Confirmed with Link: Sharks sign Matt Nieto 1 year 700k

[Doctor Soraluce]

Nieto? Goddamn that's funny! I mean he's basically the milker replacement right? He kills penalties and plays in the bottom 6? At least he's fast I guess...

So Nieto is now the guy who will spell Labanc in the top 6 when/if he can't maintain focus long enough to play like a top 6 player... Yay.

 

[Doctor Soraluce]

I doubt Merkley will start in the NHL. Also no need for Kulikov (or any LD) with Vlasic, Ferraro, Simek, and Middleton down the left side.

True. If they're signing a vet D it should be a RD incase EK65 explodes and merk is a bust.

 

[Doctor Soraluce]

Baywatch line.

You sir, are brilliant.

 

[Coily]

Nieto, if you do not choose "going back to Cali" as your goal song. I will be unhappy and complain online.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Solid signing. Gives the team some speed and some competition. DW tends to emphasize attitude/chemistry/fit, so unsurpised he went with someone he knows well.

Also, this could be him doing Nieto a favor.

Nieto makes sense as a replacement for Melker, but more so Sorensen. He'd be a direct replacement for Sorensen if that's the route they want to go, speed, pk ability, some scoring pop, and can play on a 3rd line if need be. The Sharks need to replace the PK minutes those two brought and Nieto comes cheap and can potentially play up the line up for short periods of time. This move makes way more sense if it's the precursor to a trade, moving Sorensen and or acquiring a top 9 scorer. Depth is one thing, but we have way too many bottom 6 forwards. I expect there to be massive battles in camp for spots with many ending up on waivers, but the team should really try to bring in some high end scoring depth to compete with Donato.

My thought on this is to let them compete. Trade, waive, or demote the losers.

 

[one2gamble]

They kind of did 2 of them lol.

those are middle six players at best

 

[Nighthock]

What th... what the hell is the plan here??

 

[Doctor Soraluce]

Was more of thinking in terms of PK specialist forward. I have to imagine we get another PKing forward otherwise Hertl/Timo/Couture will be seeing significant time there.

Kane was one of the better PK forwards they had last season. His speed and physicality helped a ton on getting the puck out. I expect him to remain a fixture there as well as couture.

 

[Reggae Shark]

this is the highlight of the offseason so far. i actually think this is a great signing. 700k to have a speedy guy we're familiar with that is able to actually survive in the NHL is great deal.

Long Beach Native Matt Nieto!!!

 

[STL Shark]

If Labanc was good enough without Hertl, you could swap him for either Donato or Meier but I just don't see any version of Couture-Labanc being a good line.

I think you run into the same issue moving Donato up with Kane-Hertl. None of those guys are distributors/playmakers. They're both triggers. I like Labanc better with Kane-Hertl just because Kane has stated back in his days with Buffalo his preference to play with a right shot. Granlund-Couture-Meier would be a very good second line imo with Donato-Thornton-?? as a nice 3rd line.

 

[STL Shark]

True and Kellman agreed but Gregor definitely proved he belonged last year. I’d take him over both Nieto and Marleau. We know what their ceilings are, Gregor is TBD.

What did Gregor do to prove that? His underlying numbers were horrific from a possession and xGF/xGA perspective. He's fast and plays hard. That's about all I can say in favor of Gregor's game at this juncture.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I think you run into the same issue moving Donato up with Kane-Hertl. None of those guys are distributors/playmakers. They're both triggers. I like Labanc better with Kane-Hertl just because Kane has stated back in his days with Buffalo his preference to play with a right shot. Granlund-Couture-Meier would be a very good second line imo with Donato-Thornton-?? as a nice 3rd line.

I think Hertl is good enough as a distributor when that's his focus to be one for a line but it's not the best use of his abilities. I still expect them to make a trade to at least open up the potential cap space needed to maybe grab that player at the deadline that would be more of a playmaking top six but we'll see.

 

[Negatively Positive]

Guess we found our top 6 fwd or will it be Marleau.

 

[Sharks99]

Sign him too.

