Media Update (7/1): Mike Grier

Media Update (7/1): Mike Grier

Hi everybody, thanks for joining. We have general manager Mike Greer on the call. If you have any questions, please utilize the raise hand feature and we can go ahead and get started. Max, hey Mike. Um, just, you know, obviously still lots of time, still 3:00 here, but what are your overall feelings with with what you got done with the couple signings and obviously the Nadelovich trade? How do you feel you guys came out in your plan that you wanted to execute today?
Yeah, we feel good about things. It was um, you know, was this was probably never going to be a year where we were going to be um, you know, too involved, I guess, with the guys, the bigger end, higherend guys that were going to get a lot of term and and things like that. So, um, you know, we were happy, you know, getting net in net was was big for us. Um, someone who can push ASI and is a proven winner in this league. Um, you know, he’s a really solid uh guy and Warzo spend some time with him. So, competitive guy. Um, you know, so to have competition in the net was important for us. Um, so we’re happy to get him in. Um and then uh you know Clintberg was you know someone we we had targeted for um a little while now. Um you know we we need someone who can run a power play and um you know we think you know as he showed he was getting healthier and healthier healthier this year and you know another year out from his from his uh from his hip I think he’ll be even better. Um so we’re excited to get him and his puck moving and his power play ability. someone who can get the puck up to our forwards.
Um, and then up front, um, you know, Kershov, someone we’ve liked for a while. We like the versatility of being able to play center and wing and be able to move them all kind of all around the top nine. I think he’s shown in the past. He’s been able to play with good players and um, and be a productive NHL player. So, um, we’re happy to get him. And Adam was, you know, kind of fills a little bit of a need for us, a right shot center, uh, center wing as well. gives us flexibility with the lineup there and he’s pretty good on faceoffs and he’s really good around the net as you guys can see with the uh you know 19 goals he had this year and 44 I think last year in the AHL. So um you know I think he’s got a chance to help us in in both special teams and in the faceoff circle and another guy like I said those him and Phil both can give us some lineup flexibility with able to um play center and wing. Um, you know, obviously it took a while for that first move to free agency to come out. Obviously, you guys resigned Ekki, but just was there a couple things that you maybe wanted to get done that you weren’t able to maybe push across the line or player maybe just chose to go somewhere else?
Yeah, I think that’s always kind of the always the case in free agency. there’s, you know, 31 other teams that have plans and are trying to get players and, um, so, um, you know, we had a kind of had our hands in, uh, one or two other things that didn’t work out, but, um, you know, that’s the way it goes on on, uh, July 1st.
And then last one for now. I might have some more later, but just, uh, obviously you guys signed Ekki and and get that three years done and to get it done early. What was the thought process behind maybe getting getting to the number to three years and the number you guys did and the priority in getting it done now? Well, I think both sides were happy with the three years and we’ll continue to watch Aki grow and and develop and and kind of see where he he falls in with the rest of our group as as we continue to build this thing. But, um, you know, we’re really really excited to have him signed up and he’s kind of the the first guy who’s been here since I started and and that we’ve extended to kind of start building this thing with. So, um, really happy with him. are um excited to have him for, you know, four more years at the very least. Um you know, so I think we both sides were comfortable with the term and and uh and where the money ended up and just to kind of see where his development path goes and where his game goes.
Awesome. Thanks, Mike. I might have more later.
We’ll go to Stephen.
Hey, Mike. Obviously, we talked a lot about the cap going up, but how did the market sort of get shaped by so many teams kind of resigning their guys and the movement the last few days and taking a lot of sort of top end talent out of the market? Yeah, I think teams kind of um I don’t know if if just it’s okay to say they or right to say they went out of their way to resign their own guys, but I think there was so much uncertainty with everyone having a little bit more money what the market might um show that I think teams thought, you know, instead of maybe having to overspend on someone you don’t know, it might be, you know, better to, you know, just lock up the player you know and you know what they are and the person they are and you’re probably more comfortable with that. So, I just think probably a little bit of the uncertainty with with the cap going up and everyone have money to spend, I think teams uh were just a little bit more comfortable probably with their own their own players.
