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Guerin landed in deadline
deal
Offense bolstered by addition
2/27/07 - By Mike Lee
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| Bill Guerin |
Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson pulled the trigger.
In a trade deadline move, Wilson acquired right wing Bill Guerin from the St
Louis Blues in exchange for Ville Nieminen, prospect Jay Barriball and the 1st
round draft pick dealt to the Sharks from the New Jersey Devils last off
season.
Guerin helps provide instant offense to the Sharks, bringing
14 NHL seasons of experience along for the ride. The 36-year-old has played for
five other teams, including Dallas, Boston, Edmonton, New Jersey and St Louis.
"I'm thrilled," said Guerin. "I am really excited about it, This is
one of those teams that was on my radar. I am very happy to be going there.
"You have certain expectations and places that you want to go so it
was easy (to waive the no trade clause). In the end, the chance to get in the
playoffs and compete for the Stanley Cup, that's what you want. When it was
presented to me, it was a no-brainer."
After the Blues failed to reach
an agreement on a contract extension, they decided to deal him in order to
recoup some value. Guerin was presented with the option of moving to San Jose
and he waved his no-trade clause in order to play for the contender.
"I
think I just have to come in and play my game," Guerin said. "I have to be a
good addition to the locker room and help this team make some strides. I'm
going to have to bring some experience.
"This is a franchise dedicated
to winning. They've got a great core of young players that, hopefully, I can
fit in with right away."
The veteran forward also led the Blues in
almost offensive category this season, including points (47), goals (28), power
play goals (7), game winning goals (6) and shots (189). He's amassed 710 points
(356 goals, 354 assists) in 1010 career NHL games.
"A player like
this, having this type of year and with Stanley Cup experience, a lot of teams
were looking for a guy like this," said Wilson.
Guerin originally hales from the home of the Sharks
AHL Affiliate, Worcester, Mass. The 6'2", 210lb winger spoke on a conference
call with media on Tuesday afternoon and is scheduled to be in San Jose for the
morning skate on Wednesday. He'll get his first opportunity to don the teal
Wednesday night against the Nashville Predators at HP Pavilion.
To
land Guerin, the Sharks deal Nieminen, a trade deadline acquisition last
season. His lone goal this season in 30 games is one of the reasons the Sharks
found him expendable. The Fin was a frequent scratch this season after lacking
the fire San Jose acquired him for last year.
"These guys (Guerin and
Rivet) are leaders and they will fit in with the leaders we have and not
cannibalize them," Doug Wilson said. "If you told me that coming out of the
trade deadline that we would have these players, I would be pretty
happy."
Barriball was seventh round draft pick (203rd overall) in 2006.
The University of Minnesota freshman leads the Golden Gophers in scoring this
season with 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists).
In other deadline
activity, Wilson sent enforcer Scott Parker back to Colorado in exchange for a
sixth round draft pick in 2008. Parker's services were limited to 11 games this
season, registering 22 penalty minutes and no points. Ice time for the Sheriff
was diminished by a series of injuries and limited need for a tough guy.
In 273 career games, Parker has accumulated 623 penalty minutes and 19
points (6-13=19).
Long time goaltending farmhand Nolan Schaefer was
also dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a seventh round pick in
2007. Schaefer was getting long in the tooth at 27, and with Evgeni Nabokov and
Vesa Toskala firmly entrenched on the NHL roster, Schaefer became expendable.
20-year-old Tomas Greiss appears to be the heir apparent to Nabokov &
Toskala down the road.
Profile: Bill
Guerin
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