Nieto - Chmelevski - Etem

Beach Patrol line. Think of the meme possibilities.

Bay Watch line.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

I really like this,

 

[Doctor Soraluce]

Bay Watch line.

Someone beat you to it.

 

[702SHARK]

Niets Beats Baby!
This Is Tha Winning Season!...

 

[Doctor Soraluce]

I think you run into the same issue moving Donato up with Kane-Hertl. None of those guys are distributors/playmakers. They're both triggers. I like Labanc better with Kane-Hertl just because Kane has stated back in his days with Buffalo his preference to play with a right shot. Granlund-Couture-Meier would be a very good second line imo with Donato-Thornton-?? as a nice 3rd line.

Didn't Hertl have 40 assists season before last? I think if he gets his head up more instead of bulling him way around the net just to shoot himself he will expand his game greatly. Couture can't mules the puck into the zone himself so I think he's needs Kane who played most of last season with. Couture can also pass pretty well too. Timo & Kane aren't as good at setups as those 2. I would put Labanc with Meier & Hertl since their play style can minimize Labanc defensive miscues and then Donato with Couture and Kane. The Hertl Meier line would wear teams down and Couture's line can take advantage with Kanes speed and Coutures sniping.

 

[weastern bias]

Niets Beats Baby!
This Is Tha Winning Season!...

If this isn't his goal song I'll be very disappointed

 

[Levie]

If this isn't his goal song I'll be very disappointed

Are we still doing that goal thing? I thought it was cancelled when everyone stopped scoring after it was implemented.

 

[Nolan11]

Marleau - Gambrell for the third line?


Anyone of these for under a million?


3. Dmitry Kulikov
- 29 LD Left 51 2 8 10 0.20 -4 54 0.04 20:01 - - - - - M-NTC UFA $4,333,333 $4,333,333
10. Ben Hutton
- 27 LD Left 65 4 12 16 0.25 5 114 0.04 18:15 - - - - - UFA $1,500,000 $1,500,000
11. Mirco Mueller
- 25 LD Left 50 2 5 7 0.14 -13 29 0.07 17:38 - - - - - UFA
No QO $1,400,000 $1,400,000
14. Slater Koekkoek
- 26 LD/RD Left 42 1 9 10 0.24 3 47 0.02 16:45 - - - - - UFA
No QO $925,000 $925,000
15. Oscar Fantenberg
- 28 LD Left 36 1 5 6 0.17 -10 45 0.02 15:54 - - - - - UFA
19. Michael Del Zotto
- 30 LD Left 49 2 13 15 0.31 5 57 0.04 18:42 - - - - - UFA
27. Philip Holm
- 28 D Left 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 0.00 - - - - - UFA $700,000
35. Andreas Englund
- 24 LD Left 24 0 3 3 0.13 -8 10 0.00 10:54 - - - - - UFA
No QO $700,000 $700,000

Well, at this rate, expect a Mueller signing in 4, 3, 2, ....

 

[Pavelski2112]

Are we still doing that goal thing? I thought it was cancelled when everyone stopped scoring after it was implemented.

I was the most disappointed when Burns had to change his

 

[LeeIFBB]

Bridge to a 3yr $10M deal and Wilson calling him a 40pt player.

 

[hohosaregood]

What did Gregor do to prove that? His underlying numbers were horrific from a possession and xGF/xGA perspective. He's fast and plays hard. That's about all I can say in favor of Gregor's game at this juncture.

Gregor's xGF% after his last call up were actually really good.

 

[The Nemesis]

If this isn't his goal song I'll be very disappointed

Have a whole in-arena rave presentation when he scores. The house lights go out, a black light turns on, there's a laser show projected down from the rafters. Maybe have a giant bubble cannon that sprays a stream of soap bubbles into the air. Hand out glowsticks for the crowd to wave. Go nuts. Maybe get Jon Root back just so he can wiggle around like an idiot on the jumbotron. he seems like the type that would be perfect for it.

Lord knows the team probably isn't going to be super exciting in how they play, so they might as well give us a show with all the off-ice stuff.