Thank you, Shane. Hey, Mike. Uh just uh wondering, was there a thought to go longer term with William or was it always sort of around this range? Uh, I mean we talked all kind of all options. Um, you know, longer term to, you know, two, three, four, five. Um, you know, seven. We kind of went through the gambit and, um, you know, it was good working with his agent Todd. It was, um, you know, I think he’s been he was good to work with and I think both sides we just kind of ended up on three and thought that was kind of a good number to kind of watch and see where where Ekki’s game goes. And uh your UFA signings um all of them were one or two years. Was that a particular concentration of yours to not commit too much to any UFAS or that just how things kind of fell this year?
Um probably a little both. I think I’ve been pretty consistent with you guys of saying I don’t want to hand out long-term contracts um necessarily right now that this might not be the time to do that. Um, of course there will be a time where we got to lock up some guys and give them a little bit more a little bit turn, but I don’t think we’re quite there yet. So, these are these are players we like um and players that we also think there’s upside in all three of them um to produce well for us and you know hopefully they’re good they’re good people too. So hopefully, you know, it it might turn into something that’s a little bit longer term than just just the one year.
And to hold on hone in specifically on on a few of these guys. Um with Njokovic, was this a guy that was always maybe sort of a primary target or did the goalending market kind of dictate that? Because um you know, a couple guys went Yes. He went yesterday um and it just was kind of a uh not a lot of goalies available in general. No, not someone we liked. And I like I I said earlier, I think Warso’s spent some time with them. Spears and uh Nabi and Millsy watched a lot of video on him as we went through the goalie group. And you know, for us, it was important really to have someone who can push asy and um you know, also compete competes and has a strong work ethic. So um you know, it’s going to be someone that ask can learn from but also compete with and push him. So, um, you know, Ned fit Ned fit a lot of those traits. And, you know, another thing Ned does well is play the puck. And as you guys know, Asky likes to come out and play the puck. And I think, um, that’s something that, you know, Ned can can help Asky with and ask can learn from.
And what about Njokovic’s, uh, personality? You know, we we talked, I think maybe a couple months ago, about kind of finding the right fit in terms of personality with with Ascarov. And you ask people about Nikjokovic around the league, you just hear good things about him in in that sense. And so what about his personality makes him a good kind of complimentary uh guy with uh your you know your your pro your big prospect there?
Yeah, just I think like you said he’s a good person, good teammate. Um and he’s competitive. Um, so those were the things and he has a high work ethic and you know talking to him I think he’s he’s someone who enjoys a challenge and and doesn’t want things to come easy to him. So, um I think these are all traits I think that are important not only in life but um to be a professional athlete and I so I think as will be able to learn a lot from and Curry Chev a couple years ago he had a pretty strong season with Chicago last this past season uh maybe not the season he was looking for uh just kind of what did you see I guess over the last two years and and last season in particular when uh maybe he struggled a little bit. Well, I think last if I started last season, I think last season he, you know, this is just me from the outside looking at it. Um, you know, Chicago brought in some new guys, some vets. Um, and I think he kind of got pushed down the lineup a little bit. Um, and never really got his never really got his feet up underneath him. Um, you know, probably lost, you know, not on the line and playing with the guys he was playing with the year before. And um you know sometimes as as a player when things don’t start off well it’s kind of you kind of feel like you’re going uphill for for the whole season. And from the outside that’s kind of what it looked looked like to us. But you know the year before and we you know we saw a guy a really complete 200t player who can make plays, play with good players, um is responsible defensively as well. So, um, you know, we thought it was worth a shot to, um, you know, bring him in here, see if we can kind of get his game going, um, back in the right direction. And, you know, he’s, like, he’s shown before, he can he can play with good players. So, you know, he’ll have the opportunity to kind of write the ship a little bit.
And, uh, with Clingberg, you know, Clingberg’s really well known, a former kind of Norris contender kind of guy. Obviously, he’s had his injuries. um with him as you watch him more and more with the Oilers this year with the playoffs, did you just kind of see him getting better and better and you see maybe that upside that maybe he can approach maybe not be the guy that he was but um maybe be not that far from it though. Yeah, that’s the hope and you know like you kind of nailed it as we watch the playoffs and not only are you know myself and and the guys here in the office but you know we it sounds assigned scouts to playoff series to watch and you know the reports came back very well and when you watch him on TV you can see him you know he was moving more moving better and better and um you know the playmaking has always been there and and I think it’s um you know even if you look at you know Patrick Kane his first year back from that similar surgery, he did okay. And then this past year, you know, he was even better and had a really solid year. So, um, we think that the potential is there with another summer of rehab and strengthening and conditioning and and not have to, you know, not have to baby it and really get after it in training that, you know, he’s got a chance to get back to um, you know, close to what he was before. And you know in Edmonton they have such a good power play and he didn’t really get much power play time there and you know here we’ll get the opportunity to do that and you know I think it it’ll be really good for our group.
