Heatley traded to Sharks for Michalek, Cheecho, 2nd Round Pick

[Hopper15 0]

Thanks for the backup. . . all the points I stated lead to a Sharks team focused on the wrong thing.

If people want to call me out on why I question giving an aging defender $4M, fine. I think the Sharks could have better spent the money but what do I care. I'm counting on another early playoff exit from the Sharks.

Yes, the Wings let Conklin go because they could not afford what he would command on the open market. I feel the situation in SJ is different than in Detroit. The Sharks dumped in Round 1 (again), Wilson gets on his soapbox and screams he's going to clean house, and then does very little. IMO, Thornton or Marleau should have been dealt. They are perennial choke artists in April/May (hell, neither knows anything about playing hockey in June). If SJ had dumped one or the other, Boucher maybe gets signed, Nabokov doesn't have to play as much and is ready for the playoffs. Instead, Sharks get to rely on Greiss (?) to backup Nabby. . . in addition, Sharks part company with quality players (Ehrhoff, Michalek, Cheechoo (not so much)) and bring in headcase Heatley.

The Boucher/Conklin sitautions are different, but the logic can be used the same. You say there is a ? with our backup goalie sitaution behind Nabby, but the Wings have exactly the same ? behind Osgood. But one problem here is Osgood has showed how inconsistent he can play during a long 82 game season which gave Conklin a bigger role on the Wings than Boucher had on the Sharks. You're logic is extremely one sided which is all I'm pointing out.

[T-Ruff 47]

One final point. . .

I'm confused why so many think that Heatley will shine in SJ with Marleau and Thornton. Didn't he have excellent players in Ottawa in the likes of Spezza and Alfredsson?

But he shone there too? back to back 50 goal seasons followed by 41 in 71 followed by an 39 goal "off" year....

[egroen 384]

80+ assists out of Thornton and 50+ goals out of Heatley - no question.

I'm just thinking about my fantasy team right now....

All-in-all though, a downgrade for San Jose and very impressive return for Ottawa, especially considering the publicity of Heatley's trade request. I must have been wrong, and there were aparently plenty of teams willing to give up big assets for the opposrtunity to take on Heatley and his fat contract.

[MadMan Mark 0]

The Boucher/Conklin sitautions are different, but the logic can be used the same. You say there is a ? with our backup goalie sitaution behind Nabby, but the Wings have exactly the same ? behind Osgood. But one problem here is Osgood has showed how inconsistent he can play during a long 82 game season which gave Conklin a bigger role on the Wings than Boucher had on the Sharks. You're logic is extremely one sided which is all I'm pointing out.

I'll take an inconsistent Osgood in the reg season and solid in the post-season than an early out in the playoffs year in/year out from Nabokov.

Enlighten me, please tell me the great things about Greiss.

I can tell you about Howard, I'm not sold on him. I would love to see Larsson compete and win the backup job. Who knows, maybe Cloutier outplays them all and earns the back-up position. . . doubtful. I will tell you this, you will see a much more defensive-minded Wings team this year. Not as many quality shots will be coming at Osgood.

Sharks will be good, but until they get to the top of the hill, they are just another wannabe team looking up at Detroit.