You realize that that is a big ask? Revamping the top 9 wont be easy, and their goaltending was terrible, with another 4 years with Jones following this year. I feel their only hope is to make a much more drastic move. Trading Burns or Hertle (or both) while their value remains high is probably an option that needs to be explored. They need a serious shake-up to change this club. Your best prospect is Merkley, who has put up stellar numbers, but sits behind your two highest players who also happen to be RD's.....
- bikeguy99
I don't think trading Hertl is going to help revamp the top 9...you'd be taking out probably our best center (I'd give him a slight edge over Couture, at least until the playoffs!); of course it depends on the return. I'm just doubtful we'd get enough back to warrant trading him (especially given his injury history).
Trading Burns....I think that's DW's best chance at a potentially quick turn around. I'd hate (HATE) to see him go, he's one of my favorite players, but yeah, he's still worth a decent return and he plays a position where we may have some depth (depends on Karlsson staying healthy, and Merkley coming in and adapting pretty quickly - both major gambles).
Other possibility is moving Burns back to forward. We can still move him back to D if Karlsson and or Merkley have issues.
Like I said before though - it all depends on what the potential return is. Sharks are in a really difficult position right now between the cap, some really bad contracts with NMC's, goal-tending, lack of forward depth and a very bleak prospect pool.
If DW CAN somehow turn things around and the Sharks can quickly return to legit contenders - then DAMN, he's gotta be considered one of the best GMs, cuz right now it's looking like all of his luck has run out.