Injury Report: Martin Havlat 5/1 [Video]

[JodyShelleysNo1Fan]

Then what?

Shark Fin Soup seems to know what he's talking about. Maybe a combination of the two, who knows. All I know is that Havlat is hurting the team at this point. We traded a passenger for a passenger. Why does DW keep doing these things. Get proven winners!

Wallin, Burish, Huskins, etc.

 

[Mafoofoo]

but has a necessary skill set for a team to go anywhere in the playoffs

I dont think his homemade popcorn in the pressbox helps THAT much in the playoffs..

 

[OrrNumber4]

Does it really matter what it really is? You don't find it the least bit obnoxious and ridiculous to call someone out to be a wuss because he's got an injury? This is especially because you, I, and everyone not affiliated with the team don't know what the injury really is.

Of course being out of the lineup hurts the team but thems the breaks. It happened with Torres. It happened with Heatley. It happened with Thornton at points. It happened with Marleau. It happens with everyone. Even when they can play, it still hurts the team. That's the nature of the game. Calling him a wuss is just juvenile.

Proven winners don't guarantee you anything. Dan Boyle is a proven winner. Antti Niemi is a proven winner. Scott Gomez is a proven winner. We've had teams that had plenty of championship experience and it didn't get them anywhere. Heatley and Havlat weren't passengers. Heatley busted his ass when he was in the lineup and hurt. He just wasn't that good. Havlat just can't stay healthy but has a necessary skill set for a team to go anywhere in the playoffs. I'm not opposed to moving him if a real replacement can be found but that's a tall order.

That last part is certainly the key question. If the team moves on from Havlat, who do the move on to?

If anything, I can see getting rid of Havlat the year-after-next. There should be more prospects ready to step in, Pavelski + Couture looking for raises, etc. Then, it makes sense...

I will also disagree that Heatley was that bad. What I loved about him was that when his goal-scoring dried up in the playoffs, he became an assist machine. That kind of versatility has been lacking on the Sharks.

 

[Winky]

Would you think we would have heard something by now if Havlat was definitely done for the playoffs?

 

[Led Zappa]

Would you think we would have heard something by now if Havlat was definitely done for the playoffs?

We heard that his locker was removed. That's a pretty good sign he's done.

 

[Winky]

We heard that his locker was removed. That's a pretty good sign he's done.

Yeah, I read that. But I would imagine there would be an official announcement. I mean, if there was any chance of a return, even in the SCFs, I could see being tight-lipped about it. But if he is definitely done (which would make sense considering the locker situation), wouldn't the org officially announce it?

 

[Led Zappa]

Yeah, I read that. But I would imagine there would be an official announcement. I mean, if there was any chance of a return, even in the SCFs, I could see being tight-lipped about it. But if he is definitely done (which would make sense considering the locker situation), wouldn't the org officially announce it?

The press isn't even asking. These words are not too kind:

“He has to be able to play the game. We have to make decisions on what’s best for the team and we’ve tried once already to put a player into the lineup and he left us with four minutes,†McLellan said of Havlat, who returned briefly in Game 3 of the current series only to leave it again. “That didn’t help us at all.â€

The more I think about it and the longer nothing is even said of him the more I think he's done as a Shark.

 

[Evincar]

That last part is certainly the key question. If the team moves on from Havlat, who do the move on to?

If anything, I can see getting rid of Havlat the year-after-next. There should be more prospects ready to step in, Pavelski + Couture looking for raises, etc. Then, it makes sense...

I will also disagree that Heatley was that bad. What I loved about him was that when his goal-scoring dried up in the playoffs, he became an assist machine. That kind of versatility has been lacking on the Sharks.

I disagree about Heatley. I remember him getting 13 points in 14 games in the 2009-10 playoffs. Probably the most quietest 13 points Ive seen. He was also a liability defensively.

 

[Winky]

Yeah, I hadn't read that. That's the most "official" statement on the issue I've seen ... thanks.

I agree ... that doesn't seem like a typical response.

 

[Lebanezer]

“He has to be able to play the game. We have to make decisions on what’s best for the team and we’ve tried once already to put a player into the lineup and he left us with four minutes,” McLellan said of Havlat, who returned briefly in Game 3 of the current series only to leave it again. “That didn’t help us at all.”