And a last one for me for now just in general are you looking to add anything specific um a type of player anything like that? No I think we’re still open. Um, you know, day one is always a little a little bit he hectic and crazy, but um, you know, we’ll kind of see how things shake out after, you know, tonight. Things will settle down and teams will kind of regroup and and see see what’s out there and, you know, the free agents will do the same. So, um, we’ll definitely just we’re just going to kind of keep our eye open and see if there’s anyone out there that makes sense for us to add and, you know, whether that’s, you know, in free agency or through trade. Curtis, Mike, I wanted to um just ask you a little bit about, you know, I guess you just answered this, but do do you kind of consider most the most of the heavy lifting done uh on your end, I guess? Um I think for the most part, but um just like we talked about earlier, like so much stuff happened yesterday and then um you know, you follow you kind of piggy back up that with that today. Um you know, we’ll see what kind of comes up, if there’s anything any opportunities that come up and um you know, we’ll look again through our list and and go over who’s left out there and you know, we’ll see see if there’s a fit. Um, and if not today, you know, there’s still, you know, training camp’s still a few months away, so there’s there’s still plenty of time for us to keep kind of building this thing. What kind of challenges did you face and maybe trying to attract free agents? Obviously, the team is, you know, was where it was in the in the standings last couple of years. I mean, is that how much of a challenge is it to try to convince guys to to come to San Jose when you know, maybe the the timeline to win isn’t necessarily starting next year.
Yeah, I think that’s part of it. Um, it’s just part of where we are that there’s going to be some some free agents that are going to um prioritize trying to win as soon as they can and um you know, that’s just the real reality of our situation. So, um, each athlete and each person and each family has different ways they look at free agency and how they want to go about it and that’s, um, you know, that’s their right. Once you get to free agency, you know, that’s the goal and you can pick and and attack it ever whichever way you would like. So, um, you know, there were some players that kind of felt like I think the consensus with agents and players that they all they all like the direction we’re going and and where we’re headed, but, you know, some guys just are trying to win. And I and I get it. You only have you’re only in this league for so long. So, um, you know, as you get up into your late 20s and 30s, um, you know, for some people, winning immediately becomes a priority. And I and I understand that. Um, you know, there’s a lot of speculation about ML Granland and potentially on, you know, coming back to to San Jose. Can I can I ask if if there was maybe some interest on on your end and and maybe with the the contract he signed, I believe it was three years at $7 million per. Was that maybe just a little bit more than maybe the the Sharks were were willing to to do? Yeah, we talked um a little bit um not too much. We talked before before the trade a little bit and I had a kind of an idea of what the ballpark would be then and um you know we circled kind of circled back a little bit um you know you know today and and stuff like that but it was you know we’re happy for Granny. We really liked him here. He was great great for our group. Um you know we just kind of felt like it it just didn’t match up right now. Right. Um, you mentioned the attributes of obviously the players that that are new here. How will this team be be better in uh next season and you know I guess you know there’s some you know what’s the message maybe to the fan base who are maybe concerned that you know maybe next season is going to be kind of a repeat of of the last couple of years. I mean what’s maybe the message to your fans at this point?
