Speculation: 2022-23 Sharks Roster Discussion Part 1

[Gecklund]

Now that we are at 50 contracts, I can make this post:

30 forwards, 13 D, 7 goalies signed currently. Out of those 30 forwards 3 are proven top 6 forwards and 5 have top 6 potential. Out of those 13 D we have 2 top 4 D and 2 with top 4 potential. Out of those 7 goalies we have 1.5 starter 0 starter potential.

At forward I’d expect by the time those 5 potential top 6 options are actually in the top 6, Couture is no longer a top 6 forward and Hertl is on the down turn so really we only have Timo, Eklund, Bordeleau and maybe Gushchin, Coe, and Robins.

At defense, EK definitely won’t be a top 4 D and Ferraro will likely be still a second pairing D. Merkley and Laroque max out at second pairing D. Although I don’t think either will end up as second pairing D (maybe Merkley in a Barrie mold).

In net, literally only Kahkonen I have faith in being a starter long term.

This is not including the reserve list but that’s pretty bleak after a garbage draft a week ago. You got Havelid as a potential top 4 D and Gaudreau as a potential starter. The rest realistically are bottom 6 or bottom pair or back ups.

 

[sharski]

So Grier has had the "let's just cut the bullshit" conversation with Burns, EK65 and Couture

Burns wanted to leave and probably had the most market interest so he went first

There were reports of them shopping EK65 but no takers, so Im guessing EK65 understands that his contract his untradable and is willing to live with the consequences of that

Couture sounds like he's dead inside and doesn't care

Hertl and Meier are both def avoiding MG's calls in order to establish dominance

 

[STL Shark]

I think Grier has one more huge trade to make before next offseason (most likely before TDL). One of Meier or Couture are probably gone. I don't see how they can have both on the team next season. Unless Hertl expresses he doesn't want to be on the team anymore.

I don't think this is a full on rebuild as much as a reset. Trading either of those guys signals an Arizona style rebuild, which is not something that Grier wants to do (as he has stated). I think this is a pure "reset" that sees us just sort of hangout and chill for the next 1-2 years acquiring picks, prospects, and potentially a good young player that (to steal an old DW quote) fits for now and the future.

Ride things out until the end of the 2023-24 season and evaluate whether you're close enough to make a move like Columbus did yesterday or need to wait it out another year to be able to start being a player and adding again. In the mean time, get the future core experience winning together with the Cuda and establish a culture at the NHL level.

 

[Selachimorpha]

Reading between the lines of all these moves, we're not competing now. I'm fine with this, as long as this is really the goal. I don't want, at any cost, the team to mortgage the future by trading picks/prospects for marginal talent. MG has signed players that can fill in and not stretch our prospects, let them develop for a year or two in the AHL. We can suck as we have the last few years, maybe a few teams below us get better (Detroit, Anaheim, for example). This puts us more in range of 4-8th worst giving us a chance at winning the lottery. By signing marginal players, we make sure the bottom doesn't fall out entirely - which can be hard to repair (see Buffalo, Arizona) - and can help build a specific culture.

Start the year like this:

Meier - Hertl - Barabanov
Lindblom - Couture - Labanc
Gregor - Bonino - Kunin
Nieto - Sturm - Lorentz
Viel/Gad

Megna - EK
Ferraro - Benning
Vlasic - Nutivaara
Simek

KK/Reims/Hill/Dell

Most of the team above becomes a trade chip to move out immediately or throughout the next two years if spots get taken from young guys, or if on expiring deals.


Let Eklund/Bords/Merkley get time to win in the AHL. Mix and match lines

Eklund - Bords - Veronneau
Gush - Robbins - Coe
Agozzino - Reedy - Ozzy
Suess - Weatherby - Raska

Cicek - Merks
Hatakka - Knyzhov
Kniazev - TBD

Mann/Maki/Dell

 

[Stewie Griffin]

Who are the expiring deals we can sell at this years deadline?

Bonino
Reimer
Nutivaara
Nieto
and of course...Meier?

 

[Gecklund]

Who are the expiring deals we can sell at this years deadline?

Bonino
Reimer
Nutivaara
Nieto
and of course...Meier?

