Nic Wallin Traded to San Jose

[livinthedream]

Figured Nic was worthy of his own thread for his trade which is now official.

Here are the details (http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=516717&navid=DL|CAR|home).

Canes Trade Niclas Wallin to Sharks
Carolina receives Buffalo’s second-round pick in deal
Sunday, 02.07.2010 / 5:21 PM / News
By Ken Preston

RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has traded defenseman Niclas Wallin to the San Jose Sharks. Along with Wallin, the Hurricanes send their own fifth-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft to San Jose for Buffalo’s second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

“We thank Nic for his time in Carolina,” said Rutherford. “He has been a key part of the Hurricanes for the past nine seasons, and we wish him and his family well.”

The Hurricanes drafted Wallin (6’3”, 220 lbs.) as a 25-year-old in 2000, and he has spent his entire nine-season NHL career with Carolina. The Boden, Sweden, native ranks third among defensemen in franchise history with 517 regular-season games played, and second to only Glen Wesley (729) in that category since the team’s relocation to North Carolina. Wallin, 34, has totaled 69 regular-season points (18g, 51a) to rank him eighth all-time in scoring among defensemen in a Hurricanes uniform. He ranks second among all Carolina players with 69 playoff games played, and scored three overtime game-winning goals while helping the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002, the Stanley Cup championship in 2006 and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Well, don't see the details here yet but, they are in the other trade thread.


As I said there...looks like a total salary dump to me.

[canefan2k1]

I thought that Wallin (and a fifth-rounder!) would be worth more than a 2nd-round pick.

Good luck to Nic.

[livinthedream]

Sharks' take (http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=516718&navid=DL|SJS|home):

Wilson Brings Blueliner From Carolina
Sharks Add Cup Winning Defenseman
Sunday, 02.07.2010 / 5:27 PM / News
By San Jose Sharks Staff

San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the team has acquired defenseman Niclas Wallin (wahl-EEN) and a fifth round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a second round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired from the Buffalo Sabres).

“Niclas is a playoff-hardened, veteran player with lots of postseason experience and a Stanley Cup ring,” said Wilson. “Good, solid character players are hard to come by and we think he will complement our existing group very well. He has a history of playing his best when the games mean the most.”

Wallin, 34, is a nine-year NHL veteran, all with the Carolina Hurricanes and won a Stanley Cup with the organization in 2006. He has posted five assists and 26 penalty minutes in 47 games with Carolina this season and is 15th among all NHL defenseman with 125 hits.

In 517 NHL games, he has collected 69 points (18 goals, 51 assists) and 391 penalty minutes.

Wallin has added eight points (three goals five assists) and 32 penalty minutes in 69 Stanley Cup Playoff games and has appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals series. All three of his post-season goals were overtime game-winners earning him the nickname, “The Secret Weapon.”

Wallin represented his native Sweden at the 2008 World Championships, where he picked up four points (two goals, two assists) and 33 penalty minutes in 7 games.

The six-foot-three, 220-pound native of Boden, Sweden was selected by Carolina in the fourth round (97th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

[SoCalcaniac]

I said this in the other thread; I don't think it's a dump, I think the deal was contingent on getting the contract extension. According to several of the SJ bloggers and a few articles I've read from the Bay Area, Doug Wilson has coveted Wallin for "awhile".

I went to the Sharks site too; enjoyed reading the quote from Wilson, who is one of my favorite GM's and I like how determined he is to get SJ over the dreaded hump and he's bound and determined to make it happen.

“Niclas is a playoff-hardened, veteran player with lots of postseason experience and a Stanley Cup ring,” said Wilson. “Good, solid character players are hard to come by and we think he will complement our existing group very well. He has a history of playing his best when the games mean the most.”

Good luck Nicky- and thanks; All us Apex residents are going to miss seeing him and his kids over at Beaver Creek Commons. See ya vs TO tomorrow.

[livinthedream]

In case anyone is curious (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=409715)...

Buffalo to San Jose: Buffalo traded its 2nd-round pick in the 2009 and 2010 Entry Drafts to San Jose for D Craig Rivet and San Jose's 7th-round pick in 2010 (7/4/08).

As it stands right now looks like Buffalo's second-rounder might be a little better than San Jose's.

