is going to go through.


UPDATE #2 4:45pm

With a roster player having to go back, I'm starting to get the impression that this trade could be akin to the "trade someone with positive value (Wallin) for someone they don't want to take on plus a positive value draft pick/prospect" that has been popularized in the cap-ridden NHL.

If that is the case, I can see a few possibilities. The player would have to be earning at least $650k salary in order for the Sharks to have the cap space.

In order of my perceived likelihood (nothing is official)-

1. Wallin for Shelley (750K) + 3rd round pick
-Shelley is redundant with younger Staubitz and McLaren, and those two do not make enough (500K & 543K respectively) to clear

2. Wallin + 4th round pick for McGinn (997K)
-McGinn was sent to Woostah today, although as we all know, could definitely just be routine shuttling.

3. Wallin + 3rd round pick for Mitchell (1.357m)
-Mitchell hasn't regained form yet and has a high cap hit, and Carolina will likely be looking for a young player.

4. Wallin for Huskins (1.7m) + 5th round pick
-I'm going to say there is a very outside chance of this happening only because it would enable another move based on the wash in salary, and it would save salary next year (Wallin is going to retire at the end of the year).


UPDATE #3 5:15pm

So, a little backstory on Wallin while we're waiting for more information.

Wallin holds a NTC because there were a lot of rumors going around that after Carolina won the Stanley Cup in 05-06, Wallin (who was an impending UFA) wished to return home to Sweden to raise his family. It came down to him either staying in Carolina or moving home to Sweden, so Carolina offered him a three year contract with a NTC to entice him to stay.

This is relevant for any Sharks historians, who remember Wallin opting not to waive his NTC to come to San Jose in the 07-08 season, when the Sharks were offering Ehrhoff in return.

Flashing forward to the present, Wallin has stated that he will retire at the end of his contract, in which this is his final year. When this rumor first surfaced a few days ago, he also stated that he is honored that a team (SJ) thinks that highly of him, and that Carolina wants to give him a last shot at a Stanley Cup (of which they are nowhere close to).

In game thread

Its a good thing nobody reads this thing.....

its 2-0 10mins into the first period and my goat, Joe, has 2 goals.  Nicceeee.

oh! maybe not...2-2

Okay, I don't like to highlight every blown call out there but holy hell the refs tonight were incompetent.  They missed at least four calls against the Wings by my count in the third period.  They were completely oblivious to holding the stick twice, an interference, and a slash.

It's time to consider who we can deal away

As GBF and I gchatted about today, when it comes to the deadline DW gets things done.  Why?  Because DW will pay retail price for his rentals.

As we get to the topic of the deadline, we should know what it is we have in our wallet, how much value they carry, and how much we're willing to pay for what we need.

I'll start crafting this.  Brown, feel free to repost any HF boards postings on this topic.  I don't need to do work that's already been done.

Quietly, It's Confirmed That The Sharks Are Listening to HF Boards...

Taken from tsn.com's chat with Darren Dreger this afternoon:
"Trevor, Barrie: Darren, how much 'tweaking' do powerhouse teams like San Jose and Washington have to do? They seem unstoppable on most nights!

Darren Dreger: Trevor, I know the Sharks had considerable interest inIan White, an inexpensive defenceman with tons of upside, before the Flames scooped him in the Phaneuf blockbuster. That's an example of the type of deal San Jose will be in the market for. As for the Capitals, it's going to be intriguing to watch George McPhee play his hand. Does Washington need some help on the backend? Maybe a shutdown forward or PK specialist? McPhee has the cap space to add some bodies and with consistant goaltending, there is a growing sense the Caps should be considered the favored team in the East."

Well, that's what we've all thought the Sharks should do.  Now, we know it's what they think too.  And now, we wait.

Chat Transcript Link

Predictions for Tonight

I have a bad feeling about tonight's game against the Wings.
The Sharks this season have shown a characteristic best described as "failing to get up for a big game."  Most recently, the Sharks looked like Mike and Trent from Swingers at the blackjack table getting schooled by grandma for the first period of the game against the Blackhawks.  Before that, the Sharks ruined my christmas present by taking a dump on the logo in their locker-room in their 4-1 loss to the Wings.  Before that, the Sharks were lucky to beat the Wings in Chicago and before that, the Sharks completely embarrassed any Sharks fan in their 7-2 whoopdown at the Tank.  Before that, the Sharks got manhandled by the Kings, 6-2 in the Tank and way way before that the Sharks lost two in a row to surging Kings and Coyotes.
What does this mean?  Doesn't every team lose a big game?  Well, of course every team has a disappointing loss.
What this means to me is that the Sharks are very even keel and that they have a tough time coming out amped up to get their feet moving and get the game off to a good start.  Recently, Nabby said that this team has a very even keel.  This is good and bad, in my mind.  It's bad because it means you can be overwhelmed by a more keyed up opponent.  Excitement is a friend early on.  Not too much, but some excitement is very good to have on your side.  The even keel is good because it allows you to play a little more mistake free than the excited team, it allows you to not get too down on yourself if you give up an early goal and allows you to come back.  This is all stuff any basic athlete knows, I don't need to expound the benefits here.

Anyways, I have a bad feeling about the Sharks tonight.  Their weak D also inspires zero confidence.  I hope that I am proven wrong and that later tonight I write some post extolling the benefits of a prolonged absence for Boyle and Vlasic to the rest of the D-Corps.

Actually, come to think of it, this is a good thing.  What better way to push your D men and allow them to grow by letting them get in a big game playing in a bigger role, to a man?  Also, the trade deadline is coming up (two days after the NHL resumes post-Olympics) and there have already been a few trades in the past few days.  If the Sharks get smoked tonight and their D looks just out of place and awful.... Well, I'm not DW.

But I wish I was.

Later, Dion!

Some good videos from TSN about Dion's move to the East.

Ron Wilson speaks well of the kid

Phoenix Coyotes will be a buyer very soon...

Now reaching the checkout stand at every NHL firesale, the Phoenix Coyotes:

Scottie Upshall just tore his ACL