Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

[Anomie2029]

Thompson had a good game and Sheng is already putting in the work for when he is inevitably sent back down to the AHL rather than one of the plug "vets".

If I'm Grier, I'm keeping away from Saad. There is no benefit he could bring to the club at the moment that any other player (not named Barclay Goodrow) couldn't bring.

 

[TheBeard]

Thompson had a good game and Sheng is already putting in the work for when he is inevitably sent back down to the AHL rather than one of the plug "vets".

If I'm Grier, I'm keeping away from Saad. There is no benefit he could bring to the club at the moment that any other player (not named Barclay Goodrow) couldn't bring.

I mean, even though he's having a down year, he would have been our leading goal scorer last year.

 

[Jargon]

Wait, is someone underwhelmed by him this year?

No no just concern about him being a 1C next year with no Granny. Totally valid, mostly just wanted to point out he scored on Crosby.

 

[TheBeard]

No no just concern about him being a 1C next year with no Granny. Totally valid, mostly just wanted to point out he scored on Crosby.

Ah. I mean let's be honest. He's our 1C now. He's the PP quarterback, he's out there in the last minute needing a goal. He's already the guy despite the lineup cards saying otherwise.

 

[vortexy]

Some real good quotes from Grier on the rebuild, the trade deadline and the UFA's:

Grier on rebuild: "It's a difficult process to go through that you can't rush. I think we'd all like to step on the gas and speed it up, but you have to kind of take your time, go through the steps and do it right."

Grier on the trade deadline (Sharks just finished pro scouting meeting): I think we have an idea of what might happen, or what the prices might be. And you get closer, something might change, if there's injuries or certain guys go off the market or things like that that might change prices or availability. But we'll be prepared."

Grier on UFAs/deadline: We still have to keep building so the draft picks are still important and a big part moving forward. We definitely have our eye out on any situations like (Askarov) - any type of young player that needs a change of scenery, disgruntled, whatever it may be

Grier on reaching contract extensions with his pending UFAs before the deadline. "I would probably say it's not likely, but we'll see. I haven't had any real extension talks with any of these guys. But who's to say as you as you get into it a little bit."

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[TheBeard]

What, not Georgiev?

 

[OrrNumber4]

I'd be upset with Grier if he lost Granlund for nothing. Look at how Colorado had no qualms about trading Rantanen...

 

[TheBigDrunkPanda]

chernyshov is finally going to play

What, not Georgiev?

Dude, I am actually worried he’s going to resign him

 

[TheBeard]

chernyshov is finally going to play


Dude, I am actually worried he’s going to resign him

If Grier has a weakness it’s staying too loyal to his pet projects.

 

[Jargon]

If Grier has a weakness it’s staying too loyal to his pet projects.

I don’t know, he’s let guys go pretty quickly. Zadina, etc.

Every time Grier has a press conference I marvel at how totally open he is. I’m glad they’re looking at Askarov-like deals.

 

[OrrNumber4]

I don’t know, he’s let guys go pretty quickly. Zadina, etc.

Every time Grier has a press conference I marvel at how totally open he is. I’m glad they’re looking at Askarov-like deals.

Grier's candidness is very refreshing. Of course, if he doesn't find success with the Sharks it'll be spun in a negative direction.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I'm mixed on Saad, but my main question here would be who would he really be blocking an opportunity from between now and next year's trade deadline? Graf? One injury and Graf could slide right into a top nine role, in that case.

Graf, Halttunen, Chernyshov, and Musty will all be pros next season most likely. Winger is probably the best position to let a kid get a spot and figure it out.

At 5v5, Celebrini has played 614 minutes. 186 of those have been with at least one of Goodrow, Dellandrea, Kunin, or Grundstrom. Of Smith's 552 minutes played at 5v5, 252 have been with at least one of those four.

Replacing any of those four plugs with Saad for any period of time will help Celebrini and Smith succeed more playing their style of game than they do when forced to play with those plugs, in the same way Kostin sometimes helps Smith just by virtue of having some semblance of offensive talent.

I don’t think it will because Saad is pretty bad himself having a season where he is largely making players around him worse. I’d rather let the kids deal with whatever the rest of the season looks like and bring in someone who would actually compliment either of the rookies. Saad is pretty well cooked and adding more to the team tends to make things worse than letting even an outmatched kid get experience.

