Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

Lebanezer

I'unno? Coast Guard?
Jul 24, 2006
15,536
12,200
San Jose
Me watching the replies:
icegif-1759.gif
 

OrrNumber4

Registered User
Jul 25, 2002
16,768
6,226
Not sure I want Eklund playing with Celebrini.

It was the issue playing Setoguchi with Thornton. Instead of developing into a solid player by his own right, he became an accessory to Thornton; believing his success is due to his play and not Thornton being Thornton.

If that's all the Sharks see Eklund as (a great complimentary player), then go ahead...but if they aren't trying to win games and think Eklund can be a dominant player, keep them separated.
 

Pinkfloyd

Registered User
Oct 29, 2006
71,486
15,168
Folsom
Not sure I want Eklund playing with Celebrini.

It was the issue playing Setoguchi with Thornton. Instead of developing into a solid player by his own right, he became an accessory to Thornton; believing his success is due to his play and not Thornton being Thornton.

If that's all the Sharks see Eklund as (a great complimentary player), then go ahead...but if they aren't trying to win games and think Eklund can be a dominant player, keep them separated.
I would equate it more to something like Marleau and Thornton until Smith proves he's better at some point. They need to play together occasionally because they're the two best players and you need them together in scoring situations sometimes. But they don't have to play together and maybe shouldn't to give the lineup some consistent pressure on multiple lines. Since this is still the team in a development phase, they should be going back and forth often having the two of them play together and having them not play together.
 
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gaucholoco3

Registered User
Jun 22, 2015
1,490
1,902
I really like the Shark commitment to developing Smith as a C. His value it greatly diminished if he is moved to wing and with this season being a development year it is important to stick to the plan even if their are growing pains.

With that said, there is a log jam of top 9 C’s on this team. Granlund is infinitely more valuable as a C and Wennberg has played exclusively C in his career. I think it is time to either try Wennberg at wing or even move Sturm to wing and roll 4 even lines.

72/21-71-73
23-64-20
21/72-2-11
91-7-53

Or if keeping all 4 at C then maybe

91-71-73
7-64-20
72-2-11
23-21-53

Those are 4 lines that can be rolled evenly.
 
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TheBeard

He fixes the cable?
Jul 12, 2019
18,018
20,736
Vegass
I really like the Shark commitment to developing Smith as a C. His value it greatly diminished if he is moved to wing and with this season being a development year it is important to stick to the plan even if their are growing pains.

With that said, there is a log jam of top 9 C’s on this team. Granlund is infinitely more valuable as a C and Wennberg has played exclusively C in his career. I think it is time to either try Wennberg at wing or even move Sturm to wing and roll 4 even lines.

72/21-71-73
23-64-20
21/72-2-11
91-7-53

Or if keeping all 4 at C then maybe

91-71-73
7-64-20
72-2-11
23-21-53

Those are 4 lines that can be rolled evenly.
My only issue is playing him with two inferior offensive wingers. I think he can learn a lot from them but developing as a top 6 center isn't gonna happen if he's playing with linemates that can't take advantage of what he excels at. I'd rather he play wing with more skilled linemates for a while until the game really slows down for him and he doesn't have to be THE focal point of the line. It seemed to work for Eklund last year.
 

DG93

Registered User
Jun 29, 2010
4,784
2,965
San Jose
Not sure I want Eklund playing with Celebrini.

It was the issue playing Setoguchi with Thornton. Instead of developing into a solid player by his own right, he became an accessory to Thornton; believing his success is due to his play and not Thornton being Thornton.

If that's all the Sharks see Eklund as (a great complimentary player), then go ahead...but if they aren't trying to win games and think Eklund can be a dominant player, keep them separated.
I don't agree with this. I'd argue that Celebrini and Eklund complement each other nicely, so it won't stunt Eklund's development whatsoever.
 
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Juxtaposer

Outro: Divina Comedia
Dec 21, 2009
49,954
23,426
Bay Area
I think Granlund definitely needs to go back to center. He's played three games at wing all year and looked bad in all of them. Problem is that we only have like three passable wingers, so it's hard to even figure out what to do with them unless we want to keep Smith with his current linemates (we don't).

Kunin-Celebrini-Toffoli
Wennberg-Granlund-Zetterlund
Eklund-Smith-Dellandrea
Grundstrom-Sturm-Goodrow

Best I could come up with and I don't even like it.
 

hotcabbagesoup

"I'm going to get what I deserve" -RutgerMcgroarty
Feb 18, 2009
10,836
14,976
Reno, Nevada
We did have another winger in Goosey who produced three goals in three games playing with Wennberg and Zett but we're travelling on the road now so we for sure won't see him. Wario doesn't like offense I guess.

But I like the idea of
TOP LINE KUNIN!!!! :naughty::sarcasm:
 
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OverTheLine

Registered User
May 11, 2011
129
45
I know the goal longterm is to keep Smith at center, but I don't think it would be the end of the world to give him some games on Granlund's wing. I think it's way more valuable to get him experience in a top 6 role than get him experience learning to play 3C with a bunch of plugs on his wings. We might end up selling Granlund at the deadline anyways, so give Smith a chunk of time next him and then see where to go from there. Hertl spent a lot of time on the wing when he was younger and he developed as a centreman just fine.
 

weastern bias

worst team in the league
Feb 3, 2012
11,565
8,335
SJ
Eklund needs to play next to a play driving center, he's looked his best next to Hertl and Granlund, when he's the best player on his line he doesn't accomplish much, his destiny is to be a high level complimentary piece, true play driving wingers are super rare

Play him with Celebrini or Granlund, it's a waste of everybody's time to try and have him carry Wennberg and Zetterlund to success, put Eklund in the best position to succeed because his success matters more in the long term than anyone on the team other than Celebrini and Smith

72-71-73
XX-64-20
21-2-23

Or

20-71-73
72-64-XX
21-2-23

XX is probably Kunin, which isn't ideal, but we're one top-6 forward short right now, so he'll have to make due as a plug, no one else can really fill that gap since Kostin blew his chance so spectacularly
 
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