Well, I think we’ll be a better you know we’ll be a better team. Um and I think a lot of that will come through um some internal growth with our group. Um, you know, I think whether that’s Ekki and Mlin and and Will and Shakir, um, you know, kind of guys like that, some internal growth of those guys and grapher, um, you know, taking a keep taking, um, little steps forward in their games and then hopefully in the net we’re, you know, we’re we’ll have a solid tanm in there and have some more consistency. Um, another year in another year in Warso system should help as well. Um, you know, having Cleanberg back there, someone who can, excuse me, someone who can break pucks out, um, get the pucks up to our forwards, all that should help. Um, so, you know, I think it’s, you know, we’ll we’re going to take a step forward. I know there’s there’s times where we want to we want to speed this thing up, but um you know, I just think I think naturally we’ll we’ll take a step forward and hopefully going through some of the things we went through last year with you know, losing games in the third period or losing onegoal games and things like that. Um just going through that those experiences on their own. Um hopefully those will help our help our group next year and and help us grow a little bit. So, um, so hopefully that’s that’s where we’re at. And then, you know, just cuz this is this is just one day in the very beginning of the off season. So, um, you know, I’ll continue to look look to try and make our group better if I can. Um, you guys made the decision to to move on from from Nicolak Kovaleinko. Uh, can you go into maybe why that decision was made? Maybe this wasn’t just wasn’t a fit maybe long term here. Yeah. No, that was exactly it. I, you know, I wish them the best. Um, you know, sometimes sometimes players don’t work out and at certain situations and, uh, you know, when that’s the case, I think it’s just kind of best to move on. um you know, he’s a kid who’s got some talent and you know, hopefully he finds a spot where he can he can he can play and and develop a little bit more, but for us here, it just you know, it just wasn’t a just wasn’t a fit and we thought it would be it was best for our group to um just move on. This comments at the end of the year where we talked about having, you know, wanting more ice time and and and that kind of thing. And I mean, I don’t know how you felt about that, but that maybe rubbed me the wrong wrong way when some of those comments came out.
Well, I think we need to have kind of everyone pulling on the rope the same way. And um, you know, I’ve been clear and I think Warso’s been clear that, you know, we’re not going to hand you anything that you got to earn your ice time. And, um, you know, if he felt that way, then, you know, it’s his right to feel that way. and he went about he decided to handle it that way and but um no it didn’t I wouldn’t say it rubbed me the right the wrong way um you know that’s how we felt but um you know overall it was just you know the fit with our with our group um you know it just wasn’t a just wasn’t the right fit and I meant to ask you about Mark Edward um you know a few nights ago there but uh as you said I mean it was a tough decision to move on from him but was that mainly just to try to maybe create a roster opening there or um how did how did you see that one?
Yeah, that was kind of the main driving force behind it. um was definitely a a tough a tough decision and um you know for for me is for the organization and for myself like you know I was here when he first started and to see him him grow and and become you know a top shutdown defender then to get to work with him now on the other side of it um it was definitely a tough decision but just something we felt like we had to do with with our um you know some of our young guys coming up to possibly create a create a roster spot for those guys. Do you want to like you mentioned that I mean um you know there are some some roster spots available as it looks like as it stands right now. Do you you look at this development camp and some of the younger guys you have you want to give those uh guys an avenue to to try to make this team I guess.
Yeah. Yeah, I don’t I I don’t ever want to really try and block block young players, but um you know, in the same time, you know, they’re going to have to earn it. They’re going to have to come in camp um be prepared, be in shape, um be mentally sharp and engaged and show us that they can play in the NHL and that they belong in the NHL. So, we’ll give these guys every opportunity to see if they can do it. Um and then we’ll we’ll kind of sort the rest out from there. All right. Thank you, Mike. We can take final round of questions. We’ll go Max Shang and finish with JD. Uh Mike, I just u I know you touched on it a couple nights ago about Jumbo if uh being here obviously he was on the ice development camp today. Were you able to get pen to paper or uh it’s a good question. Never know with Jumbo. I’ll have to check. I don’t I don’t know if it’s quite officially officially done done quite yet. He’s uh he’s a tough man to pen down. You know, he’s all over the all over the place. It’s about the most jumbo answer you could have given me. Um then getting back to things obviously like you know you mentioned there maybe some of the heavy lifting is is done. I mean there is you know the cap floor you know give or take 9 million or so depending on you know how the roster is set up. I mean how do you how do you expect to plan to I guess fill that with through trades looking at just kind of adding some more pieces. Obviously, there’s still more time and plenty more free agents out there, but that’s something that obviously, you know, uh uh needs to get to. How do you plan on kind of maybe attacking that to get to where you need to be?
