Speculation: 2023-24-25-26 Sharks Roster Discussion

[sampler]

Mario Lemieux was great at turning scrubs like Rob Brown and crackheads like Kevin Stevens into world beaters.

I kinda want Grier to "force" warso to play Celly with Eklund. If he does and Ekky puts up big numbers accordingly, it raises his trade value significantly and could net a serious top pairing D or multiple 1sts.

p.s.: Soeaking of Dallas and Robertson.... I wonder if Grier is gunna acquire Seguin for a 2nd? more cap space for picks deals given the 40M we have.

 

[Patty Ice]

Why would the Sharks give of positive value for a negative value asset?

Yup! If anything, the Leafs are in a worse position to negotiate than yesterday.

That was just ragebait.

 

[matt trick]

I think we're giving him a contract everyone thinks looks stupid like we did with Sherwood but the cap spike will mitigate the long term risk and in the end he'll be decent value

I can't imagine we give him fewer than 5 years after Grier stuck his neck out to target him specifically

I could see 4 years, but largely agree.

Also, anything that will be a good deal in 3 years is all that matters. We could sign so many 'stupid' overpays for the next two years. Anything that pays off in year 3 on will be wise.

This year we pretty much can't spend the cap. Next year Couture, Goodrow, Orlov, Jones, Vlasic, and Karlsson are off the books- $22M. Only Orlov and Goodrow (at $1M) would need to be replaced.

If a deal signed looks bad for the next two years and good for the next 3-6, it's a great deal. Part of why I want us to go 6-8 years on Graf. If we go 1-3 years on him, we'll likely regret it because we either will walk, or he'll make us pay a lot more.

 

[TheBeard]

Kesselring does have a track record of success in Arizona and Utah as well as winning gold at the WHC under Warsofsky, last year was the off season that I think Grier sees as an aberration

This isn’t really a track record. If he had a track record a deal would have been hammered out by now. They’re going to arbitration.

 

[Star Platinum]

Kesselring does have a track record of success in Arizona and Utah as well as winning gold at the WHC under Warsofsky, last year was the off season that I think Grier sees as an aberration

If he's healthy, I think we know what we can expect. My trepidation is just assuming good health.

 

[TheBeard]

I kinda want Grier to "force" warso to play Celly with Eklund. If he does and Ekky puts up big numbers accordingly, it raises his trade value significantly and could net a serious top pairing D or multiple 1sts.

p.s.: Soeaking of Dallas and Robertson.... I wonder if Grier is gunna acquire Seguin for a 2nd? more cap space for picks deals given the 40M we have.

Seguin has a NMC and isn’t going anywhere. When he’s healthy he still produces and if he’s not Dallas will just toss him back on LTIR. It would likely cost us a 2nd to bring him in.

 

[Patty Ice]

Not that I wanted to give Raddysh an 8 year deal, but if he's playing in Toronto for $8.5 million and Rielly is playing here for $1M less, I am going to throw a hissy fit the likes of which have never been seen.

 

[sampler]

Looks like you have a dozen or two off-season plans to revise.

yep. Raddysh fit the #1 RHD need so nicely. Now its Spence. or Hamilton. or Pietrangelo.

Grier might also still target Schneider, but now with far better leverage as Kesselring fills a similar role. That said, grier might like the idea of of a D centered around 6'5 kesselring, 6'4 Schneider, 6'3 Dick, 6'4 Mukh all U26. Allows a guy lie Cagnoni to play a more specialized #1 PP QB role akin to Gostisbehere in Carolina, where his size is much less of a negative factor.

PP QB: cagnoni (who plays just 12-14 mins/gm)
PK: the trees (Dick-Schneider, Mukh - Kesselring)
EV: Mainly the trees and Orlov with Cagnoni getting maybe 10 mins or so.

makes alot of sense as a strategic arrangement and the ages....

 

[Star Platinum]

That's the low side of what you can expect from me

 

[Patty Ice]

That's the low side of what you can expect from me

ie that remote ain't coming back

 

[SjMilhouse]

If he's healthy, I think we know what we can expect. My trepidation is just assuming good health.

I realize he was hurt but do guys not come back from a high ankle sprain? I feel like we are freaking out over his health for nothing. It's not like he tore his ACL or something. I figure with a full offseason to rest/heal he's going to be 100% coming into camp

 

[weastern bias]

This isn’t really a track record. If he had a track record a deal would have been hammered out by now. They’re going to arbitration.