It's funny, when I read that it almost sounded to me like Todd was taking some of the responsibility for what happened with Havlat the second time. Especially since he said this before talking about what is going on with Burish:

“We’ll get a daily review like we always do from our doctors and training staff, and if we’re comfortable as a staff that we like what we’re hearing, we’ll put him in,”

Of course, Havlat is still not around, so who knows what's going on. Maybe they don't want him around as a distraction given what's happened, or maybe he's off seeing specialists. We'll find out eventually.

 

[NWShark*]

The press isn't even asking. These words are not too kind:



The more I think about it and the longer nothing is even said of him the more I think he's done as a Shark.

That would be too bad IMO.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

That last part is certainly the key question. If the team moves on from Havlat, who do the move on to?

If anything, I can see getting rid of Havlat the year-after-next. There should be more prospects ready to step in, Pavelski + Couture looking for raises, etc. Then, it makes sense...

I will also disagree that Heatley was that bad. What I loved about him was that when his goal-scoring dried up in the playoffs, he became an assist machine. That kind of versatility has been lacking on the Sharks.

I don't know who they'll move on to. It just depends on the direction they want to go. We really don't even know if DW and TM will be a part of this team going forward with the ownership change. We'll get a pretty good clue of where this team is headed this off-season probably more than any other.

As for Heatley, I don't want it to come off that he was bad. He wasn't bad. He was ineffective and couldn't do what he was brought in to do. Wilson brought him in here specifically for goal-scoring in the playoffs. That was foolish in the first place since Heater wasn't that...he was a decoy. However, the injuries killed his effectiveness as a player. The second year, you can tell that was the case because at the end he was demoted to the 3rd line for spots.

 

[sr228]

That last part is certainly the key question. If the team moves on from Havlat, who do the move on to?

If anything, I can see getting rid of Havlat the year-after-next. There should be more prospects ready to step in, Pavelski + Couture looking for raises, etc. Then, it makes sense...

I will also disagree that Heatley was that bad. What I loved about him was that when his goal-scoring dried up in the playoffs, he became an assist machine. That kind of versatility has been lacking on the Sharks.

I'm curious...why does anyone think it'll be difficult to find a "replacement" for Havlat.

There are many fans on here that believe Dan Boyle is "done" - a player that has managed to stay healthy and contribute (in both the regular season and the playoffs) yet people think it's going to be hard to replace the oft injured 32yo Havlat and the whopping 18 (on pace for 37) points he put up this season?

I liked the Healtey/Havlat trade when it was made and didn't see any reason why he wouldn't be able to continue to stay mostly healthy - it hasn't happened. When Havlat's healthy he brings value to the team but $5mil is way too much money to tie up in a player that's rarely healthy and I'd think that DW will do his best to find a way to move him and if that doesn't work, from everything I've heard from the org (Plattner) using an amnesty on him is definitely an option.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I'm curious...why does anyone think it'll be difficult to find a "replacement" for Havlat.

There are many fans on here that believe Dan Boyle is "done" - a player that has managed to stay healthy and contribute (in both the regular season and the playoffs) yet people think it's going to be hard to replace the oft injured 32yo Havlat and the whopping 18 (on pace for 37) points he put up this season?

I liked the Healtey/Havlat trade when it was made and didn't see any reason why he wouldn't be able to continue to stay mostly healthy - it hasn't happened. When Havlat's healthy he brings value to the team but $5mil is way too much money to tie up in a player that's rarely healthy and I'd think that DW will do his best to find a way to move him and if that doesn't work, from everything I've heard from the org (Plattner) using an amnesty on him is definitely an option.

That's easy. That's because of what the Sharks have internally. Sharks have plenty of young right-handed PMD's in guys like Burns, Braun, Demers, and Tennyson. The Sharks don't have anyone ready to step in to play in Havlat's spot let alone anyone with his skill set. And externally, the Sharks don't sign quality free agents while their assets are limited in terms of turning something they have into something they need w/o pulling it from some other place they need.

Dan Boyle isn't 'done' as a player. He's in decline but Boyle's not going to be around that much longer one way or the other. So you have to choose between getting something for him now so you have something going forward or keep on believing that this team has a chance to win the Cup when they really can't get any better with a dropping cap and most of their best players not likely to benefit greatly from getting another year older.

It's a tough decision and it's probably necessary to move on from both guys.

 

[PlaywithGutz*]

I'm curious...why does anyone think it'll be difficult to find a "replacement" for Havlat.

There are many fans on here that believe Dan Boyle is "done" - a player that has managed to stay healthy and contribute (in both the regular season and the playoffs) yet people think it's going to be hard to replace the oft injured 32yo Havlat and the whopping 18 (on pace for 37) points he put up this season?

