Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

[LadyStanley]

Sharks had practice at CNA today. I got a special invite as a Club 1991 member (and a flag). A few others as well. A couple dozen folks in attendance. (My cousin and his daughter were in town for u12 tournament. They and a few others came out between games today.)

Fun, upbeat, hard working practice. Carpy came out and skated after (appears to have a hand injury).

Really looking like a team.

Got both my Hertl and Eklund jerseys signed. . Wore my Shark and Christmas light holiday sweater (same design Tomas wore in video); he recognized it and appreciated it. Guys were great about stopping for autographs and fist bumps. A couple of kids got sticks.

Drew and Hedican were hanging around.

Eklund and Thurm were the last off (but Carpy). Eklund called Henry back to sign stuff for fans.

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[tahoesharksfan]

Random stats:

- Eklund and Zetterlund are the same height, but Zetterlund is 39 lbs heavier than him
- Zetterlund is the heaviest player under 6'0" by a decent amount (6 lbs heavier than Dmitry Orlov and 11 lbs heavier than the closest forward Noel Accairi)

Crazy he is still decently fast and skilled while obviously being quite strong. Pretty unique player.

Very Kessel like…

 

[Mattb124]

I sure hope so, we are really short on defensemen.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Hawks win!!

Second straight win.

Vlasic with a goal.

 

[Juxtaposer]

The Flyers being Actually Good is the biggest plot twist of the season so far.

 

[Gecklund]

The Flyers being Actually Good is the biggest plot twist of the season so far.

Happened last season to start too. Just wait until they get tired from the work Torts requires and/or Hart comes back to earth or gets injured.

 

[Erep]

Pens now in the bottom 10 on Tankathon...

 

[Friday]

Pens now in the bottom 10 on Tankathon...

Seems like they'd only be worse off next year so if they use their pick this year then so be it. This seems to be a weaker draft anyways

 

[mogambomoroo]

Seems like they'd only be worse off next year so if they use their pick this year then so be it. This seems to be a weaker draft anyways

It would be perfectly timed pick for our rebuild with no protection next year. In theory we could draft #1 and #2 in 2025 which would help our rebuild drastically.

 

[one2gamble]

It would be perfectly timed pick for our rebuild with no protection next year. In theory we could draft #1 and #2 in 2025 which would help our rebuild drastically.

I don't see the pens keeping the pick this year if it's top 10. They don't have a reason to believe they will turn it around

 

[Friday]

I don't see the pens keeping the pick this year if it's top 10. They don't have a reason to believe they will turn it around

If it's top 10 they use it for sure. Teams just kick the can down the road, you always take that deal.

 

[Hodge]

I don't see the pens keeping the pick this year if it's top 10. They don't have a reason to believe they will turn it around

You’re saying the Penguins will give us a top 10 pick this year based on the expectation they will be even worse next year? No NHL team thinks or operates like that.

 

[one2gamble]

You’re saying the Penguins will give us a top 10 pick this year based on the expectation they will be even worse next year? No NHL team thinks or operates like that.

They should. It's not a strong draft to begin with and the pens don't look to be in a position to add much. I'd give up the pick and start ripping it down

Not easy to do with Crosby/malkin/Karl etc but it's not going to get easier

 

[Sharkz4Fun]

I don't see the pens keeping the pick this year if it's top 10. They don't have a reason to believe they will turn it around

I would love for Dubas to say "I expect to be even worse next year so yes, we'll give them this pick" just to see how pissy Karlsson would get

 

[Bizz]

I don't see the pens keeping the pick this year if it's top 10. They don't have a reason to believe they will turn it around

I don't think they get the choice. If they finish bottom 10 this season they have to keep it because they agreed to the protection clause.

 

[timorous me]

They should. It's not a strong draft to begin with and the pens don't look to be in a position to add much. I'd give up the pick and start ripping it down

Not easy to do with Crosby/malkin/Karl etc but it's not going to get easier

Whether they have the choice or not, and whether they should just give up the pick or not, it doesn't really matter: this is not the way people in sports operate. Be it ego, or self-preservation instincts powered by a healthy dose of delusion, this is just the nature of the professional sports world. Columnists and sports talk jocks and fans would have Dubas's head on a platter.

 

[Barrie22]

I don't think they get the choice. If they finish bottom 10 this season they have to keep it because they agreed to the protection clause.

They get a choice, same as the Ottawa/Colorado situation a few years ago.

 

[one2gamble]

Whether they have the choice or not, and whether they should just give up the pick or not, it doesn't really matter: this is not the way people in sports operate. Be it ego, or self-preservation instincts powered by a healthy dose of delusion, this is just the nature of the professional sports world. Columnists and sports talk jocks and fans would have Dubas's head on a platter.

Teams set rebuild expectations all the time so this isn't exactly true.

 

[Jargon]

The Pens always seemed to me like they were in the same place as we were after our last playoff run - aging stars, no prospects, a team that’s got significant gaps through the roster. I still think there’s a world where they put it all together and make a run but it’s not looking great for them.

 

[timorous me]

Teams set rebuild expectations all the time so this isn't exactly true.

Sure, but do teams in the Penguins' situation, with guys like Crosby and Malkin and Karlsson and Letang and Guentzel under contract tend to do that?

 

[coooldude]

The Pens always seemed to me like they were in the same place as we were after our last playoff run - aging stars, no prospects, a team that’s got significant gaps through the roster. I still think there’s a world where they put it all together and make a run but it’s not looking great for them.

Agreed... although, with 3 cups to show for it

If they don't make the run this year, the likelihood they make the run with Crosby, Geno, Letang, and EK one year older is real bad. But they may be stuck with it. Let's hope DW didn't learn from 2020 and advises the golden boy Dubas to keep trying... better chance we get an unprotected in 2025.

 

[Skeksis25]

Really hope with their recent good play, its adding some value and appeal to guys like Hoffman, Granlund and Duclair around the league. And the Sharks are willing to work with teams on retention and stuff to acquire decent assets for them. I'd much rather extract some second round picks, maybe even a late first if Granlund keeps up a PPG pace till the deadline, out of them with retention.

 

[OffSydes]

What I like here is Dave is basically telling the players that if you play well and someone comes calling you are gonna get traded. Dude is playing 5D chess tank commander

 

[Kat Predator]

What I like here is Dave is basically telling the players that if you play well and someone comes calling you are gonna get traded. Dude is playing 5D chess tank commander

Sleep with your s--t packed and your boots on, boys.