The Blunder Year

Normally, the end of the EHE offseason is a lighthearted time for teams around the league. Optimism and excitement are in the air as management, players, and media begin to congregate in their respective cities, and predictions for the on-ice product don't seem to matter much as everyone looks forward to a new season. 

Things are a little different this year in San Jose, however.

Ever since a major offseason mistake by Sharks General Manager Kyle Phillips which cost the team its first round pick in 2019, there has been a stench of negativity and doubt floating around the organization.

Those bad feelings were certainly evident when Phillips held a media availability in Stockton, CA, where he had traveled to put the finishing touches on his team's preseason schedule.

How bad was it? The visibly-stressed GM's opening statement was limited to just two words:

"Fire away."

Clearly, Phillips was still stinging over his blunder: an offer sheet to restricted free agent Nikolay Goldobin in which the team bungled the EHE's compensation rules, and had to surrender their first and third-round picks in 2019 in exchange for successfully signing the young Russian forward away from the Arizona Coyotes.

As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, the Sharks also nearly lost their 2019 second round pick by signing an offer sheet with AHL journeyman Andy Welinski. In that case, only the inexperience of the management team in Toronto saved the Sharks from themselves, as the Leafs matched the terms of the offer.

Cutting right to the chase, the assembled reporters were only too happy to hold Phillips's feet to the fire over those decisions.

"Obviously, it was a massive mistake on my part," said Phillips. "I'm the one in charge of the process, and I'm the one who signs off on all decisions. I misunderstood the CBA, and it cost me big time."

Asked about the possibility of the Sharks' first-rounder being a lottery pick, Phillips winced before saying:

"Well, I'd like to think we can avoid that by competing for the playoffs this year, but that's not terribly realistic. 

"That pick was a big part of the long-term plan for the franchise, which is what makes this hurt so much."

Things got a little testy when it was suggested the Sharks had essentially lost two picks for nothing.

"Look, I'm not going to defend what happened, but it's unfair to suggest we've been left empty-handed here," said the defensive GM. "Nikolay Goldobin is a promising young player, and we think he's got a chance to develop into a top-six guy for us.

"It was never my intention to sacrifice so much in order to take that gamble, but that's where we're at, and all we can do is move forward."

All in all, it was by far the most unpleasant public face put forward by the Sharks since Phillips took over in 2017. But depending on how the ping pong balls fall next June, a single tense press conference might look like a walk in the park by comparison.