I liked the Healtey/Havlat trade when it was made and didn't see any reason why he wouldn't be able to continue to stay mostly healthy - it hasn't happened. When Havlat's healthy he brings value to the team but $5mil is way too much money to tie up in a player that's rarely healthy and I'd think that DW will do his best to find a way to move him and if that doesn't work, from everything I've heard from the org (Plattner) using an amnesty on him is definitely an option.

nail on the head....you can replace havlat with a player that has a heartbeat and that can manage to stay healthy as he jumps over the boards...there is absolutely NO REASON to keep Marty and he will be moved or buried...

havlat skates like he delivering a basket of eggs..we dont need one more player like that as we already have Pav, who is soft physically, Patty, who also seems to play not to get hurt, and Cooter, who is an as strong as an 18 yr old.

the entire hockey world agrees that Havlat is a big target for mercy buyout...if DW cant, he will send Marty to the depths of LTIR

and the Boyle hate on this board is comical...Boyle has 2 less points than Patty does in the PO's..

 

[FeedingFrenzy]

I'm curious...why does anyone think it'll be difficult to find a "replacement" for Havlat.

There are many fans on here that believe Dan Boyle is "done" - a player that has managed to stay healthy and contribute (in both the regular season and the playoffs) yet people think it's going to be hard to replace the oft injured 32yo Havlat and the whopping 18 (on pace for 37) points he put up this season?

I liked the Healtey/Havlat trade when it was made and didn't see any reason why he wouldn't be able to continue to stay mostly healthy - it hasn't happened. When Havlat's healthy he brings value to the team but $5mil is way too much money to tie up in a player that's rarely healthy and I'd think that DW will do his best to find a way to move him and if that doesn't work, from everything I've heard from the org (Plattner) using an amnesty on him is definitely an option.

I have been preaching this question regarding Havlat non-stop the last month only to be ridiculed,lambasted and generally crapped on..Plenty of options.

Same with replacing Boyle and his minutes/production..Lack of options.

Agree 100% on the Heater/Havlat deal.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I have been preaching this question regarding Havlat non-stop the last month only to be ridiculed,lambasted and generally crapped on..Plenty of options.

Same with replacing Boyle and his minutes/production..Lack of options.

Agree 100% on the Heater/Havlat deal.

The reason why you're playing the victim role here is because you're non-stop with the issue. It's not that people are unwilling to move on from Havlat. The issue is finding someone of his skill set to be in the lineup and there is not plenty of options for that. As for Boyle, there isn't many options to replace him either. The difference is Boyle has trade value with a limited shelf life remaining. Havlat likely has no trade value with his injury status and no-move clause. They will probably have to use the amnesty buyout for him.

You have to look at the options for this team. Free agency is not an option for them unless it is a role player. That means they would have to trade for an answer and, at this point, a trade will involve plugging a hole by creating another. They don't have enough depth to make up for what it will cost to get either a forward or defenseman of Havlat and Boyle's level.

 

[hockeyball]

I have been preaching this question regarding Havlat non-stop the last month only to be ridiculed,lambasted and generally crapped on..Plenty of options.

Same with replacing Boyle and his minutes/production..Lack of options.

Agree 100% on the Heater/Havlat deal.

Now that the team has pretty much torpedoed him publically I think a buyout is fairly likely. Make no mistake though, that does not make us a better team. The odds of us getting an honest to goodness top-6 winger this off-season are pretty slim in free agency. If we trade for one we are giving up depth we don't have. Our best option is Havlat to be healthy and play, that just doesn't seem like something the team has any faith in at this point.

As I said before, we were not at the point of buyout territory yet, now we are. You can't see the future, and neither can I, had Havlat come back the other night, stayed healthy and played I fully believe he'd be a Shark next year. Since he couldn't, that was the last straw is my bet. I'm certainly not thrilled about buying him out because frankly there is nothing positive about buying out a player you gave up assets to acquire.

 

[matt trick]

Amongst free agents, in terms of playmaking ability:

• Mike Riberio- exclusively center (maybe Couture-Thornton-Burns, Marleau-Ribs-Gali), likely $6M
  
• Clarke McArthur- Solid option, doesn't have Havlat's game breaking ability, but good playmaker, likely $5m.
  
• Derek Roy- Very fast, kills penalties, but horrible with Vancouver likely $4m.
  
