Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

[STL Shark]

I was looking at AFP Analytics latest contract projections. They're usually pretty accurate and they have Kovacevic pegged for a 2x1.5M contract as a UFA. This seems insanely low but maybe I'm overrating Kovacevic. He's 27 and this is his first season as a top 4 defenseman and he doesn't really provide any offense. I would have been happy with the Sharks giving him the Brett Pesce contract (6x5.5M) so it would rock if we can get him for significantly less than that.

Think that is too low and not updated from January. My guess is that his deal will look close-ish to the Chatfield deal, but probably a bit more if he hits the open market and the cap increases. My guess is something like 4 years at $4-4.5M. Split the difference between the Chatfield deal and the Matt Roy deal and that is probably the sweet spot to expect for him.

If that is the number, we should be aggressive in getting that done in addition to trying to add Ekblad with a high AAV deal. AFP has Ekblad at 7 years $6.8M. We should offer 5 years at $9.5M and get him equal money with 2 years less on the deal so he can go back to market and get another 3-4 year contract at age 34 just before he hits the 35+ contract age where teams start to shy away from term.

Add Schaefer and a Walman-Ekblad, Schaefer-Kovacevic, Muk-Liljegren defense doesn't look like total crap. Hope that Schaefer can move up to play with Ekblad by TDL time and then you basically can slide Dickinson/Cagnoni into Walman's roster spot for 2026-27 as the 3rd pairing LD and PP guy.

 

[STL Shark]

Or Korpisalo. If the Penguins are committed to a rebuild, I'm not sure they'd want to pay anything to get rid of a Jarry. They'll ride it out...

I'd see what you could get for taking on the Korpisalo and Coyle contracts. Addresses our backup goalie and gets us another veteran C/W hybrid for the 3rd line while Bystedt hopefully breaks into the league in spot duty on the 3rd line during the second half of next season.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I'd see what you could get for taking on the Korpisalo and Coyle contracts. Addresses our backup goalie and gets us another veteran C/W hybrid for the 3rd line while Bystedt hopefully breaks into the league in spot duty on the 3rd line during the second half of next season.

As long as Goodrow is going back, I’d be open to it.

 

[STL Shark]

As long as Goodrow is going back, I’d be open to it.

Whole point of it would be to utilize cap space to get something rather than just exchange bad contracts.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Whole point of it would be to utilize cap space to get something rather than just exchange bad contracts.

You are. You’re getting a bad player off the team and getting a better depth player in Coyle and a goalie you need anyway.

 

[gaucholoco3]

You are. You’re getting a bad player off the team and getting a better depth player in Coyle and a goalie you need anyway.

But why would Boston do that with Goodrow going the other way. That was the point. They get a bad contract and worse player for dumping those two. Also seeing how much backup goalies are making I don’t know how negative Korpisalo’s deal is.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

But why would Boston do that with Goodrow going the other way. That was the point. They get a bad contract and worse player for dumping those two. Also seeing how much backup goalies are making I don’t know how negative Korpisalo’s deal is.

The why doesn’t change just because they take a contract back. They still save 4.65 mil and give themselves an opportunity to be more efficient cap wise in the spots left behind by Coyle and Korpisalo. Korpisalo is in the bottom third of regular goalies used this season. It’s possible to view him as worse than other options for Boston since they have it easier to bring in free agents.

But if you take Goodrow out, they have to give up something like a 2nd to get someone to take them. Coyle isn’t good enough to outpace his own contract’s value much less compensate for Korpisalo’s negative value.

I’d rather dump Goodrow than get another mid to late 2nd rounder for taking all that cap.

 

[OrrNumber4]

I'd see what you could get for taking on the Korpisalo and Coyle contracts. Addresses our backup goalie and gets us another veteran C/W hybrid for the 3rd line while Bystedt hopefully breaks into the league in spot duty on the 3rd line during the second half of next season.

I think so, because my guess is that Boston is going to go for it...if they do decide to rebuild, then they'll just eat those contracts.

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Gecklund]

Makes sense. No reason for him to stay with so many bottom sizers on the roster. I’d love to get a third back for him but expect more of a fifth or meh prospect.

 

[Eklund72]

Anyone else see anything about Kovalenkos comments about Warsofsky not liking Russians?