And according to this article (http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2010/02/07/day-5-a-done-deal-sharks-get-wallin-and-5th-round-pick-from-carolina-for-san-joses-second-round-pick/), the deal does not involve an extension.

And another page is turned.

Best of luck to the Secret Weapon. You're a good man and you will be missed.

[ultrablue55]

Guess the Swedish flag will be coming down from the rafters at the RBC.

[ontheboards]

Go west, young man, go west...

[SoCalcaniac]

Heehee.

Nic Wallin is a Trending Topic (http://twitter.com/#search?q=Wallin) in Canada on the new locations feature on Twitter. :lol:

[livinthedream]

I need a tissue.

Canes Now - Wallin Traded to Sharks (http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/wallin-traded-to-sharks)

The Hurricanes today traded defenseman Niclas Wallin and their fifth-round pick in the 2010 NHL Draft to the San Jose Sharks for the Buffalo Sabres' second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Wallin, 34, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Canes after being drafted in 2000. The Boden, Sweden, native ranks third among defensemen in franchise history with 517 regular-season games played and second only to former Canes defenseman Glen Wesley (729) since the team's relocation to North Carolina.

"The toughest part about this will be not being with the team that brought me here and taught me all about the game," Wallin said today. "We had a good ride. There have been some ups and down. We won the Cup. We had our run.

"Right now, I'm excited about being with the Sharks. This is like winning the lottery. I'm with a team obviously that has a chance to go all the way. I've been there and there's nothing like it."

The trade had been in the works for days, and the Canes believed it would be completed by Friday. Wallin was with the Hurricanes for road games at Buffalo and against the New York Islanders, and returned Saturday night with the team to Raleigh.

"The toughest thing in my life was getting off that flight last night," Wallin said.

Neither the Sharks nor Wallin would say if he had agreed to a contract extension with the Sharks. Wallin is due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season and has talked of taking his familt back to Sweden.

"We'll see what happens in the future," he said.

[SoCalcaniac]

Pass the kleenex.

Just when I was amusing myself with this Dual Nic Wallin Trending Topic (Canada AND US) LTD has to post THAT. :cry: Definitely turning the page today and feeling the human side.

Mr. Socal had this weird theory, that maybe there was a stall tactic involved for #7; perhaps wanting to come back home to see his family, get things in order, say goodbye for the next few months and then bingo a deal would be done and he joins the team in TO. I thought it was kinda hokey, but then who am I to think that would be hokey? This is the other thing with trades- if you have the NTC, a player might be able to have a smidge of control in this situation. I dunno, just thinking about all sides.

[ontheboards]

I didn't realize this was the third (3rd) time Walin had been asked to waive hist NTC. Per Barnecky's blog:


The chance to join one of the league’s top teams motivated Wallin to waive his no-trade clause, which he had not done in two previous opportunities over the last few years.

[SoCalcaniac]

OTB.... yeah, iirc it was at the end of 2007 when we missed the playoffs and then again in the summer. That was my concern when this whole SJ chatter started because he wasn't all gung ho to go the first two times he was asked, and now, maybe it's just been that feeling that it's probably time.

[cmw00]

We gave up a player and a pick for a 2nd round pick?

[DeWaltGirl]

We gave up a player and a pick for a 2nd round pick?

And as much to make room on the roster and under the cap I would suspect.

[KaniacFever]

Good luck to Nic in San Jose. I'm hoping to see the 'secret weapon' do his thing in the playoffs. Won't be hard cheering on San Jose that's for sure.

I think the difference between now and the past 2 times on the NTC is that he knows his time with the Canes is done. Before he had years left on the contract, this is it. The team has not been quiet on the direction they want to take this team next year and he knows he wasn't in the plans.

Thanks for all you've done Nic and all your OT heroics.

[ontheboards]

We gave up a player and a pick for a 2nd round pick?
We gave up a physical but slow 34 year old player at the end of his contract with a history of groin injuries and who was a depth (5-6 pairing) player for a low fifth rounder for Buffalo's 2nd (better than San Jose's) in 2010. We now have 4 picks in the first 63 for next season and if we trade Cullen and Whitney we'll have 6 pick. Anyone else who gets traded will just be langiapppe (in honor of New Orleans). The 2010 draft class is pretty solid-- 2011 not so much.

