I'd probably bite the bullet and trade Eklund if that's what it takes, especially if the trade happens after the lottery and we know we're getting a forward with our 1st instead of Schaefer. Dobson needs to be willing to sign an 8 year extension with us of course.
With Jiricek, we also just did not have the right assets to do that deal. With an extra 1st rounder for 2025 and 2nd rounder for 2026, we have a lot more ammunition for whatever sort of deal we want to make on the backend.
I honestly don't think the sharks can afford to give up a top 6 player.
I just don't see Grier putting his biggest trade chip(s) into a 25 year old that is going to instantly require a big deal. If Dobson was a legit #1 or brought a physical element to his 6'4 frame, maybe. But the profile just doesn't scream like a guy that I think Grier will screw with the vibes for with the young core.
I think in a vacuum Eklund for Dobson is not too big a price to pay for the Sharks but I wouldn’t like it. Eklund is more replaceable and Dobson fills the biggest hole on the roster and would allow Grier to try and build a competitive team next season. Eklund could be replaced in some capacity through FA but Dobson is likely only available at the draft.
Honestly, I have no idea what the Isles are doing. They should be rebuilding, but they won't. So with that, I kinda feel like putting Dobson on the block is an admission that he isn't that good, because they don't see him as valuable to trying to complete now.
Problem is Devils would probably prefer to bring in pieces to help the team now as opposed to a lotto ticket for 4 years down the road. Musty or Halt + Zetts and someone would be the most logical for them.
I would too but I also had and someone on there, so it may just be the Dallas first, which I'd still do
I think Zetterlund is great but he is a middle 6 wing who will be making around $5 million per year and should ideally be on the 3rd line. That would definitely not be worth 2 1st round picks.
Sign me up for everything but your last sentence.
I mean, you were willing to give up the value of 2 late 1sts, a 2nd and Thompson for the completely unproven Nemec a couple of pages ago. I don't understand how giving up an additional late 1st and the delta in value between Ferraro and Thompson is a massive overpay for an established 25 year old top pair RD.
I just don't see Dobson as the missing piece. I don't think he's an elite offensive player from the backend and I think he's pretty weak in his own end. He needs a super physical partner to work (i.e. Romanov in NYI) and just doesn't really feel like a match for the way that our D prospects are setup. I don't see him being a guy that fits with Dickinson or Muk.
Because Nemec has immense pedigree, much younger, higher ceiling, and you get a hand in developing him with the rest of your core group as opposed to immediately paying him $9M a year and hoping the fit is there (it likely won't be given we don't have a Romanov to do all of the hard work).
NJ foolishly reaching for him at 2nd overall shouldn't impact his trade value 3 years later. Nemec hasn't done anything in the NHL or AHL so far to suggest he has a higher ceiling than a 25 minute per night 70 point defenseman. He's an offenseman being outscored by the younger Luca Cagnoni in the same league.
