Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

[timorous me]

Oh yeah, I'd jump at Jones. With other guys, it's about weighing opportunity cost, and I don't think someone like Smith is worth getting and subsequently denying opportunities to Thrun and Muk because you have this glut of guys who likely aren't very meaningful to our future.

 

[OrrNumber4]

If the Lightning are actually targeting Kapanen, then my opinion of him goes up quite a bit. They obviously have an excellent talent-scouting operation.

 

[fasterthanlight]

Man bedard looks good. I cannot believe he's going to be in a chicago blackhawks jersey for the next 2 decades, makes me want to puke

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[landshark]

Man bedard looks good. I cannot believe he's going to be in a chicago blackhawks jersey for the next 2 decades, makes me want to puke

Definitely gonna be an offer sheet target when the time comes. So 2026 offseason. Hopefully the price can be driven way up so the hawks get a bit handcuffed. I know they can extend him prior, but if he's THAT good over the next three years he'd be smart to wait on extending. Lot of Sharks contracts coming off the books by then.

 

[Barrie22]

Definitely gonna be an offer sheet target when the time comes. So 2026 offseason. Hopefully the price can be driven way up so the hawks get a bit handcuffed. I know they can extend him prior, but if he's THAT good over the next three years he'd be smart to wait on extending. Lot of Sharks contracts coming off the books by then.

There is absolutely no reason that the hawks turn down anything that Bedard would sign elsewhere.

Bedard is untouchable until he becomes an UFA, and by then it might be to late anyways as i see him signing the 8 year deal right away.

 

[Hodge]

I know this is the 23-24 roster discussion thread but since this season is a write off I'm already looking forward to 24-25. I'm in favor of keeping Will Smith in BC for 2 years unless he dominates this season but, supposing he does, am I crazy or does this look like an okay lineup?

Zadina - Hertl - Granlund
Duclair - Smith - Barabanov
Eklund - Couture - Kunin
Peterson - Sturm - Zetterlund

Vlasic - Benning
Thrun - Ferraro
Mukhamadullin - Burroughs

Blackwood
UFA/Trade

Don't get me wrong, they'll still miss the playoffs, but that's a deep four line attack and the defense could be passable depending on Thrun and Shak's development this year.

 

[jarr92]

I know this is the 23-24 roster discussion thread but since this season is a write off I'm already looking forward to 24-25. I'm in favor of keeping Will Smith in BC for 2 years unless he dominates this season but, supposing he does, am I crazy or does this look like an okay lineup?

Zadina - Hertl - Granlund
Duclair - Smith - Barabanov
Eklund - Couture - Kunin
Peterson - Sturm - Zetterlund

Vlasic - Benning
Thrun - Ferraro
Mukhamadullin - Burroughs

Blackwood
UFA/Trade

Don't get me wrong, they'll still miss the playoffs, but that's a deep four line attack and the defense could be passable depending on Thrun and Shak's development this year.

IMO with Hertl, Couture, Vlasic etc all 1 year older next year that's still a tank roster.

 

[Hodge]

IMO with Hertl, Couture, Vlasic etc all 1 year older next year that's still a tank roster.

Agreed but the hope would be Smith and Thrun/Shak are good enough to reduce the load on Couture and Vlasic. Also I forgot to include Rutta.

 

[landshark]

There is absolutely no reason that the hawks turn down anything that Bedard would sign elsewhere.

Bedard is untouchable until he becomes an UFA, and by then it might be to late anyways as i see him signing the 8 year deal right away.

Right, but offer sheets will drive up what the Hawks have to pay... Which in turn will hamper them in having cap space for other pieces. I don't think there's any reason for Bedard to extend prior to his current contract ending. More money listening to offer sheets for him.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Do you guys really see Muk being in the line up on day 1?

 

[timorous me]

Do you guys really see Muk being in the line up on day 1?

No.

I mean, who cares what we think. The coach himself said Muk is going to the AHL. But we (Quinn included!) are all quite pleased with what we've seen.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I know this is the 23-24 roster discussion thread but since this season is a write off I'm already looking forward to 24-25. I'm in favor of keeping Will Smith in BC for 2 years unless he dominates this season but, supposing he does, am I crazy or does this look like an okay lineup?

