[When it comes time to talk San Jose Sharks hockey, it’s time to Jump the Shark(ie). A column based on my thoughts, observations, and commentary on my favorite NHL franchise - and named in homage to one really crappy episode of Happy Days that more or less, signified the coming of the end ]

Plans?

Gone.

Future?

Out the window.

Are the Sharks a better team?

Okay, so future out the window… not entirely, but still, with the Sharks most recent trades I really am left scratching my head. It would seem that Sharks’ GM Doug Wilson must have been told that if Lord Stanley’s Cup doesn’t have the San Jose franchise name on it he will suddenly be having a lot more free time. So we are witnissing a lot of changes with the team, which has unfortunately included the loss of the 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2009 1st round draft picks. That’s a lot of investments in the future Doug is giving up to live in the now.

Then again, in May of 2007, the GM was quoted as saying that “We’re not going to sit idly by… There will be changes.” But a year later, and Wilson’s “changes” seem to have amounted only in the signing of Jeremy Roenick. That’s it. So once again the team has the same, predictable, early exit from the playoffs, and I’m starting to think maybe we should blame the GM who promised sweeping changes, and provided none. No change to the team; no difference in result. Go figure

So now, a year later, the changes have come. Head coach Ron Wilson is gone. Brian Campbell and Steve Bernier plus the 1st round draft pick (2008) it took to get him? Gone. (But since Bernier was a free agent anyway… let’s not get too involved with how he affects the blueline.)

Instead, the team has been entrusted to a very good man in Todd McLellan who has never been a head coach before. In order to man the blueline and make up for losing Campbell, the GM decided to trade another 1st round pick (2009), blueline prospect Ty Wishart(16th overall pick in 2006) and 2003 first round pick Matt Carle (4 years $13.75 mil) for Brad Lukowich 3 years 4.7 mil) and Dan Boyle (6 years $40 mil). In addition, the Sharks signed the locally hated Rob Blake (1 year $5 mil).

Let’s also not forget that Craig Rivet (4 year $14 mil) was traded to Buffalo for some 2nd round draft picks.

So let’s tally that up then.

Out the door: Brian Campbell, Matt Carle, Ty Wishart, 2008 1st round draft pick, 2009 first round draft pick, Ron Wilson.
In the door: Dan Boyle, Brad Lukowich, Rob Blake, Todd McLellan.

Salary against the cap out the door (2008-09 only): $13.55 million
Salary against the cap in the door (09-09 only): $13.32 million

So for only $230,000 more against the salary cap, the Sharks could have hypothetically had Campbell, Rivet, Carle, Wishart, and their 2009 first round draft pick instead of Boyle, Lukowich, Blake and 2nd round picks in ‘09 and ‘10. Are there really that many people out there who prefer the 2nd option over Campbell and friends? Even without Campbell, couldn’t they have just signed Blake and had Blake, Rivet, Carle, Wishart, and their 2009 first round draft pick?

Maybe I’m picking on Dougie too much, but I really can’t figure out the rationale for the decisions made by San Jose in the past two years. If you ask me, we are witnessing Doug Wilson’s career jumping the shark, and unfortunately for Doug, he’s not cool like Fonzie, so if the team struggles early next year, I think he may be the first one gone.

Say your goodbyes now.