San Jose Sharks: Should I Stay or Should I Go? RFAs Volume III

Senior Writer Written on June 30, 2009

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 21: Ryane Clowe #29 of the San Jose Sharks warms up against the Anaheim Ducks during Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 21, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The last group of restricted free agents to examine is those who are eligible for arbitration and did have an impact on the NHL last season: Lukas Kaspar, Brad Staubitz, Marcel Goc, Tomas Plihal, and Ryane Clowe. (Click to see the rules governing restricted free agents and arbitration in the first two parts of this series.)

Some of the suspense in this list has been removed, as the Sharks announced that they have offered contracts to Ryane Clowe, Torrey Mitchell, Thomas Greiss, and Brad Staubitz. Terms of these contracts were not made available.

Thus the Sharks will not be offering Tomas Plihal, Marcel Goc, Lukas Kaspar, Riley Armstrong, Taylor Dakers, Mike Morris, T.J. Fox, or Ashton Rome a contract. All are now unrestricted free agents.

Thus, instead of offering a prediction on the remaining restricted free agents, I will offer what I would have done in Doug Wilson's shoes...

Ryane Clowe

Clowe is the only player on the Sharks roster who is a true power forward. The Sharks had seven forwards on the playoff roster who have the physical dimensions of a power forward—above 6', 210 lbs. But the other six play a different game.

Patrick Marleau and Milan Michalek are skaters. Mike Grier, Travis Moen, and Jody Shelley are not counted on for production in front of the net. Joe Thornton makes his living behind the net and along the half-boards as a puck distributor.

In the State of the Sharks event, Wilson and coach Todd McLellan admitted that a Tomas Holmstrom-style presence in front of the net is one thing the team is sorely missing. Thus, they could not let the 26-year old Clowe and his production (22 G, 30 A, +8 in 71 games) go.

I would have offered him over $2.6 million to force any team to give up a first- and third-round pick to take him.

F Tomas Plihal

I had been calling for the team to let Plihal go last season so they could make room for younger players. Plihal has been an effective penalty killer and checking-line forward, however, and was productive (5 G, 8 A, -4 in 64 games), and is able to play centre.

I would have offered him the $863,157 necessary to require a team to at least give up a third-round pick for the former fifth-round pick to sign him away. However, I would have let him go if he had gotten more in either free agency or arbitration.

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written on June 30, 2009 Preview/Prediction

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San Jose Sharks: Should I Stay or Should I Go? RFAs Volume III

MJ Kasprzak

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