[cmw00]

We gave up a physical but slow 34 year old player at the end of his contract with a history of groin injuries and who was a depth (5-6 pairing) player for a low fifth rounder for Buffalo's 2nd (better than San Jose's) in 2010. We now have 4 picks in the first 63 for next season and if we trade Cullen and Whitney we'll have 6 pick. Anyone else who gets traded will just be langiapppe (in honor of New Orleans). The 2010 draft class is pretty solid-- 2011 not so much.

I'm not upset at trading him. I was just under the impression that JR had his eye on a "good young player" or something to that affect.

[ontheboards]

I'm not upset at trading him. I was just under the impression that JR had his eye on a "good young player" or something to that affect.

I never would have thought Nic would have garnered a 2nd rounder and perhaps we didn't get the prospect because we got Buffalo's 2nd round draft pick.

[Canesluver]

Awe... There'll never be another Secret Weapon. We'll miss you Nicky!

[StormChaserBH]

Dependable, solid D-man, great team guy, family man, "Secret Weapon".... I know Nic and his family through the youth hockey program, and it's been a pleasure. Thanks, Nic. Go get 'em out West.



(if you read TSB also, sorry for the straight duplicate post, it's all I can come up with right now :()

[x]

A 2nd rounder for Nic + a 5th is a good deal. Like someone said, 5th rounders rarely make the NHL, and we're not bringing Nic back next year anyway. So it's almost like getting a free 2nd rounder while saving some cash this season. We can either package this pick in a trade, or draft someone who may be a roster player in a few years.

By the way, it's pretty cool already hearing Nic referred to as "The Secret Weapon" by the SJ writer:)

[nccanes]

Well, don't see the details here yet but, they are in the other trade thread.


As I said there...looks like a total salary dump to me.

I'm not upset at trading him. I was just under the impression that JR had his eye on a "good young player" or something to that affect.

I think a 2nd round pick is the "good young player" that JR wants.

I think of a salary dump when you get a "project" or nothing back - someone you may never sign another contract to.

I think of Pavel Brendl/Kapanen in that way.

A 2nd round pick has a lot more value.

I know Francis got a 4th from Toronto and Wesley....a 2nd?

This seems like a really nice deal for the Canes...am I imagining this (can't seem to find a reference) or did I read that we had 2 5th round picks so we still have one left?

[IceSun]

Best of luck to Nic - always one of my favorite players.

[livinthedream]

E, I'm thinking we may have picked up Nashville's fifth-rounder when we couldn't come to terms with Darcy Hordichuk. Lemme see if I can go find that.

ETA: Found it in the Hordichuk thread, was from Luke's blog at the time:

Carolina sent a fifth-round pick in 2009 to Nashville for the rights to the rough-and-tumble forward Thursday, but were unable to work out a deal. They'll get Nashville's fifth-round pick in 2010 if they don't sign him before training camp — which looks unlikely.

[livinthedream]

Mr. Socal had this weird theory, that maybe there was a stall tactic involved for #7; perhaps wanting to come back home to see his family, get things in order, say goodbye for the next few months and then bingo a deal would be done and he joins the team in TO. I thought it was kinda hokey, but then who am I to think that would be hokey? This is the other thing with trades- if you have the NTC, a player might be able to have a smidge of control in this situation. I dunno, just thinking about all sides.

Your husband's a very smart man, I think I might have mentioned that a time or two. :lol:

I didn't think about it being a purposeful stall tactic, but I did think it fortuitous that it was announced after he'd gotten back into town.

Branecky (http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=516736&navid=DL|CAR|home) posted his take on the trade yesterday evening. E, this confirms the extra fifth-rounder from the Hordichuk no-deal.

Move Bittersweet for Wallin
Sunday, 02.07.2010 / 7:04 PM / Blog
By Paul Branecky

One of the league’s worst-kept secrets finally made it out into the open Sunday, as the Hurricanes completed a trade to send veteran defenseman Niclas Wallin to the San Jose Sharks.

In exchange for Wallin and a fifth-round pick, the Canes received Buffalo’s second-round choice that had earlier been acquired by the Sharks (all picks are for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft). The outgoing fifth-rounder was an extra for the Canes, as they still hold Nashville’s choice in that round after 2008’s complicated attempted signing of Darcy Hordichuk.