• Viktor Stalberg- Extremely fast, not a pure playmaker, but could look good in Gali's spot. 3.5-4.0m. Niedermayer him!
  
• Ryane Clowe- Speed and health issues are well documented. No idea on cost, or willingness to come back?
  
• Andy McDonald- Decent option, good speed, passer. Would need a replacement soon anyway. $4m.
  
• Damien Brunner- Unproven, almost certainly re-signed, $3.25m in Detroit, $4m elsewhere
  
• Mason Raymond- Younger/softer that Havlat, also injury history. $3.5m.
  
• PM Bouchard- Pretty close to done done, $3m.

Normal usuals about getting people to sing exist.

 

[sr228]

Amongst free agents, in terms of playmaking ability:

• Mike Riberio- exclusively center (maybe Couture-Thornton-Burns, Marleau-Ribs-Gali), likely $6M
  
• Clarke McArthur- Solid option, doesn't have Havlat's game breaking ability, but good playmaker, likely $5m.
  
• Derek Roy- Very fast, kills penalties, but horrible with Vancouver likely $4m.
  
• Viktor Stalberg- Extremely fast, not a pure playmaker, but could look good in Gali's spot. 3.5-4.0m. Niedermayer him!
  
• Ryane Clowe- Speed and health issues are well documented. No idea on cost, or willingness to come back?
  
• Andy McDonald- Decent option, good speed, passer. Would need a replacement soon anyway. $4m.
  
• Damien Brunner- Unproven, almost certainly re-signed, $3.25m in Detroit, $4m elsewhere
  
• Mason Raymond- Younger/softer that Havlat, also injury history. $3.5m.
  
• PM Bouchard- Pretty close to done done, $3m.

Normal usuals about getting people to sing exist.

MacArthur and Stalberg are the two players I think would fit best on the Sharks.

I don't think Stalberg will be demanding as much as you think, probably closer to $2.5-3mil. I do think MacArthur will likely be looking for something around the $5mil range but I don't think he's worth that.

There will be players available through trade as the Sharks do have some assets they're willing to part with. There are also players that will become available after the buyout period seeing as there are a few teams that are in cap trouble.

 

[PlaywithGutz*]

Now that the team has pretty much torpedoed him publically I think a buyout is fairly likely. Make no mistake though, that does not make us a better team. The odds of us getting an honest to goodness top-6 winger this off-season are pretty slim in free agency. If we trade for one we are giving up depth we don't have. Our best option is Havlat to be healthy and play, that just doesn't seem like something the team has any faith in at this point.

As I said before, we were not at the point of buyout territory yet, now we are. You can't see the future, and neither can I, had Havlat come back the other night, stayed healthy and played I fully believe he'd be a Shark next year. Since he couldn't, that was the last straw is my bet. I'm certainly not thrilled about buying him out because frankly there is nothing positive about buying out a player you gave up assets to acquire.

talk about back tracking....now you think he will be a buyout..

SJ wouldn't have torpedoed him if there wasn't the notion of a buyout or trade already being discussed....I think SJ has had enough of him. Also, we are no better a team with him b/c he is always injured..and we he was healthy didnt do very much, or what DW expected from him..

You are the only person alive who thinks he is good for SJ..

If DW doesn't buy him out, which i think he will , and the rest of the hockey world thinks, then DW will bury him on LTIR

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Amongst free agents, in terms of playmaking ability:

• Mike Riberio- exclusively center (maybe Couture-Thornton-Burns, Marleau-Ribs-Gali), likely $6M
  
• Clarke McArthur- Solid option, doesn't have Havlat's game breaking ability, but good playmaker, likely $5m.
  
• Derek Roy- Very fast, kills penalties, but horrible with Vancouver likely $4m.
  
• Viktor Stalberg- Extremely fast, not a pure playmaker, but could look good in Gali's spot. 3.5-4.0m. Niedermayer him!
  
• Ryane Clowe- Speed and health issues are well documented. No idea on cost, or willingness to come back?
  
• Andy McDonald- Decent option, good speed, passer. Would need a replacement soon anyway. $4m.
  
• Damien Brunner- Unproven, almost certainly re-signed, $3.25m in Detroit, $4m elsewhere
  
• Mason Raymond- Younger/softer that Havlat, also injury history. $3.5m.
  
• PM Bouchard- Pretty close to done done, $3m.

Normal usuals about getting people to sing exist.

