I get that it was probably the wrong player type for tanking, but it worked out fine in the end.
Anthony Duclair had an important role this year for us, it was more of a veteran locker room guy that helps the young players but also knows how to score and help them that way.
I feel like there is as many stories as there is players in the roster about how Duclair affected the locker room in such a positive way. In the end I see Duclair visit as a net positive experience + the 3rd and Thompson coming back.
I’m glad Duclair was a good dude and people like him, but forgive me for not really putting any value on that when this team, and locker room, will/should be completely gutted and/or changed within about 2-4 years.
His contributions to the locker room are ultimately fleeting and useless to the future of this team. Simply because this roster just won’t be there in the future, and outside of Eklund, none of our more important prospects actually got to benefit at all from his contributions.
My opinion would differ if we do sign him again this offseason to be a leader for the future, but for this season I simply don’t care how swell of a dude he was or how good this locker room is feeling.
This feels like complaining for the sake of complaining. Several young guys have directly credited Duclair with helping them this season. He was a good leader for the team and this is a pretty good return for him. I feel like there’s a subset of this board that needs to find something to complain about every time the Sharks do anything.
Yeah yeah yeah, trot out the good ol line that anyone who isn’t blowing bubbles and sunshine out their ass about this team must only be complaining to complain. There is simply no chance that anyone could find reason to legitimately find faults or complaints about this wonderful team and the direction it’s going in.
I’m so sorry that not everyone can only focus on the teeny silver linings of this terrible season, and dares to voice a mildly negative opinion about something instead.
I’m so glad he was a leader to our team full of vets and mid 20s barely nhl caliber players, I’m sure that will pay dividends to our actual prospects that are currently in the minors, overseas, or that we haven’t even drafted yet.