They've made themselves top-heavy and everyone knows the way to the cup is through depth and balance. In 2024, they have 31 million dollars already tied up in 4 players and none of them are named Matthews.
Speculation: 2022-23 Sharks Roster Discussion Part II
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seroes
Registered User
They have had depth before, they just choke, plain lose to the better team or have no heart.
jarr92
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I never said the Sharks would finish bottom 3, I said they could be around #5 if EK65 is out. From there it's a lottery. Also, if I'm not mistaken the lottery is handled by a very large third-party law firm. Any claims of the draft being rigged are bs.
I mean realistically over the next 4 years, the Sharks need to acquire ( via the draft and/or via trade from acquired draft capital) a top line center, a top line winger, and two top pairing defensemen. At that point, Meier and Ferraro will be in their late 20s but hopefully able to contribute as a top-6 forward and top-4 defenseman, respectively. Eklund will have hopefully established himself as a top-6 forward whereas Hertl can still contribute in the middle-6 at 33 years old + Bystedt and Bordeleau are top-9 forwards + Laroque or Havelid makes it as a top-4 defenseman. Couture and Karlsson are in the last year of their deals and probably on LTIR vs in depth roles. With that, you're looking at a 2026-2027 lineup that is "light at the end of the tunnel" exciting of:
Meier-XXX-XXX
Eklund-Hertl-some FA addition
Some vet or Couture if he's still playing-Bystedt-Bordeleau
XXX-XXX
Ferraro-Havelid/Laroque/Karlsson if he's still playing
Those are 4 huge holes to fill, and the only way to do that most likely is to get some very high draft picks just like teams such as Chicago, LA, Tampa, Pittsburgh, and Colorado did. This franchise right now isn't anywhere close to legit Stanley Cup contention, and it's time to make the right moves to try to get there in the long run. And no, the Sharks don't have to be dumb like Arizona/Edmonton/Buffalo...keep around some vets (Couture, Hertl, Ferraro) for the long haul and focus on developing prospects. It'll take time, but just have to be smart about it. Go Sharks.
Meier-XXX-XXX
Eklund-Hertl-some FA addition
Some vet or Couture if he's still playing-Bystedt-Bordeleau
XXX-XXX
Ferraro-Havelid/Laroque/Karlsson if he's still playing
Those are 4 huge holes to fill, and the only way to do that most likely is to get some very high draft picks just like teams such as Chicago, LA, Tampa, Pittsburgh, and Colorado did. This franchise right now isn't anywhere close to legit Stanley Cup contention, and it's time to make the right moves to try to get there in the long run. And no, the Sharks don't have to be dumb like Arizona/Edmonton/Buffalo...keep around some vets (Couture, Hertl, Ferraro) for the long haul and focus on developing prospects. It'll take time, but just have to be smart about it. Go Sharks.
They’ve never had depth and never was that more clear than when Tavares got knocked out in the Montréal series. I mean Spezza was their second leading scorer.
seroes
Registered User
Fair enough, but my point is the Sharks would need to finish bottom 3 to get even the number 3 pick this year. I know how management at any level works, most conversations that could get then in legal trouble take place in person or over the phone. Corruption is is just part of the landscape at these places. If the NHL thinks they can make more money by doing this kind of stuff behind the scenes they will. Doesn't mean they rig games (any of that is bs), just do backroom deals.
Not having the same level of depth as Tampa or Colorado does not mean they don't have it
The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
Today on the Athletic: breakout candidates from every team.
the Sharks' was Gregor, with Corey noting that he has the tools and potential to generate a lot of chances but was snakebit a fair amount last season.
But elsewhere:
Florida - Rudolfs Balcers.
Current mood:
the Sharks' was Gregor, with Corey noting that he has the tools and potential to generate a lot of chances but was snakebit a fair amount last season.
But elsewhere:
Florida - Rudolfs Balcers.
Current mood:
Yeah, saw that. Looks like he might end up on their first line playing with Huberdeau...Today on the Athletic: breakout candidates from every team.
the Sharks' was Gregor, with Corey noting that he has the tools and potential to generate a lot of chances but was snakebit a fair amount last season.
But elsewhere:
Florida - Rudolfs Balcers.
Current mood:
Good for Rudy.
To me, of all the decisions Grier made so far this is the one I really still have a hard time accepting...
A lot of the other ones I feel we are starting to trend in the right direction.
The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
Barkov. But yeah. I don't see the value. he was a solid piece last year and they bought him out to save money which they then used to sign new players of relatively comparable quality. His deal was cheap and he only had the one additional season, it doesn't seem like it should've been any hardship at all to just hang onto him and make the stay-or-go decision next summer.