Guessing on value. Also guessing on their years this season:

Bonino: 3rd
Reimer: 2nd or 3rd
Nutivaara: 3rd (think he plays in the top 4)
Nieto: 4th or 5th
Timo: Giroux return

 

[Juxtaposer]

If we’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that the most valuable asset in this entire league is cap space. You never know when you can get a quality player literally for free just by having the cap space for them.

The same people worried about how we’re going to afford Meier are not concerned that we’re spending $5M on Benning, Kunin, and Lindblom. I just don’t get it.

 

[themelkman]

If we’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that the most valuable asset in this entire league is cap space. You never know when you can get a quality player literally for free just by having the cap space for them.

The same people worried about how we’re going to afford Meier are not concerned that we’re spending $5M on Benning, Kunin, and Lindblom. I just don’t get it.

I think we can afford Meier, I don’t think he will be staying here. He’s gonna sign with a team that has a chance at winning in the next 8 years

 

[Clarkington III]

If we’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that the most valuable asset in this entire league is cap space. You never know when you can get a quality player literally for free just by having the cap space for them.

The same people worried about how we’re going to afford Meier are not concerned that we’re spending $5M on Benning, Kunin, and Lindblom. I just don’t get it.

I’d add that the cap space is really only important if you can productively use it. In addition to your example, being to take on bad contracts to gain assets to accelerate a rebuild would be another valuable use case of freeing up more cap scape for a team not competing.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

If we’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that the most valuable asset in this entire league is cap space. You never know when you can get a quality player literally for free just by having the cap space for them.

The same people worried about how we’re going to afford Meier are not concerned that we’re spending $5M on Benning, Kunin, and Lindblom. I just don’t get it.

I would've preferred saving the cap space and running what we have over pretty much anyone that we brought in except for Lorentz since he was part of dumping Burns, I can live with him being part of that package. If any of the other guys end up wanting out, I would be accepting of a contract back that is in a similar mold. We just didn't need to sign any of the free agents that we signed or trade for Kunin. I'm still fine with the direction they're heading in and I don't mind the type of player they're bringing in to play for the team while it's in transition but it just could've been executed better, imo.

 

[Levie]

If we’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that the most valuable asset in this entire league is cap space. You never know when you can get a quality player literally for free just by having the cap space for them.

The same people worried about how we’re going to afford Meier are not concerned that we’re spending $5M on Benning, Kunin, and Lindblom. I just don’t get it.

I see maybe 3 people at most defending Benning, Kunin, and Lindblom deals. They aren't good. Giving up the 3rd for Kunin was also super stupid.

 

[Shark Finn]

And still no coach

 

[Grinner]

I can't wait to roll out our new line up

 

[Herschel]

They will still have tens of millions in prorated cap space to launder at the deadline. Retaining 25% of a player's salary for a 6th round pick isn't a legitimate strategy to improve the team anyway.

This was one of the worst offensive teams in the NHL this past season and they just subtracted their 5th, 6th and 7th leading goal scorers without bringing anybody in to replace that offense. They now also have one of the worst defenses in the league on paper outside of Anaheim and maybe Arizona.

The Sharks are one injury to Hertl/Meier/Karlsson or modest regression from James Reimer away from being cemented in the bottom five of the league. This is exactly what needs to happen. I can't believe people are complaining unless you're a season ticket holder and have to pay to watch this shit in person.

Tend to agree with your overall theme however the comment about subtracting the 5th, 6th and 7th leading scorers... while true those three only accounted for 33 goals. Sturm, Lindblom and Kunin had 34 combined goals last season.

I assume your actual point is that the Sharks needed to significantly add to the goal totals from last season and they have not addressed that and are making a long-shot bet that it can be done by a combination of committee and rookie scoring.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I’d add that the cap space is really only important if you can productively use it. In addition to your example, being to take on bad contracts to gain assets to accelerate a rebuild would be another valuable use case of freeing up more cap scape for a team not competing.

I actually think that just not spending to the cap is great. That way if something comes up you can jump right on it right away rather than having to maneuver around first.

But maybe that’s just me. I don’t see any point in being a cap team if you aren’t trying to make the playoffs.

 

[Hodge]

Tend to agree with your overall theme however the comment about subtracting the 5th, 6th and 7th leading scorers... while true those three only accounted for 33 goals. Sturm, Lindblom and Kunin had 34 combined goals last season.

