You're right it's the only way. Except there really isn't a way to terminate contracts just to get out of cap heck.

Lol you guys who think the Sharks are “unfixable” are just either trolls or can’t think objectively.

It’s very simple and you’ve looked past plenty of it. Either go for a rebuild (which is simple to execute) or contender (which is again simple to execute). My opinion is rebuilding is best but the team has chosen the later; which is still doable and pretty simple.

Going to adapt your statement and say they just "can't think". Someone just trying to troll here though.

In one year, no. That's what you're doing

probably better off going full rebuild. These half measures never seem to work for any team.

I'm interested to see what the latter option is...I don't think the OP is trying to troll, since there's a legitimate argument to be made with regards to the declining players on long term contracts being major anchors long term, as well as a pretty weak farm system that isn't really able to be a quick fix.

IMO, the Sharks certainly have more options than people give them credit for, but are still pretty handcuffed. Buying out Jones and finding a legitimate replacement should be priority #1. The fact that they're going to be back in a pretty weak Pacific division next year gives them a little bit more leeway when it comes to roster construction, but f*ck, those Vlasic/Karlsson/Burns contracts are rough.

How though? Hertl/Meier are the only two roster players with a bunch of value...

Signing 12 UFAs, tearing down roster without actually doing anything and placing them on IR is basically a pointless post. Literally just make a NHL team post and say “new team”.

An actual attempt involves things such as:

Competing =

Draft with our pick a great player
Buyout Jones
Sign a 3C (verbally the plan from GM irl)
Sign a legitimate starter (verbally the plan from GM irl)
Field Seattle and Burns as none of use know if they would or wouldn’t take him - price costs a first = don’t do it
Take on a cap dump for a good price
Maybe acquire some depth but primarily trade a winger as we are overloaded and could acquire some real useful assets by trading our surplus (field Labanc, Balcers, Donato, the later two are cheap returns but still)

Sell if we don’t win and execute a sale if we suck again. Simple.
Trade the UFA, trade Hertl. Field Labanc Meier Kane. Rebuild. That simple.

Fixing a team does not happen instantly and is a process. I wish we rebuilt: we haven't. Doesn’t mean the future is impossible. And certainly saying it’s unfixable is narrow thinking. And while the Sharks aren’t LA or OTT or a top 15 prospect pool; the Sharks do have some decent pieces in the pipeline and continuing to focus on drafting and scouting will help by keeping our picks (Wiesblatt, Bordeleau are great new pieces with Bordeleau potentially being a steal if he continues his tear and Merkley is still upward. With deeper pieces like Gushchin, Coe, Kniazev/ Hatakka being good pieces potentially down the road).

I don't disagree at all that it's not a quick fix, and that's sort of how I took this post...didn't really read too much into the 12 UFA's, but I can see where that'd tick people off.

I'm kind of glad that it did happen, because (selfishly) I'm interested in figuring out how the Sharks can deal with their issues. Definitely not trying to start an argument, just a discussion I feel like:
-Trading Hertl/ listening on Meier/Labanc/Kane makes sense.
-Buying out Jones is definitely the right move. But...leaving him out there might get you closer to Shane Wright hahaha.
-I just don't see Seattle taking Burns without getting a haul to take him. I love Burnsy, but Seattle has such a great opportunity to take advantage of cap-strapped teams that I just don't see them saving anyone from themselves.

As a Ducks fan with an eye out for next years draft, I'd prefer if you guys could stay above us for at least another year or so

Cheers!

I wish we had traded Hertl the past TDL and it could come back to bite us hard.

I actually think Burns to Seattle is more plausible than the conversation sounds. But we’ll see; if it’s Burns, Second, Balcers/ Donato and hell maybe even a prospect- I’d do it. I don’t think it’ll cost like 2 firsts like some - burns was very good this year ( I know that’s not necessarily a massive diff maker since it’s the contract ).

Jones could be bought out but the term is scary. I’m fine with it by I’m also fine with sending him to the AHL and sitting on his cap for a while.

