Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

[Patty Ice]

Kunin on pace for 17G 30P despite playing less than 15 minutes per game and no PP time. I thought he sucked and there was no way recovery from his ACL surgery hampered his performance last season?

If he keeps this up we're getting a decent pick for him at the deadline. I hope we extend him though.

I don't often share my unpopular opinions on the board because, at the end of the day, I'm not going to spend moments of my day defending Luke Kunin or any player in general so I live vicariously through you and toss you likes.

PS I predicted he'd hit 20 goals on the season. Kunin for PP. Free Luke!

 

[mogambomoroo]

With the news involving trades around the league, If I were MG I would actually go aggressively on Jiricek first and then Kreider.

Jiricek would obviously help the RD depth a ton and give a chance for the Sharks to give him a long look. Worst case scenario I could see him become a perfect 2RD.
But I could really see him 1RD in a way that he doesn't have to be the 1D of the team, with Dickinson splitting responsibilities. Dickinson and Jiricek could be 1a and 1b in defence of the future.

Kreider would really help solidify that 2LW/veteran spot until there is someone better coming. His contract ends the same time as Celebrini/Smith ELC's, so it's a perfect transition period for the prospects to marinate and him to have an impact on the development.
It's not going to be easy to acquire him, he probably wants to win asap... so it's a long shot.

Acquiring player trades:
Jiricek for Mukhamadullin, Bordeleau, Ceci and '26 2nd round pick (could be Thompson instead of Ceci if the price is higher)
Kreider for Sturm, Gushchin and '26 4th round pick
(cap dump for NYR, get more center depth + young winger)

TDL or before TDL:
Blackwood to Colorado for 2nd and 6th round pick
Granlund to Winnipeg for 1st round pick '25 (top 10 protected) and Alex Iafallo (cap dump, UFA)

Others:
Kunin, Rutta and Vanecek, no idea what to do. Maybe get some AHL help for the Barracuda, since a lot of depth left at Jiricek trade.

After TDL:
Not a winning team by any means, but I could still see a similar compete to what they have now, with getting assets from the UFA's at TDL and add couple of veterans for the kids.

Eklund - Celebrini - Zetterlund
Kreider - Smith - Toffoli
Iafallo - Wennberg - Dellandrea
Grundstrom - Goodrow - Cardwell
Graf (I wish he plays the full year in AHL and they go for the playoffs)

Walman - Liljegren
Ferraro - Jiricek
Vlasic - Thompson
Thrun

Askarov
Vanecek

EDIT:
IN: Jiricek, Kreider, Iafallo, '25 1st round pick WPG , '25 2nd round pick COL, '25 6th round pick + whatever others UFA get or don't get.
OUT: Granlund, Sturm, Mukhamadullin, Bordeleau, Gushchin, Ceci (or Thompson), '26 2nd round pick and '26 4th round pick.

 

[Herschel]

We really aren't

We've beaten one playoff team and it took an own goal in a 44 save shutout to do so

We are comfortably among the worst teams in hockey, arguable the single worst, McDavid would make this a better team but he wouldn't lift us out of the basement by himself

Adding McDavid to this roster and I bet they would play at an above a 90 point pace.

 

[one2gamble]

Jiricek hasnt really done much more than Muk has and is kind of trending towards bust.....If you can get him for basically scraps, sure but I would be hesitant to give much quality there.

 

[Patty Ice]

Jiricek hasnt really done much more than Muk has and is kind of trending towards bust.

Wouldn't Mukh be trending even worse then using the same logic being two years older?

I like Mukh and think he is going to be a player but there's more to like about Jiricek. Value favors Jiricek but not substantially. I think a generous add would make a competitive offer. It sounds like the Jackets are wanting a 1 for 1 deal as opposed to an offer of stacking assets.

 

[weastern bias]

Adding McDavid to this roster and I bet they would play at an above a 90 point pace.

The nice thing about that is that it isn't going to happen so it will remain a thought experiment

 

[weastern bias]

Kunin on pace for 17G 30P despite playing less than 15 minutes per game and no PP time. I thought he sucked and there was no way recovery from his ACL surgery hampered his performance last season?

If he keeps this up we're getting a decent pick for him at the deadline. I hope we extend him though.