I assume your actual point is that the Sharks needed to significantly add to the goal totals from last season and they have not addressed that and are making a long-shot bet that it can be done by a combination of committee and rookie scoring.

To be honest I hadn’t looked it up and thought Sturm and Lindblom had scored significantly fewer goals than that. But yes at best the bottom five offense held steady.

 

[Dicdonya]

How much more clear does Grier have to make it without saying it that they're resetting? He talked about taking a step or two back in his opening presser, mentioned it VERY clearly yesterday talking about Burns chasing the Cup/Playoff hockey with another team because that's not likely something he's going to be doing in SJ, etc.

I don't get the people that just refuse to listen to what is being said and craft a narrative that is wholly different than what is being said based on comments by an old interim GM that isn't running the show so that it fits their perceived preference to be pissy about everything.

I was very clearly talking about tanking.

I do not question that Grier is trying to reset the identity of this team, that is beyond evident at this point. I do however vehemently disagree with the notion that he is purposefully tanking, or stealth rebuilding.

“You can kind of see the light at the end of the road and start to feel your hockey mortality and he wants to win. I think he’ll have the chance to do that in Carolina. We’re just not quite at that point yet here.”

Was this the quote from Grier about Burns that you think clearly indicates tanking, or was there another one you had in mind? Looks to me like he thinks we are close, but just not quite there yet, you know........exactly like he said. Also exactly in line with the notion that this team is just in need of a "refresh" not a rebuild, and that our owner expects to compete soon/now, not after a years long rebuild.

I would expect the GM, if we were tanking/rebuilding, to actually say that. Not say "were not quite there yet" in regards to being a cup contender like Carolina. It would be idiotic to state that we are there yet, so I would not expect Grier to have said something that dumb.

If you want to read between the lines, and attach your own personal interpretations of what has been said, by all means go ahead. Maybe you are right, maybe you are wrong, guess we will find out.

However for now, I will not be reading between the lines, and thus so far, from any quote I have seen or heard, Grier has not said even once that we are going to be bad, expect to bad, are rebuilding, are tanking, are building through the draft and trying to acquire picks to do so etc etc.

 

[LadyStanley]

Now that we are at 50 contracts, I can make this post:

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

42. Still 8 more MG can sign.

 

[Jargon]

I think Grier isn’t allowed a full rebuild but has sold them on some kind of 2-3 year plan where he builds/develops rookies while setting a culture that is all about competing, and quickness and puck possession. They said development a thousand times and if you watch the last 3 seasons it’s clear that they keep rushing rookies who mostly falter in the NHL because they’re trying to do too much.

It feels to me like everyone - players on up - are tired of the lack of competitiveness in the locker room so, they’re attempting to fix it.

 

[Crazy Joe Divola]

Another team for Meloche!!!

Flames sign Nicolas Meloche to one-year, $950K contract – Sportsnet.ca

 

[Saskatoon]

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

42. Still 8 more MG can sign.

8 more goalies incoming

 

[Gecklund]

Another team for Meloche!!!

Flames sign Nicolas Meloche to one-year, $950K contract – Sportsnet.ca

View attachment 569563

Meloche at that price and term would have been a way better signing than any of the RDs we signed.

 

[themelkman]

Was just scrolling the fourth periods UFA interest list and the only guy the sharks were listed under was…. Samsonov

Top 30 UFAs 2022 — The Fourth Period

TFP takes a look at the Top 30 Unrestricted Free Agents in 2022.

www.thefourthperiod.com

 

[TheBeard]

Was just scrolling the fourth periods UFA interest list and the only guy the sharks were listed under was…. Samsonov

Top 30 UFAs 2022 — The Fourth Period

TFP takes a look at the Top 30 Unrestricted Free Agents in 2022.

www.thefourthperiod.com

Maybe they think we’re gonna try a 3-1-2 system?

 

[Gecklund]

Maybe they think we’re gonna try a 3-1-2 system?

At this point they should just sign 6 of the biggest dudes they can find and stack them on top of each other in front of the net the whole game so there’s no open space. Then take your chances in the shootout with Hertl, Timo, Eklund, Gushchin, EK, and Couture. You’ll win at least 50 games that way.