Speculation: 2022-23 Sharks Roster Discussion Part II

[PettersonHughes]

The team may have interest (there were rumblings about Labanc for Myers), but I do wonder about whether doing anything that doesn't come with payment is worth it for the Sharks. Why shuffle deck chairs around on the Titanic unless someone is giving you something to make it worth your while?

Pair Myers properly (with a defensive LD) and he can take off as a legitimate top-4 RHD - this is a career year after all. Same with Beauvillier, who's a younger fringe top-6 wing with former 1st round pick pedigree, and who's on an expiring deal. At worst, flip him along with Zadina, Duke, etc. There's value in flipping them for futures, and at most I think they'll get an added 4th or 5th when you guys are already getting the better player.

 

[Sendhelplease]

Which of Thrun, Gawanke, Knyzhov (after missing almost 2 full seasons), Cicek or Mukhamadullin do you think is a NHL player right now?

I'd say Thrun is probably a third line defenseman right now with potential to be a #4 defenseman long term. Knyzhov has always impressed me when I saw him and seems like a legitimate #5 defenseman. Gawanke is a wild card to me, I've never seen him play but his AHL stats are impressive and I have been impressed by Grier's ability to find undervalued young players on other teams. Mukhamadullin I expect to be an NHL caliber defenseman by the end of the year and could be a future 2nd pairing defenseman. Cicek is a depth defenseman, I don't disagree on that one.

 

[Gecklund]

Pair Myers properly (with a defensive LD) and he can take off as a legitimate top-4 RHD - this is a career year after all. Same with Beauvillier, who's a younger fringe top-6 wing with former 1st round pick pedigree, and who's on an expiring deal. At worst, flip him along with Zadina, Duke, etc. There's value in flipping them for futures, and at most I think they'll get an added 4th or 5th when you guys are already getting the better player.

None of this sounds interesting.

 

[STL Shark]

I’m fairly certain that Eklund will make it. Guschin is likely the first call up for a top 6 player and Bordeleau still has a chance — I’m not sure that Granlund is a good enough C at this point. I’d honestly kinda want to see a Granlund - Bordeleau - Hoffman line.

Feel like a strong breeze could knock that entire line off the puck haha.

 

[Jargon]

Feel like a strong breeze could knock that entire line off the puck haha.

Yeah and none of them play any defense! But the goaaaals!

 

[Pavelski2112]

Yeah and none of them play any defense! But the goaaaals!

Let's make it even better

Hoffman-Granlund-Labanc

 

[Internazionale]

Let's make it even better

Hoffman-Granlund-Labanc

Replace Labanc with Zetterlund and that would be a decent third line.

 

[Jargon]

Replace Labanc with Zetterlund and that would be a decent third line.

In 2019…

I do think Hoffman and Granlund are good fits for each other though.

 

[Mattb124]

It has to suck being a good but not top prospect for the Sharks right now with the vast array of depth skaters we have picked up.

 

[OrrNumber4]

It has to suck being a good but not top prospect for the Sharks right now with the vast array of depth skaters we have picked up.

Frankly, if they're going to be good enough to make a difference, then they'll force their way into the lineup. That's what Couture, Ferraro, Pavelski, etc. did.

 

[tiburon12]

Frankly, if they're going to be good enough to make a difference, then they'll force their way into the lineup. That's what Couture, Ferraro, Pavelski, etc. did.

and i think that;s what Grier is intentionally doing. Internal competition; earn your spot

 

[Saskatoon]

I imagine Thrun is in the NHL because the Sharks agreed to put him there if he signed with us

 

[Hodge]

I imagine Thrun is in the NHL because the Sharks agreed to put him there if he signed with us

That was definitely the case last season but typically those players end up starting in the AHL the following year.

 

[Painful Quandary]

I think it is likely Thrun starts in the AHL due to a pattern common with college players who turn pro. They play really well in the several games left in the season, then the next season starts and if they start in the NHL they play well for a few months and then they end up hitting a wall due to the grind of the season. This is why the AHL is a good place for a college players after playing those handful of NHL games; they can get used to the grind of a season while playing against lesser competition, which helps prevent players from stagnating during the season.

 

[ChompChomp]

I imagine Thrun is in the NHL because the Sharks agreed to put him there if he signed with us

If that's the case with Thrun, it's even more so with Gawanke. (Just putting it out there). Gawanke had signed with a Euro team. He was as good as gone, then RFA rights traded to the Sharks and his agent says he'll sign here. Makes me think Grier either told him you'll get NHL time to see if you belong in the NHL or at least a legitimate shot to make the NHL team out of camp.

 

[one2gamble]

Roster still feels odd.

 

[TheBeard]

That was definitely the case last season but typically those players end up starting in the AHL the following year.

I imagine, unless he looks completely lost, he'll be in the starting 6 to start the season almost by default.

 

[jMoneyBrah]

I think it is likely Thrun starts in the AHL due to a pattern common with college players who turn pro. They play really well in the several games left in the season, then the next season starts and if they start in the NHL they play well for a few months and then they end up hitting a wall due to the grind of the season. This is why the AHL is a good place for a college players after playing those handful of NHL games; they can get used to the grind of a season while playing against lesser competition, which helps prevent players from stagnating during the season.

I think another part of this is burning a year off their ELC (which have specific restrictions specified by the CBA, in particular caps on NHL and AHL pay; $950k and $85k respectively). It puts the player a year closer to being able to negotiate a better contract for themselves. I'm sure part of the pitch for Thrun to sign with the Sharks was "we'll get you enough time in the show this year to burn the first year of your ELC".

 

[Hodge]

I imagine, unless he looks completely lost, he'll be in the starting 6 to start the season almost by default.

Which of these guys is getting waived to make room for Thrun: Vlasic, Ferraro, Rutta, Simek, Benning, Knyzhov, Burroughs

 

[TheBeard]

Which of these guys is getting waived to make room for Thrun: Vlasic, Ferraro, Rutta, Simek, Benning, Knyzhov, Burroughs

You forgot Macdonald. He and Simek are the odd men out. Neither has a future with the team and Radim is a sunk cost right now. There’s absolutely no reason he should be anything more than a 7th D in the press box.

 

[Hodge]

You forgot Macdonald. He and Simek are the odd men out. Neither has a future with the team and Radim is a sunk cost right now. There’s absolutely no reason he should be anything more than a 7th D in the press box.

I didn't forget MacDonald, he's just not on a one-way contract while the 7 defensemen I listed are.

So Hasso is going to pay Simek $2M to play for the Cuda? It's so much easier to just send Thrun down.

 

[themelkman]

Simek and Kunin should both be buried in the AHL

 

[Gecklund]

Which of these guys is getting waived to make room for Thrun: Vlasic, Ferraro, Rutta, Simek, Benning, Knyzhov, Burroughs

Rutta and Benning aren’t competing for the same spot but the rest should be. Thrun was better last year than all of them.

 

[hohosaregood]

Simek and Kunin should both be buried in the AHL

I'd bury Lindblom before Kunin though. He's very easy to forget but Lindblom is easily our worst forward.

 

[Cas]

There's an argument that we should have bought out both Simek and Lindblom. Neither have NHL futures after their contracts end - cut the cord and open up space.