30 points in today's league is basically nothing, if you don't also provide anything on the defensive end, which Kunin doesn't, there are much better options for bottom-6 forwards than a player with 30 point upside who has no other positives to his game

Now, I actually think Kunin has performed above my expectations since they put him at 4th line center, but it's still inaccurate to describe him as a useful NHL regular, he's a replacement level player on his best day

 

[TheBeard]

Kunin on pace for 17G 30P despite playing less than 15 minutes per game and no PP time. I thought he sucked and there was no way recovery from his ACL surgery hampered his performance last season?

If he keeps this up we're getting a decent pick for him at the deadline. I hope we extend him though.

Pacing out to be the 272nd highest scoring player in the league isn’t something to brag about.

 

[LadyStanley]

Hmmmm

 

[Cas]

30 points in today's league is basically nothing, if you don't also provide anything on the defensive end, which Kunin doesn't, there are much better options for bottom-6 forwards than a player with 30 point upside who has no other positives to his game

Now, I actually think Kunin has performed above my expectations since they put him at 4th line center, but it's still inaccurate to describe him as a useful NHL regular, he's a replacement level player on his best day

Kunin is the new Melker Karlsson.

 

[weastern bias]

Kunin is the new Melker Karlsson.

Melker was a more credible forechecker, his hits actually separated players from the puck on occasion

 

[TheBigDrunkPanda]

Apparently injury prone Norris is on the trade block

 

[Stewie Griffin]

Apparently we are in on Jiricek.

PIT, PHI, and MIN are front runners but SJS and BUF are also in.

According to Serravali.

 

[Alaskanice]

Apparently we are in on Jiricek.

PIT, PHI, and MIN are front runners but SJS and BUF are also in.

According to Serravali.

He says not to count out San Jose.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

He says not to count out San Jose.

Yeah exactly...he said there was 5 or 6 legit offers and I just listed 5 teams.

 

[YUPPY 2 7 10 11]

Hmmmm

Blackwood's Current Value
Mackenzie Blackwood has been a bit of a wild card in his NHL career. He’s shown flashes of brilliance, especially in his early years with New Jersey, but consistency has been an issue. After being traded to San Jose, his performance has remained somewhat up and down, though he has had solid stretches. His injury history, particularly with knee issues, also casts some uncertainty over his value.

However, teams in need of goaltending help, Like—Edmonton, Colorado, Carolina, and Toronto—might be more willing to take a risk on him, especially if he's playing well leading up to the trade deadline or has a strong stretch of play.

What Teams Need and What They Can Offer

• Edmonton: The Oilers have been in a goalie conundrum for years. While Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner have been the duo, neither has fully established themselves as a rock-solid starter. Edmonton might be more willing to give up a first-round pick for a goaltender who could potentially shore up the crease and help in their playoff push, but they also may be cautious with their assets due to their overall cap situation. A 1st-rounder could be a stretch, but a package involving a 2nd rounder, a prospect, and maybe a conditional pick might be more realistic.
• Colorado: The Avalanche have been riding with Alexandar Georgiev, and while he's been solid, backup goaltending has been a question mark at times. If Blackwood has shown consistency by the trade deadline, Colorado could be a contender for a 1B-type goalie. Their situation is also tricky because of cap space, but the possibility of adding Blackwood as a backup who could potentially step up if needed could interest them. The Avs might be more likely to trade for a cheaper option than a 1st-rounder unless Blackwood hits a hot streak or there’s clear belief in his upside.
• Carolina: The Hurricanes are always in the mix for adding depth, and with Frederik Andersen and Kochetkov being injured, they could be looking for more stability. Carolina tends to make trades that don’t necessarily require giving up premium picks, but if Blackwood can prove to be a legitimate 1B, they might offer a 1st, especially if they believe he could help them push deeper into the playoffs.
• Toronto: The Leafs have struggled with goaltending consistency, especially in the postseason. If they feel Blackwood could provide more stability alongside Joseph Woll, they might be willing to part with a first-round pick, especially given their all-in approach with their core. Again, it depends on Blackwood's performance, but Toronto could be a realistic destination.

Is a 1st Rounder Realistic?
A 1st-round pick for Blackwood would be possible but more likely if he’s playing lights-out in the lead-up to the deadline or if a team really believes in his potential to stabilize their crease for a long playoff run. Blackwood's upside is what would sell teams, but given his inconsistency and injury history, a package centered around a 1st-rounder would more likely include conditions (e.g., conditional picks based on performance or games played).