Zadina - Hertl - Granlund
Duclair - Smith - Barabanov
Eklund - Couture - Kunin
Peterson - Sturm - Zetterlund

Vlasic - Benning
Thrun - Ferraro
Mukhamadullin - Burroughs

Blackwood
UFA/Trade

Don't get me wrong, they'll still miss the playoffs, but that's a deep four line attack and the defense could be passable depending on Thrun and Shak's development this year.

Depends on how you're defining okay. Better than this season will be for sure but still likely awful goaltending, awful blue line, and probably only a winnable 3rd line, and competitive 4th line but the top six is likely still getting beat in their matchups. So the team is still going to lose a lot with a lineup like this but it at least includes some youth taking spots.

 

[Hodge]

Depends on how you're defining okay. Better than this season will be for sure but still likely awful goaltending, awful blue line, and probably only a winnable 3rd line, and competitive 4th line but the top six is likely still getting beat in their matchups. So the team is still going to lose a lot with a lineup like this but it at least includes some youth taking spots.

If we trade say Pittsburgh's 1st and our 2nd for Swayman it looks a lot better but yeah that's definitely still a bottom 10 team as it stands. Building in a positive direction though. The following year we can replace Granlund with hopefully one of Bystedt or Musty and the 2024 1st should be ready to break in. Year after that Vlasic comes off the books and we have pretty much unlimited flexibility to add talent. This shouldn't be a 10 year project if done right.

 

[gaucholoco3]

If we trade say Pittsburgh's 1st and our 2nd for Swayman it looks a lot better but yeah that's definitely still a bottom 10 team as it stands. Building in a positive direction though. The following year we can replace Granlund with hopefully one of Bystedt or Musty and the 2024 1st should be ready to break in. Year after that Vlasic comes off the books and we have pretty much unlimited flexibility to add talent. This shouldn't be a 10 year project if done right.

I love the idea of building a package for Swayman. Any prospect or pick other than the Sharks own 1sts, Eklund, Smith, Muk should be on the table.

I could see Pit 1st, NJ 2nd, and Bordeleau for Swayman.

No need to fix the goaltending this season but once Smith arrives the goal should be to compete and be a playoff team. They will need a massive upgrade in net for that to happen.

 

[gaucholoco3]

I know this is the 23-24 roster discussion thread but since this season is a write off I'm already looking forward to 24-25. I'm in favor of keeping Will Smith in BC for 2 years unless he dominates this season but, supposing he does, am I crazy or does this look like an okay lineup?

Zadina - Hertl - Granlund
Duclair - Smith - Barabanov
Eklund - Couture - Kunin
Peterson - Sturm - Zetterlund

Vlasic - Benning
Thrun - Ferraro
Mukhamadullin - Burroughs

Blackwood
UFA/Trade

Don't get me wrong, they'll still miss the playoffs, but that's a deep four line attack and the defense could be passable depending on Thrun and Shak's development this year.

I think this roster could also include Celebrini. I could see him and Smith 1 and 2 in Hobey Baker voting and both could be ready next season. If not Celebrini then Levshunov would fill a massive hole as RD.

 

[Hodge]

I love the idea of building a package for Swayman. Any prospect or pick other than the Sharks own 1sts, Eklund, Smith, Muk should be on the table.

I could see Pit 1st, NJ 2nd, and Bordeleau for Swayman.

No need to fix the goaltending this season but once Smith arrives the goal should be to compete and be a playoff team. They will need a massive upgrade in net for that to happen.

I think this roster could also include Celebrini. I could see him and Smith 1 and 2 in Hobey Baker voting and both could be ready next season. If not Celebrini then Levshunov would fill a massive hole as RD.

I completely agree. LA drafted in the top 8 three years in a row then started leveraging the cap space, picks and prospects they had accumulated into a contender. If all goes according to plan, we will have drafted in the top 7 three out of four years next summer.

We won't have the same immediate success since we just traded our Doughty and Hertl is a poor imitation of Kopitar but we won't be far off either IMO. Just need to sign the 2024 version of Danault and trade for the 2025/2026 editions of Fiala, Gavrikov and Dubois.