I know I may have sounded blunt so I’m not also trying to argue haha. Just too stern I guess.

Meier or Labanc should be heavily considered but both have SO much upside when they play well (Sheng Peng had some articles at the end of the year about why you should listen but shouldn’t traded Meier). As they both are dynamic players who outplay their cap hits by a lot when they play well. But that consistency and attention is where they wander; which easily could be due to their lack of engagement in a team that sucks, which is why Sheng I think had to write the articles.

If you trade Meier to a cup contender - he could flip into a 70-80 point guy and he’s a power forward. You can’t trade him with the value of 40 points. you gotta get a return more then his current production otherwise we’re gonna get rinsed in the trade. Meier is lights out when he plays well and when we do well his attention seems to come back but with no bright future for playoffs he seems to lack that energy to play lights out when it’s hard.

Lol nah I want Lambert; you guys can have Wright 😁

Hahaha, all good brother! I find it hard on here sometimes to not sound like a wanker.

If this were the Vegas draft, I could see it happening with Burns. I just feel like there's so many teams out there that are wayyyy too tight against the cap that are going to be forced to pay up to save themselves (from themselves...). Time will tell.

That's not a horrible idea for Jones. It's pretty amazing to see the dramatic fall off. At least it's not one of those ridiculous bonus-laden contracts, so if you do buy him out, the last 3 years are somewhat palatable. Buying him out after 2022 is a much better option though.

I reallllly like Meier. Got to watch him a bunch when he was with Halifax. Definitely a dynamic player. I wonder how many of these guys that underperform (ie. Labanc/Meier in your situation) are mainly due to the non-competitiveness of the team? I see it in Anaheim where guys who should still be producing more (Ie. Rakell/Silfverberg/Rico) just all of the sudden disappear for multiple games in a row, only to come out and pop off 10 pts in 10 games.

Has there ever been talk about replacing Doug Wilson? Obviously he had a long run of really, really solid teams, but how long does that credit last for? In Anaheim, I'm assuming Murray/Eakins end up gone after their contracts expire, only because the Samueli's are pretty loyal with their guys and likely don't want the expense of paying them both out while replacing them.

I think Wilson has a good leash but some think he’s preparing the team for his son; who’s done some good work in scouting and what not. I think Hasso (owner) has a good relationship with the management so I don’t think a firing his immediate due to the internal affairs being good but I’d say if we fail again Wilson has to step down or be fired (and I wouldn’t mind letting Wilson Jr continue the teams rebuild if he fail again).

Meier Labanc under perform consistently with the team sucking

Kane and Burns have done the opposite and taken lead.

Couture I’d say just had a tough year and dealt with injuries.

Karlsson seems like he try’s to do too much and also I think he falters to the similar issue with Meier and Labanc but additionally he then try’s to hard with lack of engagement in the team play and then more and more mistakes happen. He’s needs an environment where he’s allowed to let loose when he’s on and when we have zero goaltending he clearly doesn’t have the confidence in himself or behind him (in net and coaching because he can’t do a huge play if it fails because we don’t have a goalie).

Knyzhov Ferraro have instilled a lot of promise in the future and if there’s a path to success in starts with a new goalie and Knyzhov + Ferraro continued development because I do think if we get a real starter and those two continue their trajectory we could be easily above .500 (which is managements plan I think). Obviously the other guys above need to fall in line but Knyzhov alone I think has drastically changed the teams mindset in management because now we see two future long term rear guards who are actually very good. Ferraro alone wouldn’t have got the team to keep steady but I think Knyzhov has brought management some hope that if we can fix our holes these two can make up for our OFD minded RD (Karlsson, Merkley, Burns if he’s still there).

I agree you guys should go for a rebuild and I know this post might make sharks fans mad. But all of those contracts are so long and so bad. This upcoming draft isn't anything special but the two after that should be great so it would be a good time to rebuild. You will have to be bad for a few years and then a couple of the contracts will be over. I don't think Seattle will take burns unless you give them your first which you should not do, you need all the high picks you can get for a rebuild.