Forgiving Grier on Michkov
Regarding your comment on Grier and Matvei Michkov, I get the sentiment. If Blackwood fetches a 1st-rounder, it would at least offset some of the heat on the decision not to pick Michkov. While Michkov has elite talent, the uncertainty around his KHL contract and the off-ice concerns made him a polarizing pick then. If Grier can pivot and get a 1st or (2 and rounders), it would be a big win and help justify his approach.

 

[Gecklund]

Apparently we are in on Jiricek.

PIT, PHI, and MIN are front runners but SJS and BUF are also in.

According to Serravali.

Meh Seravalli is bad when it comes to Sharks news.

 

[one2gamble]

Wouldn't Mukh be trending even worse then using the same logic being two years older?

Yes, Muk needs to be in the NHL full time starting relatively soon or I am going to have my doubts hes much of anything.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Meh Seravalli is bad when it comes to Sharks news.

Be that as it may, I believe this one.

Glad to see the Sharks are at least involved.

 

[Kcoyote3]

Seravalli also tried to sneak a subtle attaboy to Mike Grier for getting Dickinson in the Karlsson trade in that episode. This after he ripped the trade apart for San Jose when it happened and called him among the worst GM’s in hockey…before Celebrini.

Lottery win changed everything.

 

[Alaskanice]

Yeah exactly...he said there was 5 or 6 legit offers and I just listed 5 teams.

Nothing against you, I was just posting what he said regarding our team.

 

[Jargon]

Glad Grier seems to be involved. I’m a little worried at how much Jiricek is going to cost but I guess it also depends on what the Jackets are looking for. Roster players we don’t really have anything worthwhile (unless they value Ferraro highly or something), prospects we have aplenty but yeah, what are their needs?

I don’t super want to get into a bidding war and mortgage the future for someone I do really want but who has a lot of red flags.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Seravalli also tried to sneak a subtle attaboy to Mike Grier for getting Dickinson in the Karlsson trade in that episode. This after he ripped the trade apart for San Jose when it happened and called him among the worst GM’s in hockey…before Celebrini.

Lottery win changed everything.

Completely. That lottery win was the most important day in Sharks' franchise history. Not just for getting Mack and avoiding the landmine of other guys in the top-5, but for how it completely reframes all the work the Sharks have done in the last few years. Everyone is going to fall into appropriate places because they have Macklin ahead of them, in the franchise player and star two-way #1 center role.

A player like Macklin Celebrinini is what separates the Devils from the Red Wings in terms of rebuild success. If you airdropped Mack onto the Detroit Red Wings, I would confidently project that team as a long-term contender. But because they'll be relying on a 32-year-old (and already declining) Dylan Larkin when the rest of their rebuild have developed into real players, it's hard to take them seriously.

 

[Lebanezer]

Completely. That lottery win was the most important day in Sharks' franchise history. Not just for getting Mack and avoiding the landmine of other guys in the top-5, but for how it completely reframes all the work the Sharks have done in the last few years. Everyone is going to fall into appropriate places because they have Macklin ahead of them, in the franchise player and star two-way #1 center role.

A player like Macklin Celebrinini is what separates the Devils from the Red Wings in terms of rebuild success. If you airdropped Mack onto the Detroit Red Wings, I would confidently project that team as a long-term contender. But because they'll be relying on a 32-year-old (and already declining) Dylan Larkin when the rest of their rebuild have developed into real players, it's hard to take them seriously.

32? Where do the get that age for Larkin? Was the pandemic that long? He’s 28. I was so confused, like I somehow missed several years.

 

[Hodge]

Pacing out to be the 272nd highest scoring player in the league isn’t something to brag about.

So a clear top 9 forward scoring pace and tied for 132nd in goals? Not bad for a guy who gets no power play time. What were you expecting? Kucherov numbers?

30 points in today's league is basically nothing, if you don't also provide anything on the defensive end, which Kunin doesn't, there are much better options for bottom-6 forwards than a player with 30 point upside who has no other positives to his game

Now, I actually think Kunin has performed above my expectations since they put him at 4th line center, but it's still inaccurate to describe him as a useful NHL regular, he's a replacement level player on his best day

30 points is easily top 9 production in "today's league" without even accounting for Kunin's lack of PP time and low overall minute totals. He's one of our most used penalty killers so to say he provides nothing on the defensive end is false. Also 3rd on the team in hits and can drop the gloves...$2.75M is a downright bargain for what Kunin is providing this season. He's clearly better than the low end 4th liner you constantly claimed he was.