 

[CupfortheSharks]

I love the idea of building a package for Swayman. Any prospect or pick other than the Sharks own 1sts, Eklund, Smith, Muk should be on the table.

I could see Pit 1st, NJ 2nd, and Bordeleau for Swayman.

No need to fix the goaltending this season but once Smith arrives the goal should be to compete and be a playoff team. They will need a massive upgrade in net for that to happen.

I disagree. We are not far enough along in the rebuilding process to give up 2 highish draft picks to fix any of our problems. I would rather stick with reclamation projects in goal until our prospect group is both deeper and further along.

 

[Sharkz4Fun]

I love the idea of building a package for Swayman. Any prospect or pick other than the Sharks own 1sts, Eklund, Smith, Muk should be on the table.

I could see Pit 1st, NJ 2nd, and Bordeleau for Swayman.

No need to fix the goaltending this season but once Smith arrives the goal should be to compete and be a playoff team. They will need a massive upgrade in net for that to happen.

NGL I legitimately almost fell out of my chair laughing. JFC.

Martin Jones was better than Swayman ever will be. If that was an overpayment, what would this be?

 

[timorous me]

I disagree. We are not far enough along in the rebuilding process to give up 2 highish draft picks to fix any of our problems. I would rather stick with reclamation projects in goal until our prospect group is both deeper and further along.

I agree in the sense that I'd be really reluctant to spend those assets on a goalie when our defense still has a ton of question marks and could leave this new goalie on a long-term deal in a situation where his numbers get bloated and his confidence gets shot.

I'd be more interested in spending those assets on a defenseman--even if Muk continues to progress, I'd love to a RD he could be paired with or one who brings more puck-moving ability and can work the PP and could pair nicely alongside Thrun. Unfortunately we all know how hard those guys are to come by unless they're in their mid-to-late 30s and carry very large cap hits...

 

[Munnyro]

Sharks have two options. Accelerated rebuild with Hertl and Cooch by trading some picks or wait a few years and keep drafting.

Ownership will decide and I hope they are patient. Trading draft capital is a bad idea. They should plan to be good in 3 years and beyond. Not just back into the playoffs for revenue.

 

[Cas]

Sharks have two options. Accelerated rebuild with Hertl and Cooch by trading some picks or wait a few years and keep drafting.

Ownership will decide and I hope they are patient. Trading draft capital is a bad idea. They should plan to be good in 3 years and beyond. Not just back into the playoffs for revenue.

I don't think the Sharks can pull off an accelerated rebuild anyway - we'd just finish in the bottom ten but without any top draft picks. We don't have enough draft capital to trade for the large number of premium assets we'd need to be competitive.

 

[Munnyro]

I don't think the Sharks can pull off an accelerated rebuild anyway - we'd just finish in the bottom ten but without any top draft picks. We don't have enough draft capital to trade for the large number of premium assets we'd need to be competitive.

100% agree. Plus the division were in is top heavy right now. Teams like the Rangers give a false sense of hope.

Just don't know what orders GMMG is given.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Sharks have two options. Accelerated rebuild with Hertl and Cooch by trading some picks or wait a few years and keep drafting.

Ownership will decide and I hope they are patient. Trading draft capital is a bad idea. They should plan to be good in 3 years and beyond. Not just back into the playoffs for revenue.

Trading Hertl and Couture will do the opposite of accelerate a rebuild.

While it will allow for more draft assets those players will be 3-5 years from contributing since there is no way to get top 10 picks for them. It is questionable the could get even 2nd round picks for them.

Hertl and Couture while overpaid are still legit top 6 C’s and would allow Smith, Eklund, and other prospects develop without having to shoulder all the burden.

I get people like new shiny prospects that could be top players . But hockey games are not won by how shiny a prospect is.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

If we trade say Pittsburgh's 1st and our 2nd for Swayman it looks a lot better but yeah that's definitely still a bottom 10 team as it stands. Building in a positive direction though. The following year we can replace Granlund with hopefully one of Bystedt or Musty and the 2024 1st should be ready to break in. Year after that Vlasic comes off the books and we have pretty much unlimited flexibility to add talent. This shouldn't be a 10 year project if done right.

I’m not terribly concerned about getting goaltending until they build some depth with their skaters.