Marc-Edouard Vlasic Projected WAR vs Cap Hit-Expected WAR Timeline (courtesy of JFresh ) JFresh has Vlasic’s current contract, an eight-year deal with an AAV of $7 million, projected as the NHL’s worst contract by using wins above replacement and an age curve. I’ve previously discussed the regression of Vlasic, but it’s worth bringing up again especially in regards to his contract. Marc-Edouard Vlasic ( Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers) When the Sharks decided to give him a handsome contract, it may have come at the wrong time for them. It could very well be argued that up until the offseason of 2017 that he was one of the most underpaid players in the league. Vlasic has always been one of the NHL’s top stay-at-home defensemen, which is becoming a rare commodity in the NHL these days. You know that one scene from SpongeBob where one of the fish confronts Plankton with a Krabby Patty that looks normal, but when the scene changes it’s revealed to be an absolutely disgusting version of a Krabby Patty? That could be used to describe Marc-Edouard Vlasic at this stage of his career. Another season with a sub-.900 SV%, even with a new goaltending coach in Evgeni Nabokov and a proven, yet recently shaky backup in Dubnyk may force the Sharks’ hand to either trade or buy Jones out and look elsewhere for goaltending options. The Sharks have brought in Devan Dubnyk to limit the workload for Jones, but one would have to think this season will be Jones’ final chance with the Sharks. There was hope that Jones’ poor play in 2018-19 was simply an aberration, but unfortunately, Jones seemed to regress even further in the following season. The contract went into effect the following season, and it coincided with Jones’ first down year. Jones was signed to a six-year extension in the summer of 2017 with an average annual value of $5,750,000. Regardless of which GSAA number is more accurate, though, it’s clear that Jones has become a major issue contract-wise. Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks ( Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers) Natural Stat Trick is much harsher to him in this category, though, with Jones coming in dead last at minus-23.20. The underlying numbers are also quite gloomy – Hockey-Reference has his goals saved above average (GSAA) at minus-15.01, fourth-worst in the NHL. 900%, as well as a ballooning goals-against average, going up from 2.94 in 2018-19 to an even 3.00 in 2019-20. It’s bad enough at the surface level: he’s had two consecutive seasons with a save percentage under. The Martin Jones problem has been a recurring theme in the past two Sharks seasons, and it isn’t hard to see why. Perhaps a healthier season will boost his value closer to his cap hit, but as it stands, Couture’s contract stands as the third-worst on the Sharks. While Couture is still certifiably a good player, his contract doesn’t necessarily reflect that right now. The Sharks named him their captain for a reason, and that’s because of his leadership qualities, as well as a sustained touch for scoring. San Jose Sharks 2019-20 Contract Value Projection Table (courtesy of Victor Nuno via )ĭespite this grim difference between his cap hit and his estimated value, Couture still brings a lot to the table. Couture’s 2019-20 campaign was limited due to an ankle injury that he suffered in January, but still saw his numbers decline, only putting up 39 points for the season and having both his CF% and xG% dip below 50%, at 49.5% and 47.8% respectively. After a 2018-19 season in which Couture tallied 70 points as well as a Corsi for percentage (CF%) of 53.8% and an expected goals percentage (xG%) of 52.84%, Couture’s first season with a “C” on his chest failed to match that mark. 3: Logan CoutureĬaptain Logan Couture’s form took a hit this past season. With that in mind, I present to you the Sharks’ three worst contracts on their books: No. With only $2 million in available cap space until the season begins, the Sharks are going to have to be able to get value out of some of their more expensive contracts in order to get back on track. The Sharks are going to have to prove in the upcoming 2020-21 season that their 29th-place finish last season was simply an aberration. The same cannot be said for the San Jose Sharks. The Blackhawks, though, won championships in 2010, 2013, and 2015 to make up for these contracts. Just ask the Chicago Blackhawks, who, after a decade of dominance in the NHL, are starting to feel the wrath of pricey contracts handed out to their key players. The wages of being a constant contender in the NHL are often hefty.
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