I've yet to see anyone come up with a real answer as to what to do to make this team better that is realistic. This team doesn't sign free agents that are point producers. They, more or less, sign crappy role players. Trading is their only route until their draft picks make something of themselves and that's a couple years off probably. The problem now with trading is what do they have to trade that can make them better w/o hurting themselves elsewhere. They don't have enough value and depth on defense to pull in a good young forward unless they trade Boyle or Vlasic. And even trading those two falls into the same category of trading one depth for another since neither can fully be replaced at this point...so what do they do?

I'm thinking that they won't do much. They may use one of their amnesty buyouts on Havlat, re-sign the guys that are restricted and/or want to stay here like Torres, maybe Gomez, maybe Hannan, and see what the cap is for the 2014-15 season and hope their prospects improve their value.

I see no way this team improves next season so if they were smart, they'd make moves for a couple years down the line instead of worrying about competing for a Cup they're in no position to really compete for with what they have.

 

[Audio Outlaw]

Does it really matter what it really is? You don't find it the least bit obnoxious and ridiculous to call someone out to be a wuss because he's got an injury? This is especially because you, I, and everyone not affiliated with the team don't know what the injury really is.

Of course being out of the lineup hurts the team but thems the breaks. It happened with Torres. It happened with Heatley. It happened with Thornton at points. It happened with Marleau. It happens with everyone. Even when they can play, it still hurts the team. That's the nature of the game. Calling him a wuss is just juvenile.

Proven winners don't guarantee you anything. Dan Boyle is a proven winner. Antti Niemi is a proven winner. Scott Gomez is a proven winner. We've had teams that had plenty of championship experience and it didn't get them anywhere. Heatley and Havlat weren't passengers. Heatley busted his ass when he was in the lineup and hurt. He just wasn't that good. Havlat just can't stay healthy but has a necessary skill set for a team to go anywhere in the playoffs. I'm not opposed to moving him if a real replacement can be found but that's a tall order.

I respect your opinion and almost always agree with your posts, so I say this with truth and respect.

No. I don't find it the least bit juvenile or obnoxious to heckle or insult players I don't like, even when they are injured and/or not performing. It's entertaining to me.

I have met Havlat in person, and I can honestly say he is a good man. He took the time to stop and chat with my son and I and sign my boys Sharks hat when he didn't have to. If I wasn't a hockey fan and had no idea who he was, I would have thought he was some rich banker or accountant. He is humble, and obviously very very fragile.

A proven winner in the top 6 would help.... And Nemi, meh!

 

[hockeyball]

talk about back tracking....now you think he will be a buyout..

Nope, I've been saying for awhile, we are not to that point yet. Then the Sharks came out and trashed him publically, repeatedly. I have no idea why, but obviously something is going on behind the scenes. Don't act like your psychic, you had no idea that was coming anymore than I. The situation has changed, dramatically. Sharks want him gone, clearly. I'm not an idiot, it's pretty clear at this point. I don't know all the facts, neither do you, from what I've seen I wouldn't buy him out, but obviously there is more to the story.

SJ wouldn't have torpedoed him if there wasn't the notion of a buyout or trade already being discussed....I think SJ has had enough of him. Also, we are no better a team with him b/c he is always injured..and we he was healthy didnt do very much, or what DW expected from him..

Circular logic. SJ didn't just torpedo him publicly for the hell of it. There's a history there, we don't know what it is. Clearly there is more to it than him just being injured. Until SJ did that we were only speculating, now we know the Sharks are very unhappy with Havlat.

You are the only person alive who thinks he is good for SJ..

Hyperbole and provably untrue. Situations evolve, this one took a major turn when Havlat was trashed on the air, and also after McLellan's comments yesterday regarding Burish and Havlat.

If DW doesn't buy him out, which i think he will , and the rest of the hockey world thinks, then DW will bury him on LTIR

Total hyperbole.

Look, you guys may have been right, but it wasn't based on the evidence or logic. You two took a bunch of hyperbole and provably untrue accusations and crucified the guy long before we had enough information to know. It's dumb luck you were right. If Havlat was just injured, based on the stats he has put up when healthy, he would not be bought out. Something is going on behind the scenes here, that is clear, that is putting this into that territory.

 

[Lebanezer]

Then the Sharks came out and trashed him publically, repeatedly.

Who in the Sharks organization did that?

Havlat skated this morning in full gear. So he's clearly not been banished even if his stall is still currently empty.

http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/kevin-kurz/burish-returning-game-6-havlat-skates