I think he brings more offensively than the plethora of bottom 6 players that show nothing not to mention someone who can plug into a top line role if injuries occur that isn’t Goodrow or Kunin.

I’d rather they use Wennberg as a top six replacement when Granlund is dealt than any of the bottom six and Saad. If someone gets hurt, call up Gushchin or Bordeleau. Taking Saad for another year takes away the option for something better. The team doesn’t need to aim low anymore.

 

[TheBeard]

I don’t know, he’s let guys go pretty quickly. Zadina, etc.

Every time Grier has a press conference I marvel at how totally open he is. I’m glad they’re looking at Askarov-like deals.

There’s a difference between bringing in guys and personal projects. Kunin was his first guy and he’s been here the entire time. Goodrow. Hopefully not Georgie as well.

Grier's candidness is very refreshing. Of course, if he doesn't find success with the Sharks it'll be spun in a negative direction.

He’s built a foundation. That’s all you can ask.

 

[TheBeard]

Taking Saad for another year takes away the option for something better. The team doesn’t need to aim low anymore.

A) why would it?
B) aiming low doesn’t mean the big guns want to come. I’ve also been told it’s still too early to make that kind of a bold move.

The point is it’ll probably be another year before Grier wants to speed up the process. I’m guessing next year is all about focusing on kids which means Saad’s additional year fits in with that timeline.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Graf, Halttunen, Chernyshov, and Musty will all be pros next season most likely. Winger is probably the best position to let a kid get a spot and figure it out.

I don’t think it will because Saad is pretty bad himself having a season where he is largely making players around him worse. I’d rather let the kids deal with whatever the rest of the season looks like and bring in someone who would actually compliment either of the rookies. Saad is pretty well cooked and adding more to the team tends to make things worse than letting even an outmatched kid get experience.

I’d rather they use Wennberg as a top six replacement when Granlund is dealt than any of the bottom six and Saad. If someone gets hurt, call up Gushchin or Bordeleau. Taking Saad for another year takes away the option for something better. The team doesn’t need to aim low anymore.

Gushchin and Bordeleau’s ships have sailed. I don’t get the obsession with them when we have better prospects coming through the system. They aren’t even dominating in the AHL.

 

[Cas]

If Grier has a weakness it’s staying too loyal to his pet projects.

He waived Lindblom, traded away fliers like Lorentz, Benning, Eyssimont, Burroughs, Emberson, Duclair, Bailey, Givani Smith, Blackwood, and so on.

I don't think being overly loyal is Grier's thing.

 

[Star Platinum]

If Grier has a weakness it’s staying too loyal to his pet projects.

Georgiev is not his project

Graf, Halttunen, Chernyshov, and Musty will all be pros next season most likely.

Graf is already a pro. The other three will likely be in the AHL to start the year and then we'll see how they do.

 

[timorous me]

There’s a difference between bringing in guys and personal projects. Kunin was his first guy and he’s been here the entire time. Goodrow. Hopefully not Georgie as well.


He’s built a foundation. That’s all you can ask.

If Georgiev is still here a year from now I'd be flabbergasted. It's also odd to throw Goodrow into this mix. Of course, picking him up was a questionable move at the time that only looks worse now, but considering the way he was acquired, his contract, his veteran stature, etc., it's not at all surprising that he's still with the Sharks. And it's not like he can be traded.

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

I don’t think it will because Saad is pretty bad himself having a season where he is largely making players around him worse. I’d rather let the kids deal with whatever the rest of the season looks like and bring in someone who would actually compliment either of the rookies. Saad is pretty well cooked and adding more to the team tends to make things worse than letting even an outmatched kid get experience.

There is no evidence that Saad is doing that at anywhere near the same level that Dellandrea, Grundstrom, Kunin, and Goodrow are. His offensive underlying metrics and scoring rates are basically average this season where as 3 of our 4 are near league worst in each of those categories. At only 32, I think it's way too soon to write the eulogy of a guy who is shooting well below his career average and was good as recently as last year.