Yeah, I mean, it’s just there’s, you know, season’s a long ways away. So, I think we’ll just kind of keep chipping away at it and and trying to add add to our group and and uh I think at the end of the day, I think we’ll end up being okay. Um, you know, we kind of alluded to it with the the a lot of, you know, I guess signings and re-upings from last night. How do you feel like that trade market obviously you make the deal for Nadulkovich? I mean, does it feel like there’s maybe uh not easier time to maybe acquire what you need or want to get through trade or do you feel like it’s just kind of a 50/50 balance after, you know, just kind of seeing what’s available and going at it, you know, looking more so at everything rather than maybe keying on a free agent? Yeah, I think it’s probably 50/50. I think even the prices on some trades are pretty have have been pretty high and and even so like people who have have the commodities when they look out in the market and maybe not see that there’s a lot of options and if if you have something that someone wants and you know the price is going to be high. So um it’s all it kind of goes both kind of goes both ways I guess. Um, and then I think this will be it for me, but the you chose to qualify Thomas Bordal and then um not qualify Georgie Romanov. Obviously, Bordeaux has been been here a while and and you know, he he talked to us at the end of the Barracuda season about, you know, a little bit frustrated not getting an opportunity in the NHL. Obviously, the injury hurt him there at the end and he understood that. Um, what was the thinking behind, you know, qualifying him, keeping around and maybe and then also with the the other side of that, maybe letting Georgie Romanov go. Obviously Matt Davis is here, but the thinking behind that? Yeah. Um, you know, Bourge is, you know, he’s a good hockey player and, um, you know, we’ll just we just figured we’d we’d want to we’re going to continue to kind of go down the path and see where it leads us. Um, you know, understand his frustration and everything. But we just um you know thought it would best to kind of queue him and see see where it goes and and um see where it goes with the player really. Um Georgie was you know the goalie market is it’s kind of all over the place. I think it for us it kind of came down to um you know trying to figure out still not having after a couple years not having a a clear pitcher if he was if he was ready to be the full-time number three with the Barracuda. You know, we got Matt Davis here. Gabe Kerry did it did a great job for us last year. So, um you know, I think that’s and to be fair to him and give him an opportunity to see what else is out there. And um so um that’s that’s kind of what we made on the decision. We got to see if we can find a you know a number like a full-time number three type. Awesome. Thanks. Hopefully you get Jumbo to sign that paper soon.
Yeah, hopefully. Sh Mike, just to clarify, um is the plan to still add a a a number three to the Barracuda? May that may not be carrier. Um, I think yeah, I think we’re going to we’re going to look to probably add a a little a little bit more experienced number three down there. And that that also kind of went into a little bit of the decision with uh with Georgie.
And I also want to ask you one question about uh Kobeno and um I understand that he may not be a fit for the Sharks, but I wonder about just keeping him just qualifying him and keeping him as an asset because he is a talented player. Well, um, yeah, we thought about it. We had a good discussion about it, but at the end of the day, we just thought it’d be best to to move on if because it wasn’t, you know, it wasn’t a great fit for for our room. So, um, you know, you you could go down that path that you’re talking about, but then there’s, you know, there’s also a a chance that if he’s an asset and you can’t move him, then, you know, come September or October, he’s, you know, if he doesn’t fit your room, that’s not that’s not a not a player you’re going to want your room. So, that’s not going to change between now and and September if, you know, if we weren’t able to move them. And uh also wondering I in terms of what you guys might be uh focused on. I know that you know weren’t being very specific but I just wanted in terms of the defense specifically though that like is there any kind of just what does the defense need I guess from from now to to October? Um, I think we’ve, you know, we gota, we’ll still look around on the back end and, you know, someone who can, you know, we probably need to still maybe add someone who can defend or or at the very least help us get pucks out of our end. So, um, you know, I think that would that would be the focus on the back end just to be able to defend a little bit and help us get the puck up to our forwards and get us out of our end as quick as we can. And last one for me and thanks for doing this. Um what was Mark Edwards reaction when you told him you know was this something that um I don’t know if you kind of might have alluded to it with him you know when he was uh ex you know that during exit interviews or whatever or is it something that more you guys decided more recently and you told him recently but just anyway just what was his reaction to the news? Um, you know, we handled it very well, very professional. Um, I think he understood where where we are at as an organization and the decisions that we’re that we have to make um, as far as roster roster construction and things like that. So, he handled it really well, very professional, and it’s and, you know, it’s not something I’m surprised by. You know, he’s a he’s a class act and um, you know, one of the best players ever here and has always done things the right way. So, I’m not uh I’m not surprised he handled he handled it as well as he did.
Do you have a sense if he is plans to continue his playing career?
I think he would like to. Yeah. And uh you know, we wish him the best. Hopefully, you know, hopefully he can find a spot and keep uh keep plugging away.
All right. Thanks so much, Mike. Thanks, guys. Okay, thanks everyone. Uh that’s it with uh Mike and if we have any other news to announce, we will keep you posted. Thanks all.

San Jose Sharks General Manager Mike Grier addresses the media following the opening of free agency.