2007-08 Best Mid-Season Pick-up

[Merlin401]

This is mid-season pick-ups that impacted the team both physically and in terms of their team attitude. Some good choices await:

Nominees

Wade Belak - Florida Panthers
In a very strange deadline day for Toronto in which JFJ was unable to move any of his top players, he did ship away Belak to Florida, who had been looking for a heavyweight for years. Florida promptly went on a huge win streak of their own with the new sense of security and great joker, Belak, on patrol. The party ended as Florida was just a bit too far out of the play-off picture to make it, but look for Belak to help bring some identity to a Florida team that had no answer to physical play in the past.

Todd Fedoruk - Minnesota Wild
After being embarrassed by Anaheim in the playoffs in 2007, Minnesota made a conscious effort to beef up, which included snagging embattled tough guy Todd Fedoruk off re-entry waivers from Dallas in the fall. Fedoruk promptly settled into a useful roll for the Wild, protecting the top lines, fighting occasionally, and taking a regular shift. It was a valuable pick-up for both parties. The Wild needed secondary toughness and Fedoruk needed a place where he was not counted on to be 'the man' anymore.

Cam Janssen - St. Louis Blues
Although the Blues were regularly dressing two heavyweights in D.J. King and Matt Walker, John Davidson went out and got Janssen from the Blues in exchange for Bryce Salvador in a puzzling mood. Surely Salvador must be worth more? Nonetheless, Janssen is a St. Louis native and wasn't going to play in New Jersey. He gave a listless Blues franchise a little bit of a lift with passionate play and two nice wins over Craig Adams and Jared Boll. Hopefully a line with D.J. King and Janssen will be one of the most exciting next year.

Jody Shelley - San Jose Sharks
San Jose was languishing at the trade deadline, looking at a bleak first round match-up with Anaheim in the first round and falling fast. Dallas picked up superstars and started to tank. San Jose picked up an enforcer and flourished. Well they also picked up Brian Campbell. But still, Shelley went from not playing in Columbus to getting big minutes on the San Jose 4th line, while sending messages on occasional shifts with Joe Thornton. His first shift he nearly started a brawl with a hit and has been giving protection, excitement, and an answer to Anaheim ever since. Great addition to a team that needed one legit heavyweight to go from wimpy to team tough. Sad that Columbus parted with the face of the franchise for a mere 6th rounder. Steal for San Jose.

Jim Vandermeer - Calgary Flames
Vandermeer really looked like he had lost it in Chicago, as both a defenseman and as a fighter. Perhaps that KO of Ryan Flinn really did effect him mentally? Perhaps getting throttled by Derek Boogaard made him gun-shy? Well he got traded to Philadelphia and looked even worse. But Calgary took a chance on him at the deadline and he turned in 5 bouts for Mike Keenan's bruising Flames, going 4-1 with excellent fights against Taylor Pyatt and Chris Simon, and even impressive wins against George Parros and Zack Stortini. Enjoy the playoffs, Jim!

My Pick

Jody Shelley is exactly what the Sharks needed. It makes that team so much more complete and it rescued Shelley from Ken Hitchcock hell.

Past Winners

2006-07: George Parros (Anaheim Ducks)

[caps05]

I definitely agree with Florida's pickup of Wade Belak and San Jose getting Jody Shelley.

If I had to pick, I'd say San Jose's pickup of Shelley would get my vote.

[Smerri1029]

Definately Shelley to San Jose. Saw a lot more action, and him having the A on his sweater for one game means a lot. He gets my vote.

Belak to Florida is certainly a very close second as Belak was a huge addition to what was an extremely weak Panthers line-up.

[skacore]

My vote goes to Shelley, but all great options. Belak will be a perfect fit in Florida and gives them a top tier fighter. Vandermeer was active and played well for the Flames, he fits into their team mold perfectly. Janssen didn't do much but he'll fit in well with a tough St. Louis team. Fedoruk brought more than just fighting skills to the Wild. But Shelley gives San Jose that final missing piece, a legit heavyweight. He'll go with anyone almost anytime, but he's smart about it, and apparently, he can play the game too.

[bupz91]

My Vote is Shelley because he took on heavies after he was aquired. The other choices are great as well.

[Isles4life]

Shelley was the most active after the trade, so I think he did the best job of fulfilling his role.

[Killah_punk]

Shelly was a good pick up for the Sharks giving them some more toughness during there incredible stretch run at the seasons end.

[pesadillamal]

Vandermeer became the exciting fighter we knew and went regularly after his deal.

[IceDog44]

Jody Shelley coming to the Sharks was great. It added a whole bunch of new potential heavy weight match-ups out here that previously could not have been seen before. The Sharks needed a true hw enforcer and Shelley ended up playing the role quite nicely. I think a lot of people also don't consider the fact that he has also played an important role in the leadership department in San Jose as well.

[jp4202003]

Originally Posted by IceDog44

Jody Shelley coming to the Sharks was great. It added a whole bunch of new potential heavy weight match-ups out here that previously could not have been seen before. The Sharks needed a true hw enforcer and Shelley ended up playing the role quite nicely. I think a lot of people also don't consider the fact that he has also played an important role in the leadership department in San Jose as well.

I totally agree with Icedog.

[Powerforward]

Shelley hands-down. Went from hardly used to dressed nightly. Even gooned it up in the last game of the season for the Sharks.

[marc123]

Jody Shelley coming to the Sharks as first and Wade Belak coming to the Panthers as second.

[Snipes19]

Jody Shelley to San Jose, no question about it.

That was easily the best pick-up. The Sharks were able to acquire a legit heavy to make them a force, and they really became a tough team. He was their heavyweight and the Sharks also had Doug Murray and Ryane Clowe (who came back for the playoffs) to add toughness also.

Shelley made a much bigger impact than all the others, because he fought more than all of them.

Fedoruk isn't really a legit heavy anymore, and Janssen, Belak, and Vandermeer were all relatively quiet on their new teams when it came to fighting.

So Shelley wins here, hands down. That was a great pickup by San Jose.

[devils29]

Shelley was what the Sharks needed no doubt about it, but Vandy gets my vote as moving to the Flames seemed to rejuvanate him. Shelley was still doing what he does, that's why he gets edged out in my vote.

[BGDDYKWL]

Florida desperately needed a heavy, and they played very well with Belak, but I gotta go with Shelley here. San Jose was also in pretty desperate need of a legit enforcer, and Shelley was very active once he got there.