He signed Sherwood to a 5 year deal after literally having 2 productive seasons, at age 30

I don't see this as all that different of a situation

Mike saw a player he liked and he pounced, I think the contract will look similar

 

[one2gamble]

He signed Sherwood to a 5 year deal after literally having 2 productive seasons, at age 30

yea but that was bad

 

[zombie kopitar]

yea but that was bad

it is not amazing, but it is fine. just like a slight overpay for Kesselring is fine , his upside is much higher too

 

[weastern bias]

yea but that was bad

Same GM, I expect similar habits

 

[Pinkfloyd]

This isn’t really a track record. If he had a track record a deal would have been hammered out by now. They’re going to arbitration.

It's been two days. Give it time.

 

[TheBeard]

It's been two days. Give it time.

I’m not worried. I just don’t think it’s going to be a contract longer than 2 years.

 

[SJS1991]

Now it’s Spence. or Hamilton. or Pietrangelo.

No. He said no to SJ. He is broken and not playing.

 

[themelkman]

Summer Trade Watch 2026 — The Fourth Period

Summer Trade Watch List 2026: The top players believed to be available during the 2026 off-season.

www.thefourthperiod.com

Currently San Jose is linked to: Larkin, Rielly, Byram, Nurse

I just don't believe him that the sharks are looking at Larkin

 

[SJSharksfan4life]

I’m guessing that Rielly is the “older” defenseman that Grier was talking about. To hold the fort for the defenseman he’s planning on drafting first. To let the new guy gain the experience to move into the top spot. I hope it’s Reid.

 

[sampler]

The more I think about it, the more I am really liking the prospect of adding Schnieder and the concept of specialization on D. Even Hodge might be cool with Cagnoni in the NHL if he is primarily a PP specialist and plays sheltered minutes. There is no doubt he is a creative offensive player, and I think he has earned his NHL shot to QB the PP.

The cap structure and age of the team would be extremely good too and quite flexible going forward. 4 guys 6'3 or bigger. All but Cagnoni over 200 lbs. Ages are Schenider 25, Kesselring 26, Mukh 24, Dick 20, Cagnoni 21, Pohlkamp 22. Most D do not hit their primes until 28-30, so its fair to assume that each of those six would likely improve some over time. Three righties, three lefties, lots of size, and some offensive skill and some PK experience. Any one of those guys could also take big strides into top pair territory given the age and experience level. And no cap hits above 5-6M, and no albatross contracts for 34+ year olds.

Schneider at 4 x 5M.
Kesslering at 4 x 4M.
Dick on ELC, then bridge 3 x 4M.
Mukh 3 x 3M
Cagnoni on ELC, then we'll see...
Orlov with one year left, then Pohlkamp takes his place, and plays an identical game given an identical size and similar skillset.
Allan is the #7 roster filler

Basically all the trees + orlov play equally around 20-21 mins. Cagnoni plays around 12-14 mins (mainly PP and against bottom lines). No clear "top pair" or "#1". Instead, specialists for given specific situations: PK (trees: Dick, Mukh, Kesselring, Schneider), PP(cagnoni), up by one in the 3rd (Trees), down by one in the 3rd (cagnoni)...

LSW, at 20, needs a couple years of AHL seasoning, but he might be ready as injury replacement within a year or two.

You know what, that could be a really solid defense at the end of the day. Cagnoni takes Klingberg's PP spot (upgrade?), Kesselring and Schneider take ferraro and Desharnais spot on the PK (rpgrade?). 5 on 5 mins see Klinberg/Leddy/Ferraro minutes turn into kesselring and Schneider minutes.

All in all, I think that is smart roster construction.

 

[TheBeard]

Benson at 7 X 7 has to mean Smith is coming in around or less than that, no?

 

[weastern bias]

Benson at 7 X 7 has to mean Smith is coming in around or less than that, no?

0.66 p/g (54 point pace per 82 games) for Benson

VS

0.85 p/g (70 point pace per 82 games) for Smith

I think Smith's cap figure comes in a healthy jump higher, probably above $9M a year with long term

 

[TheBeard]

0.66 p/g (54 point pace per 82 games) for Benson

VS

0.85 p/g (70 point pace per 82 games) for Smith

I think Smith's cap figure comes in a healthy jump higher, probably above $9M a year with long term

Benson is also playing about 3 minutes less a game and had a solid playoff run. One is a one-dimensional player while the other is a lot more well-rounded.

 

[Dwagz]

Rielly doesn't have a great amount of trade value but it's positive. At the very least those picks would be going in the opposite directions.

"doesn't have a great amount of trade value", but we should fork over a young 20goal scorer who's elite on the PK, and will also be under a valuable contract with further team control.