 

[Star Platinum]

He can't afford to burn bridges

Anyone else see anything about Kovalenkos comments about Warsofsky not liking Russians?

No, nowhere at all

 

[Patty Ice]

Anyone else see anything about Kovalenkos comments about Warsofsky not liking Russians?

Link?

EDIT: Did my own Googling

Sharks’ Warsofsky says he has no problem with Kovalenko, or Russian players

NHL: San Jose Sharks forward Nikolai Kovalenko, though the team, says comments on Russian podcast about Ryan Warsofsky were taken out of context

www.mercurynews.com

Kovalenko Defuses Potential Controversy: ‘I do not have any issue with our coach’

Nikolai Kovalenko has defused a potential controversy. Over the 4 Nations break, the San Jose Sharks winger appeared on a Russian podcast, and said, around the 42:30 mark: “The coach doesn’t like Russians. The GM likes Russians, the head coach doesn’t.” That’s in reference to San Jose Sharks...

sanjosehockeynow.com

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Cas]

Makes sense. No reason for him to stay with so many bottom sizers on the roster. I’d love to get a third back for him but expect more of a fifth or meh prospect.

I'm expecting something more like a 6th. He wins faceoffs, but he just doesn't do anything else particularly well. On a good playoff team, he's a #12-13 and his salary is a little too high for anyone to just absorb. I think anything higher than a 5th is out of the question.

 

[Star Platinum]

delete

 

[timorous me]

Link?

EDIT: Did my own Googling

Sharks’ Warsofsky says he has no problem with Kovalenko, or Russian players

NHL: San Jose Sharks forward Nikolai Kovalenko, though the team, says comments on Russian podcast about Ryan Warsofsky were taken out of context

www.mercurynews.com

Kovalenko Defuses Potential Controversy: ‘I do not have any issue with our coach’

Nikolai Kovalenko has defused a potential controversy. Over the 4 Nations break, the San Jose Sharks winger appeared on a Russian podcast, and said, around the 42:30 mark: “The coach doesn’t like Russians. The GM likes Russians, the head coach doesn’t.” That’s in reference to San Jose Sharks...

sanjosehockeynow.com

A big ol' nothingburger, just like what I had tonight when I said no thanks after my wife asked if I wanted her to bring a burger home for me from our upstate NY version of In-N-Out.

Doesn't mean we don't all have regrets. Kovalenko probably wishes he hadn't made that joke. And even though I didn't want that burger earlier, I could really go for it right about now.

 

[mogambomoroo]

For the love of god MG use your waiver pick on this one! We need him!

 

[Shark Finn]

For the love of god MG use your waiver pick on this one! We need him!

Why? Seems like another bottom-pair D.

 

[mogambomoroo]

Why? Seems like another bottom-pair D.

I want them to try players out. At this point of the season you could find another Zetterlund type of a player, that doesn't necessary look like anything special at first but grows into a good role with the situation they are in. Also with Ferraro being rumored to be on the block, you need another veteran LD.

 

[OrrNumber4]

I want them to try players out. At this point of the season you could find another Zetterlund type of a player, that doesn't necessary look like anything special at first but grows into a good role with the situation they are in. Also with Ferraro being rumored to be on the block, you need another veteran LD.

Zetterlund wasn't some third-chance player that Grier took a swing on, but a promising young player who's met or slightly exceeded expectations.

Though Valimaki being waived is a good indication that Rutta has no value...

 

[Cas]

I want them to try players out. At this point of the season you could find another Zetterlund type of a player, that doesn't necessary look like anything special at first but grows into a good role with the situation they are in. Also with Ferraro being rumored to be on the block, you need another veteran LD.

We definitely don't need any additional left-handed defensemen, unless they're actually good (and by that I mean actually good, not Walman-level vaguely acceptable).

Though Valimaki being waived is a good indication that Rutta has no value...

Rutta absolutely has zero value - this is his last stop before Europe.

 

[SjMilhouse]

Why? Seems like another bottom-pair D.

I watch every Utah game, he is not worth claiming and wouldn't be an upgrade

 

[Jargon]

Nemec really out of favor in NJ…

 

[Hodge]

Nemec really out of favor in NJ…

For good reason. He's 21 years old and unplayable in the NHL. I have zero interest in trading significant assets for Adam Boqvist 2.0.