I respect the argument that we should just bring in somebody better next year but that's easier said than done and injuries happen even if we're initially successful on that front. And while I respect the argument, bringing somebody else in might be very pricy and it might not be the time for that just yet. Saad at 0 cost is a solid back up plan to that in addition to being a solid plan for the next guy up in that top-6 if somebody gets hurt.

I don't really understand the statement that adding more just makes things worse in general, especially not in the specific case where it's a guy we can just bury next year if he sucks.

 

[TheBeard]

Georgiev is not his project

the fact he wasn’t waived or bought out the moment he was traded made him Grier’s project.

 

[Celly4Celebrini]

No chance we get both. Maybe the 1st.

damn if you guys think thats unrealistic, youre really gonna hate how i managed to get Schaefer AND Misa

 

[Cas]

the fact he wasn’t waived or bought out the moment he was traded made him Grier’s project.

He was a cap dump.

The only "project" here is to see if we can turn around and also get something for him at the deadline before abandoning him in the summer (when he probably leaves for Russia because he can't get another NHL contract).

 

[Hodge]

the fact he wasn’t waived or bought out the moment he was traded made him Grier’s project.

Why the hell would he do that when Georgiev is far and away the #1 reason we're going to have the best draft lottery odds again?

 

[Pinkfloyd]

A) why would it?
B) aiming low doesn’t mean the big guns want to come. I’ve also been told it’s still too early to make that kind of a bold move.

The point is it’ll probably be another year before Grier wants to speed up the process. I’m guessing next year is all about focusing on kids which means Saad’s additional year fits in with that timeline.

It takes away a lineup spot because it goes to Saad while he's under contract the same way that Goodrow takes away a spot from someone like Cardwell currently even though Cardwell's worst NHL play is better than Goodrow's average output because he's cooked. When we can go out and land someone like Toffoli and even Wennberg, I'd rather find another player of that caliber than someone who is declining. It's fine that Grier wants to wait another year before speeding up the process. It doesn't mean we have to claim Saad to accomplish that.

Gushchin and Bordeleau’s ships have sailed. I don’t get the obsession with them when we have better prospects coming through the system. They aren’t even dominating in the AHL.

I'm only speaking in terms of having players come in after the trade deadline through the end of this season if someone gets injured. We don't need Saad to fill that gap. Gushchin and Bordeleau can fill that gap if they aren't traded by then.

Graf is already a pro. The other three will likely be in the AHL to start the year and then we'll see how they do.

Being in the AHL is being a pro. Having four young pro winger of which three are relatively high draft choices with a relatively high amount of internal hype should at least dangle the opportunity instead of filling it with a cap dump that likely isn't making the team nor Celebrini or Smith any better.

There is no evidence that Saad is doing that at anywhere near the same level that Dellandrea, Grundstrom, Kunin, and Goodrow are. His offensive underlying metrics and scoring rates are basically average this season where as 3 of our 4 are near league worst in each of those categories. At only 32, I think it's way too soon to write the eulogy of a guy who is shooting well below his career average and was good as recently as last year.

I respect the argument that we should just bring in somebody better next year but that's easier said than done and injuries happen even if we're initially successful on that front. And while I respect the argument, bringing somebody else in might be very pricy and it might not be the time for that just yet. Saad at 0 cost is a solid back up plan to that in addition to being a solid plan for the next guy up in that top-6 if somebody gets hurt.

I don't really understand the statement that adding more just makes things worse in general, especially not in the specific case where it's a guy we can just bury next year if he sucks.

Comparing a guy we're talking about putting into the top six after claiming with guys that shouldn't be playing the top six regardless of what happens here or with Granlund doesn't seem all that relevant to me. I just don't see how it's a good idea to take on someone with a 4.5 mil cap hit next year when the odds of him bouncing back isn't good. I'd rather pay a price for someone with better odds or just re-sign Kostin to largely fill that area and use our kids to fill any injury gaps. There are better free agent and trade options for a middle-six winger than Saad. It's not a huge need to have filled. When I made the statement of adding more, I forgot to add 'cooked players'. The team putting itself in a spot where a couple or a few veterans that are not getting the job done are getting played ahead of kids that tend to do more with whatever opportunity they get is not good for a rebuild.