For Wallin, a 34-year-old in his ninth NHL season, the move was admittedly bittersweet. Although he’s leaving the only organization he’s ever known in Carolina, which drafted him in the fourth round out of Sweden in 2000, he’s going from a team 10 points out of the playoffs to the Western Conference leaders.

“Probably the toughest part of my life was getting off that last airplane,” he said of last night’s arrival in Raleigh from a four-game road trip, knowing that it would be his last time together with his teammates.

Truth be told, most of the last week was difficult for Wallin, who was first pulled from the Hurricanes’ lineup Wednesday night in Calgary, with a deal seeming imminent. However, due to unforeseen complications and the on-again-off-again nature of the trade, he also sat out games in Buffalo and New York before the trade was completed.

“It was definitely tough, but trades are trades,” he said. “I’m glad we got it over with.”

The chance to join one of the league’s top teams motivated Wallin to waive his no-trade clause, which he had not done in two previous opportunities over the last few years.

“I want to win,” he said just prior to boarding a plane en route to Toronto, where he will make his Sharks debut Monday night. “I want to win championships and this is one of the best teams in the league. I’m excited to be a piece of the puzzle.

“It’s like winning the lottery,” he added. “This is a team that obviously has a chance to go all the way.”

Wallin did not comment on reports that the trade was delayed by sluggish negotiations with San Jose for a contract extension.

“We’ll see,” he said. “I opened my contract to come here, and we’ll see what happens in the future.”

[nccanes]

Thanks - I was watching the Super Bowl, cooking, supervising about 15 teens and reading about the trade on my BB so I wasn't sure which source included that.

Best of luck to our Secret Weapon. Makes it easy to pull for the Sharks! Maybe Hedican can keep us updated on Nic. :)

[rosey12]

Best of luck to our Big Swede. I'm sad to see him go, but happy that he gets another chance to win it all but he hangs them up.

[livinthedream]

Kinda weird to see him being interviewed by the Sharks media.

Sharks interview with Nic Wallin (http://sharks.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=-5&id=59744)

And from the Sharks news blogger (http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2010/02/08/day-6-wallin-paired-with-boyle-helminen-gets-call-up-plus-a-bobby-orr-sighting-in-the-halls/#more-2886), he'll continue wearing #7, he has a Swede teammate to talk to, and he'll spend some time with Dwight Helminen who was just called up.

Guess we can watch him on CI tonight against the Leafs!

[SoCalcaniac]

Kinda weird to see him being interviewed by the Sharks media.


Guess we can watch him on CI tonight against the Leafs!

It's ABSOLUTELY Bizzaro land. He's being interviewed right now by Drew Remenda; and he's working the teal and grey Underarmour stuff my eyes are having trouble adjusting. :crazy: I'm watching Bret Hedican and Brodie Brazil on Sharks Pregame on ComCast California- Bret's doing a great job telling the fans what Nic brings. "He's a dear and close friend of mine we won a championship together".

Hedi seems excited for Nic and it seems like it's been a whirlwind for him. The Sharks are a smaller market team, but they have lots of coverage with their broadcast partner and their own people on SJS.com.

They just showed him in full gear in warmups- This is gonna take awhile to get used to. Seriously.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I guess the 2nd round pick just seems sh*tty to me when we've all been hearing about a Sharks prospect and that they had to make a roster move to even fit Wallin under the cap. To me, it sucks to be expecting a player and get a pick.

[SoCalcaniac]

SHC, I'm thinking that rumor that there was a "roster player" on the table was false.

Doug Wilson was just interviewed on the Sharks pregame show. He said he was thrilled to get Nic, as he was calling about him "two years ago" and he said "I'm glad to get him he's a champion, and we did not have to give anyone off our roster to get him".

So my thought is that JR 'tried' maybe, but I don't think Wilson was biting on that front.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I'm assuming it was contingent on the contract extension, which didn't happen.

[superdave]

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/7066/nickyslocker.jpg

I took this picture on Nic's locker last night at Hurricanes U. It makes me a little sad.

[canefan2k1]

Nicky's picture is now also gone from the St. Baldrick's intro page on CH.com. I was wondering what they'd do about that ...