The clear majority of the cup winners over the past 15 years have had 3-4 players close to the max cap percentage. That not being a successful formula is a myth. Of course you need role players to do well, but winners hasn’t been teams with a three second lines-formula.
Also lately Toronto has managed depth. They’ve choked.
What cup winners has had players close to the max cap percentage? Which by the way is 20%.
Avs highest was rantanen at 11.2%
Tampa with kucherov at 11.5%
Blues 9.1%
Caps 11.5%.
And none of those teams have or had any player that made 10+ mil a season. Of the 82.5 mil cap the leafs spend 33 million on 3 players and a total of 40% of there entire cap on 3 players. That numbers needs to come down drastically for them to even come close to being contenders for the cup. For reference, tampa spends 53.3% of there cap on there entire forwards. And the same for the avs.
Hodge
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timorous me
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Almost, but not. I mean, is it really that surprising an outcome for an undersized defenseman who just turned 22 and clearly still has work to do in terms of defending better? Especially with a new coaching staff coming in and probably wanting to really get their hands on him and developing him?
Honestly, I thought this was almost the consensus predicted outcome, with the only difference being that Nutivaara is hurt so they could have more easily taken him along. That doesn't mean this isn't a make-or-break year for Merkley--just that the story most certainly hasn't been finished yet.
Why? How many undersized young scoring forwards do you expect the Sharks to keep. His competition is Eklund and Bordeleau. None of those 3 belong on the 4th line and they are better off playing games with the Cuda than sitting in the press box. Unless they earn a spot in the top 9 they will be playing with the Cuda. (Short call ups to get some practice time with the big boys notwithstanding) Other guys like Viel, Gajovich, and Svenchikov and still competing for the seats in the press box as they don’t have much to gain by playing with the Cuda.
Crazy Joe Divola
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Sheng speculating he may just be injured. He was “healthy” scratched in last pre-season game as well. Maybe just keeping him local to work with training staff.
We shall see
hotcabbagesoup
"I'm going to get what I deserve" -RutgerMcgroarty
Reedy didn't make the team sadly.
Also did Merkley hit anyone this preseason?
Also can someone put up their lineup projection? I'm not very good at these things and there are so many new names.
Also did Merkley hit anyone this preseason?
Also can someone put up their lineup projection? I'm not very good at these things and there are so many new names.
Jargon
Registered User
Something like:
Meier - Hertl - Kunin/Svechnikov/Bordeleau?
Lindblom/Eklund/Bordeleau? - Couture - Labanc
Gregor - Bonino - Eklund/Kunin/Bordeleau?
Nieto/Gadjovich/Svechnikov - Sturm - Lorentz
It’s a little unclear where Eklund and Bordeleau fit in and whether Lindblom is healthy enough. If he isn’t and they want to play both rookies, I can see Eklund/Bordeleau as wingers on 2nd/3rd lines. Maybeeee one of them takes a 1st line spot from Barabanov while he’s injured.
Meier-Hertl-Kunin
Lindblom-Couture-Labanc
Eklund-Bonino-Gregor
Nieto-Sturm-Lorentz
Rotate in Svechnikov for Eklund/Gregor/Nieto or top 6 injury, rotate in Bordeleau for Sturm/Eklund/Gregor or top 6 injury, rotate in Gadz or Viel for Nieto or Lorentz.
Harrington-Karlsson
Ferraro-Benning
Vlasic-Simek
Megna/Cicek
Reimer
Kahk
Dell
hotcabbagesoup
"I'm going to get what I deserve" -RutgerMcgroarty
Thanks for this. You see I already got it wrong in my head thinking Eklund was a RW haha (maybe from seeing him on the RW on the PP last season).
I think that third line can be a lot of fun if Bonino can skate.
I don't like Nieto but we don't really have any PKers so seeing who emerges as another PKer will be interesting.
Or that the organization thought he could benefit more from playing big AHL minutes rather than 3rd pairing NHL minutes. He just turned 22 and seems to be a late bloomer from a maturity perspective, too early to call him a bust.
Jargon
Registered User
It’s possible both Bordeleau and Eklund are there for insurance if Lindblom/Sturm can’t go and that they’re going to be sat the first game if those two ARE ready.
Anomie2029
Registered User
Young Dman doesn't make the NHL out of camp - must be a bust.
Jesus, calm your yourself. Big minutes on an AHL team that isn't going to be an utter shitshow like it was last season will be good for him.
As for Guschin, thought they may have taken him to Europe - but can't be upset. I think he ends up with a few NHL games this season.
Jesus, calm your yourself. Big minutes on an AHL team that isn't going to be an utter shitshow like it was last season will be good for him.
As for Guschin, thought they may have taken him to Europe - but can't be upset. I think he ends up with a few NHL games this season.
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