after reading the article about geoff going to the san jose sharks for a freeagent oppertunity. in the fall . does this mean that geoff will not be back for the 2003-2004 season?
here is the article for any of you that have not seen it.
Platt Knows The Way To San Jose
Created: Jun 25, 2003

Saginaw Spirit forward Geoff Platt will spend some of his pre-season with the San Jose Sharks. Saginaw’s leading scorer earned a free agent tryout agreement for the Sharks’ camp early in September.

Spirit President and General Manager Costa Papista says the invitation is a fitting reward for Platt’s hard work. “This is a great and well deserving honor for Geoff. Geoff really proved himself as an elite player in the OHL this year and now he has an opportunity to impress San Jose this fall. Geoff will not disappoint.”

Platt lead the Spirit in goals (32), power-play goals (11), points (54) and was third in assists (22) with 62 games played in 2002-03. He was the franchise’s number one pick, 11th overall in 2001 OHL Priority Selection.

Geoff Platt should be back with Saginaw this coming season. He will have the chance to show San Jose what he can do, as we know he can do alot at the OHL Level. Unless, he goes there and goes a few steps above what he has done in the OHL, I highly doubt he will make the team this year. I am not saying he doesnt have a future with that team or any other NHL team in the future, I just dont think it will be this year. Count on Geoff playing with the Spirit this season.

well lets just hope he will be back i look forward to seeing him on the ice in saginaw agian in a couple months thanks for the clearing up

I think Geoff is still at least a year away from playing pro anyway, be it in the NHL, AHL, or even ECHL. San Jose probably wants to see Geoff in person to see where his skill level is at right now and how he compares to the other players in his age group, then he will probably be sent back here to Saginaw. Then next year, he will probably be invited back to training camp & a decision then will com from SJ whether to send him back for one more year of junior or if he is ready for the AHL or ECHL. Whatever happens, it wouldn't surprise me too much to see this be Geoff's last season in Saginaw, unless he totally falls apart, which I don't see happening.

Geoff's invite is basically the same thing as if he were drafted by the Sharks. They saw his skill and figured he was at least worth a look.

Paul Bissonette and Mike Brown won't be going anywhere either, even though they were drafted as well. All three of these players can expect to spend their next two years here in Saginaw (or at the very least the OHL, don't know why we would trade any of them).

However, this does mean that we may not have Geoff for an overage year, if he signs a contract with an NHL club. Same goes for Paul and Mike. I have always felt that Platt is very similar to NHL players like Wes Walz (Minnesota), John Madden, or Brian Gionta (both with New Jersey). Small, but very fast with the potential to be explosive on offense. The only thing he doesn't have that the NHL-ers I mentioned have is great defense. Currently he doesn't need it and he can develop that side of his game in the next few years or at the AHL level.

I think that Geoff at the very least will become a quality AHL scoring star. Hopefully he isn't kept from the NHL because of his size, but you have to think realistically sometimes and that is how NHL minds think.



KING OF THE DANCING FREAKS

but actually he is not as small as you talk of him to be 5'9 their are many others that are that size and some that are even smaller i think we will see him in the nhl some day like you said he has most of the skills.